December 14, 2009 (FinancialWire) — Green Globe International, Inc. (OTC: GGII), the worldwide owner of the Green Globe brand, announced its participation in an initiative that will allow businesses in Los Angeles to earn a seal of approval through the city’s new green business certification program.

The city of Los Angeles initiative, to be administered by the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD), will provide information on which local businesses are green and how businesses can adopt sustainable practices. One of the aims is to enable consumers to support firms that strive to protect the environment.

The District expects the program to use a three-tiered rating system, similar to the A, B, C restaurant grading guide. To obtain green certification, a business must successfully complete a sustainability checklist that asks about its efforts to conserve resources, prevent pollution and minimize waste, which will be validated by program monitors.

To be known as the Los Angeles Green Business Certification Program, the effort initially will cover three business sectors: auto repair, restaurants and office-retail.

The new city program was announced at a news conference at Ciudad restaurant in downtown Los Angeles on December 9, 2009. The LACCD was joined at the news conference by its program partners, the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, Green Seal, Inc., Green Globe and dineLA, a part of LA INC., The Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Councilman Richard Alarcon has spearheaded the city’s effort to create the Green Business Certification Program since March 2007.

A $150,000 grant from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power will help to pay for the district’s how-to workshops for businesses that seek green certification.

The Los Angeles certification effort will strive to protect the environment by conserving energy and water, as well as take steps that will help businesses reduce costs.

As an example, city officials point to the Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites, which expects to save about $225,000 a year because it incorporated such green practices as composting food waste and installing energy efficient lighting.

Businesses interested in the Green Business Certification Program can take the pledge to “go green” and enroll at http://www.lacity.org/ead/environmentla/cgbp/pledge.html. Seventy businesses have already signed-up at the site. Businesses may begin applying for certification in approximately six months.

The Green Globe brand and program, which traces its roots back to the United Nations Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit in 1992, where 182 Heads of State endorsed the Agenda 21 principles of Sustainable Development, has primarily been used in the travel and tourism industry but is now being expanded to include a growing number of environmentally responsible businesses in a variety of market sectors. The Green Globe brand is an ideal symbol for the world’s increasing awareness of environmental responsibility and response to global climate change.

Free annual reports and company filings for companies mentioned in the news are available through the Investrend Information Syndicate (at http://investrend.ar.wilink.com/?level=279). Recently issued reports and filings include Bravo Venture Group Inc. (TSX Venture: BVG), Bellway PLC (London Stock Exchange: BWY) (OTC: BLWYF), Chase Corporation (AMEX: CCF), Continental Materials Corp. (AMEX: CUO), Amcon Distributing Company (AMEX: DIT), Eaton Vance Enhanced Equity Income Fund (NYSE: EOI), Majedie Investments PLC (London Stock Exchange: MAJE), Morgan Stanley Income Securities, Inc. (NYSE: ICB), Grainger PLC (London Stock Exchange: GRI) (OTC: GRTGF), Eaton Vance Insured Municipal Bond Fund (AMEX: EIM), PIMCO High Income Fund (NYSE: PHK) and Shaw Communications, Inc. (NYSE: SJR).

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