Economic Empowerment

Rising 18 stories above the fields in rural Indiana, Duke Energy’s Edwardsport power plant is a technological marvel and among the cleanest coal-fired power plants in the world.

“Someone said to me a little while ago that once you start immersing yourself and engaging yourself with climate change issues, it’s almost impossible to go back to anything else. You would have to wake up every morning and think: I’m using all my skills and abilities to help support a ‘six degree world’. So, I can’t go back. This is me for the next twenty years.”

Commercial sellers and full-time entrepreneurs on the eBay platform are responsible for creating more than 690,000 jobs, and more than a third of our U.S. sellers come from small towns and rural areas.

Transparency is becoming a growing point throughout global supply chains, of which SMEs form a large part. How can policy empower responsible business practices among SMEs? Published today, GRI's new paper examines this challenge, issuing recommnedations to policy makers.

Brent Wesley started an urban beekeeping movement in Akron, Ohio, creating natural honey and personal care products featuring pure, all-natural ingredients. Today, Brent is one of more than 100 small businesses participating in eBay’s Retail Revival program, a 12-month economic development pilot. Retail Revival harnesses the power of technology and eBay’s global marketplace to support and grow small businesses, strengthen local economies and foster vibrant community growth.

Sara Brand is a new partner to Whole Planet Foundation, delivering a keynote conversation at our June 2, 2018 Power Her Potential Women’s Expo. Her venture capital firm, True Wealth Ventures, is an early-stage venture capital fund investing in women-led businesses in the sustainable consumer and consumer health markets.

Crystal, a leading Georgian microfinance lender, has joined Business Call to Action (BCtA) with a pledge to provide access to finance – including loans and value chain services – to 30,000 new clients in rural areas of Georgia, as well as disperse 1,000 new loans for green/solar solutions and energy efficiency projects by 2020. As part of this commitment, Crystal will continue its record of fostering economic opportunity for farmers, women and micro entrepreneurs.

A new coalition backed by the National Association of Manufacturers aims to 'undermine critical shareholder rights that investors have long supported and relied on to help them effectively and efficiently protect the long-term value of their investments,' Ceres CEO and President Mindy said in a statement.

Theresa is a long-term donor to Whole Planet Foundation and the founder of Ten By Three™ which reduces poverty in developing countries by using its unique Prosperity Wages® model to pay for artisan products. Ten By Three™ is also a community partner of the Whole Foods Market Team Member Volunteer Program in Ghana in west Africa.

A growing issue for Duke Energy and many businesses is the gap between demand for skilled STEM workers and available talent to fill open positions. One of the ways the company is closing the gap is through our investments in education and workforce development.