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La Mesa Green Business Network
Introduction | Network vs. Certification | Incentives | Why Join the Network | Why Get Certified | Certification Process | Certified Green Businesses in La Mesa | California Green Business Outcomes Introduction
The City of La Mesa has partnered with the San Diego Regional Green Business Network to offer a local green business network and certification program, furthering the City’s commitment to environmental sustainability through the successful implementation of La Mesa's Climate Action Plan (CAP).
Through this partnership, the City has established its own La Mesa Green Business Network (GBN) as a central hub for businesses in La Mesa that are striving to be sustainable, as well as businesses that are already actively engaged in sustainable practices. Through the GBN, businesses gain access to valuable sustainability resources, including a monthly newsletter, educational events, and networking opportunities. Additionally, businesses can join the La Mesa GBN at no cost with the option to officially become a certified California Green Business. Throughout the certification process, they will receive ongoing assistance with business evaluations, documentation, and promotional initiatives.
Green Business Network Vs. Green Business Certification
The La Mesa Green Business Network (GBN) and the Green Business Certification are distinct entities. While signing up for the GBN offers businesses the opportunity to pursue certification, it does not automatically grant certification status. To achieve certification, businesses must actively collaborate with an environmental consultant provided by the network. This collaboration involves meeting specific targets across various sectors. For a more comprehensive understanding of the certification process, please refer to the detailed description below.
Even if your business is not yet ready to pursue full certification, we strongly encourage you to join the GBN. By doing so, you can keep up to date with La Mesa events and gain access to valuable resources that might inspire sustainability practices.
Any business operating within La Mesa can join the La Mesa Green Business Network for free with a valid La Mesa Business License. For more information about La Mesa business licenses, visit www.cityoflamesa.us/business-licenses.
TO RECEIVE EMAIL UPDATES AND INITIATE THE PROCESS OF BECOMING A CERTIFIED GREEN BUSINESS, PLEASE COMPLETE THIS FORM.
Incentives
The California Green Business Network provides rebate incentives of up to $500 for approved green purchasing to businesses that have successfully completed their Green Business Certification, subject to the availability of funds. Moreover, the Network regularly presents various challenges and campaigns throughout the year, offering additional rebate opportunities and marketing incentives.
Why Join The La Mesa Green Business Network?
Becoming a part of the Green Business Network offers numerous benefits, allowing you to stay informed about the latest sustainability developments in La Mesa while expanding your professional network. By joining the network, you gain access to:
- Email updates: Stay in the loop with sustainability events organized by the City of La Mesa. These updates ensure you are aware of opportunities to engage with the local sustainability community.
- Monthly GBN newsletters: Receive informative newsletters packed with valuable resources and programming specifically tailored for green businesses. These newsletters serve as a valuable reference for sustainable practices and provide insights into successful sustainability initiatives. You can even explore past monthly GBN newsletters by clicking here.
- Networking opportunities: Connect with La Mesa businesses that share your commitment to sustainability. The Green Business Network provides a platform for networking, allowing you to establish connections, exchange ideas, and collaborate with like-minded people.
Why Get Certified?
Click here for a more detailed look at the benefits of obtaining a green business certification.

What Does the Green Business Certification Look Like?
To attain your Green Business Certification, you will receive dedicated guidance from a consultant who will assist you throughout the entire process, completely free of charge.
The certification process entails fulfilling a set of core measures and elective measures, with the specific requirements tailored to each business. Factors such as business type and location contribute to the unique criteria assigned. The measures encompass several categories, including:
- Energy
- Pollution Prevention
- Solid Waste
- Transportation
- Wastewater
- Water
- Community
Process:
- To initiate the certification process, you will meet with your dedicated sustainability consultant for an overview of the certification journey. During this session, you will receive a comprehensive explanation of GreenBiz Tracker, the web-based platform that will serve as your progress tracking tool. The consultant will carefully observe and document any existing activities that align with the certification requirements.
- Next, you will begin collecting the necessary documents to demonstrate compliance with the certification standards. These documents and notes will be uploaded to your profile on GreenBiz Tracker under each corresponding measure as evidence of your adherence. Throughout this process, your consultant will be readily available to offer guidance and support, conducting regular reviews of your documentation.
- Once your documentation has been thoroughly reviewed, you will schedule an onsite audit with your consultant. The final audit includes spot checks, product verification, and an overall assessment of compliance.
- Upon successful completion of the certification process, you will receive physical documentation to proudly display in your window, showcasing your official certification status. Moreover, you will gain access to the Green Business Network marketing toolkit, equipping you with valuable resources to promote your certified business. Additionally, as a certified member, you will receive recognition and complimentary business advertisements on state and local levels.
Time Frame:
The duration required to complete the certification process can vary significantly from business to business, contingent upon factors such as the starting point of a business and the level of commitment dedicated to the process within a given timeline.
While full certification may take 3 to 6 months to accomplish, it is also feasible to achieve certification within a matter of weeks. A more precise time estimate can be provided following your initial meeting with the environmental consultant, where you will gain a clearer understanding of the requirements and expectations.
Maintenance:
The Green Business certification is valid for a period of 4 years. You will be notified when it's time for recertification, and the process should be relatively quick. To renew your certification, you will need to update your GreenBiz profile, verify the checklist, schedule a site visit/audit, and provide any necessary documents as evidence of continued compliance. While there may be minor revisions to the checklist during each recertification cycle, they should not entail significant changes.
To receive email updates and initiate the process of becoming a certified green business, please complete this form.
* Note: By filling out the form, you will be enrolled in the GBN. However, if you wish to pursue the Green Business Certification with guidance from a consultant, please check the green business certification box.
Certified Green Businesses in La Mesa
*When you receive your Green Business Certification, we will feature you right here on our webpage.
The California Green Business Network provides rebate incentives of up to $500 for approved green purchasing to businesses that have successfully completed their Green Business Certification, subject to the availability of funds. Moreover, the Network regularly presents various challenges and campaigns throughout the year, offering additional rebate opportunities and marketing incentives.
The duration required to complete the certification process can vary significantly from business to business, contingent upon factors such as the starting point of a business and the level of commitment dedicated to the process within a given timeline.
The Green Business certification is valid for a period of 4 years. You will be notified when it's time for recertification, and the process should be relatively quick. To renew your certification, you will need to update your GreenBiz profile, verify the checklist, schedule a site visit/audit, and provide any necessary documents as evidence of continued compliance. While there may be minor revisions to the checklist during each recertification cycle, they should not entail significant changes.
The City of La Mesa is highlighting Homes With MY Realty for becoming the first La Mesa business to receive the Green Business Certification! They received their certification in November 2022.
Homes With MY Realty is a La Mesa-based company where Myeshia “MY” Abdul-Hakeem and her team help buyers and sellers with their real estate needs. Myeshia has been a Realtor for 28 years, winning the Broker of the Year Award from the San Diego Association of Realtors in 2021 and 2022.
When asked why Homes With MY Realty was interested in the Green Business Certification, Myeshia said, “It’s naturally what we do. We wholeheartedly believe in living with the lowest carbon footprint possible and the biggest SMILE possible.” This started with keeping green practices in mind as they designed their new office space. All office furniture is repurposed or reused from other businesses. They also installed low flow sinks and fixtures and water their outdoor landscape with recycled water. Additionally, they use printer ink tanks instead of cartridges, certified green cleaning products, and paper products with high recycled content.
Homes With MY Realty
7938-7940 La Mesa Blvd., La Mesa, CA 91942 | (619) 887-4969
www.homeswithmy.com
The City of La Mesa is highlighting Scisters Salon & Apothecary for becoming the second La Mesa business to receive the Green Business Certification! They received their certification in February 2023.
Scisters Salon, founded by best friends Melissa Parker and Easton Basjec in 2010, is San Diego region’s first Zero Waste Salon, offering beauty product refills and various other supplies for living a zero waste, intentional lifestyle.
In terms of sustainable practices, they have partnered with Green Circle to divert the beauty waste they produce, such as sending hair clippings off to be used to clean oil spills and left over color to be turned into clean energy. They also choose glass and aluminum bottles over plastic and encourage guests to bring in their own bottles for product refills. Scisters Salon is able to divert 80 plastic bottles for every 5 gallon bucket of Element product, and they donate the buckets to I Love A Clean San Diego to use at community clean ups when they finish with them.
They chose to join the La Mesa Green Business Network and pursue the Green Business Certification because they have become increasingly concerned about the beauty industry’s impact on the environment and wanted to make a difference in the industry by prioritizing conscious consumption.
Scisters Salon & Apothecary
7957 University Ave, La Mesa, CA 91942 | (619) 466-6332
https://www.scisters.com/
Kai’s Refills is the third La Mesa business to receive the Green Business Certification! They received their certification in April 2023.
Leann Littleton opened Kai’s Refills in March 2023. She previously worked in the nonprofit sector and loved what she did but hated missing out on moments with her daughter. Her daughter, Kai, is 7 years old, and her name means “Of the Sea”, so she says, “if we were going to set out to save the planet, I wanted to do it with her.” Littleton opened Kai’s Refills as a place to educate others on choosing greener options in their daily life.
In terms of sustainable practices, she buys soap in bulk through a closed loop recycle program. Customers bring their own soap bottles and containers to refill, reducing plastic use. She also sells compostable, sustainable, reusable, and washable household swaps like unpaper towels, bamboo toilet paper, washable dusters and sponges, and more. Additionally, at Kai’s Refills, they primarily use natural lighting, clean with rags and washable spong
es, use washable trash can liners, and have blue and green bins to help customers divert trash properly.
Leann wanted Kai’s Refills to be a La Mesa Green Business because she wants to be an educational resource for the La Mesa community, and the certification helps to build that trust. She educates customers about recycling and zero waste practices and encourages them to make small lifestyle changes that have a big impact.
Kai’s Refills
7590 El Cajon Blvd Suite D-E, La Mesa, CA 91942 | (619) 335-7774