The Alliance for a Greener South Loop recently celebrated its inaugural event to recognize leaders in environmental stewardship in the South Loop. It bestowed awards in three categories: Green, Greener, and Greenest.

Columbia College Chicago won the Greenest award as an institution. Award-winning businesses in the South Loop included Best Buy on Roosevelt Road, Greenest award, followed by Flaco’s Tacos and Hackney’s Printers Row restaurants on Dearborn St. as Greener award recipients. The UPS Store on Polk Street took third place with the Green award.

Residential buildings also competed, with the State Place Condominium Association awarded first place as Greenest, the Dearborn Tower Condominium Association on State Street as Greener, and Film Exchange Lofts on Wabash Avenue as Green.

Judges the competition were Angela Ford, president and CEO of TAG Sustainable Consulting Group, and Dana Kenney, assistant commissioner for the City of Chicago Department of the Environment, Energy, and Sustainable Business Division.

Alliance for a Greener South Loop co-founder Gail Merritt said, “This is an important first step in our commitment to recognize and celebrate progress along the journey that will take us closer to our goal of minimizing our community’s environmental impact.”

— Marie Balice Ward