The mission of Canopy, located at 1500 Lytle Street, is to “grow Kentucky business beyond profit,” said chief of staff Stephanie Kelley. “We want to become a hub of social environmentally responsible business practices.”
Canopy partners with 85 Louisville area-businesses, with about half earning the Canopy Certification, which “guides Kentucky businesses towards achieving measurable social and environmental Good, operating with the highest ethical standards, and taking care of all stakeholders along the way,” according to its website.
“Companies have to be from Kentucky, solving uniquely Kentucky needs,” Stephanie said.
The organization was started by CEO Scott Koloms, who purchased the building in 2016, as a homebase for his custodial company FMS (Facilities Management Services), which employs around 700 people, many of whom from the Portland neighborhood. FMS leads from the front in regard to good business practices, noting that its “social mission is embedded within our business model,” according to its website. “We measure the good work we’re doing to help our people and our communities the same way we measure operational effectiveness and profit.”
Currently they have a program to help employees own a vehicle and offer a program in the summer partnering with Rootbound Farms in Oldham County providing discounted produce for their employees in their courtyard. “Portland represented an opportunity zone, with the workforce based in this area,” Stephanie added.
Other Canopy members with Portland and west Louisville ties are the LPX Group, which includes Pace Contracting, which has partnered with the Portland Museum to transport the shrimping boat which will ultimately rest in the museum’s backyard. Blak Coffee on West Jefferson street is also a member and hosts coffee & learn chats for the organization. And Adam Watson, cofounder of Against the Grain brewery (whose brewing facility is located in Portland) serves as its Education Director. Canopy is hosting an Impact Lab on February 28 entitled “Innovation in For-profit / Non-profit Partnerships,” with presenters Canopy CEO Scott Koloms, Das Rooprai, CEO of the Center for Nonprofit Excellence, and Adria Johnson, CEO of the Metro United Way. Stephanie said the goal “will be to lead attendees through the actionable steps that for-profit companies and non-profits can collaborate for mutual benefit and explore the foundations of their new model for maximizing impact.”
