Center on Sustainable Communities (COSC) of Des Moines has partnered with True Market Solutions, a San Francisco-based consulting firm, to offer a Sustainability Circles program to Iowa organizations.

The comprehensive six-month program provides strategies for businesses, municipalities and nonprofit organizations to enhance profits, reduce expenses and increase energy efficiency, COSC officials said in a release.

“COSC’s mission has always been about sustainability,” said Kent Newman, COSC’s executive director. “Our partnership with True Market Solutions brings a proven sustainability learning and planning process to public and private organizations in Iowa, producing multiple benefits to our economy, environment and society.”

A Sustainability Circles participant, Mi Rancho Tortilla Factory in San Leandro, Calif., was able to quickly save about $200,000 in annual energy, packaging and waste expenses. Joe Santana, Mi Rancho’s vice president of operations, said the program is “giving me a different way of looking at things so that we can continue to reduce our costs internally.”

Iowa participants will be able to access low-interest revolving loans through the Iowa Energy Bank program, which can be used both to provide funds to enroll in the program as well as to implement related cost-effective energy projects.  

Sustainability Circles preview presentations will be held Sept. 5 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. and Sept. 6 from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. at the Greater Des Moines Partnership’s Arthur Davis Conference Center, 700 Locust St. in Downtown Des Moines. Those interested can register at www.icosc.com.