Published on 07/02/2021
SCP recently awarded our “Spirit of Entrepreneurship” Grant to students participating in the Santa Rosa Junior College’s (SRJC) Business Entrepreneurship Certificate Program.
The grant was first launched at SRJC in Spring 2019 to support local entrepreneurs who are choosing to place sustainable practices at the forefront of their business ventures. The partnership aims to foster a strong commitment to environmental stewardship and social equity in the next generation of local business owners.
As part of the requirements for the grant, SRJC students must demonstrate how their enterprise will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, embed themes of sustainability, and promote energy efficiency, energy conservation, or renewable energy.
This year, two students were selected to receive the grant.
The first-place recipient of the contest was Laura Feil, who was awarded $6,500 for her company Terrabliss Naturals. Terrabliss Naturals is a hemp-derived CBD start-up that manufactures and distributes full-traceable wellness products from seed to shelf.
The company is committed to improving and redefining wellness and skincare through sustainable, affordable, and plant-based products backed by science. They provide a holistic healing alternative to uplift those struggling to balance their health through natural and conscious products, while creating awareness of all the benefits of hemp.
Creator of Terrabliss Naturals
The second-place recipient was Jennifer Friedman, who was awarded $3,500 toward her business Humane Plate, which will provide plant-based lunches to K-12 students in Sonoma County.
Friedman founded Humane Plate to fill the void in schools where students who require subsidized lunches but adhere to a plant-based diet for ethical, health, and/or religious reasons have little options. Humane Plate offers plant-based lunches to Sonoma County schools to create equitable choices for students, improve nutrition, and reduce their carbon footprint.
"I am deeply honored to have been selected by Sonoma Clean Power as one of its two recipients of the 2020 Spirit of Entrepreneurship Awards," said Friedman.
Creator of Humane Plate
In addition to the annual “Spirit of Entrepreneurship” Grant, SCP continues to grow an endowment with the Santa Rosa Junior College Foundation. The endowment is meant to ensure that even during periods of economic uncertainty, the program will continue to receive the financial support necessary to promote an ongoing, locally grown workforce that is dedicated to incorporating sustainable practices.
Check out last year's grant recipients!
