Lisa Cagle named to Top 100 St. Louisans You Should Know to Succeed In Business

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Blackrock’s Executive Director and Principal, Lisa Cagle, among 2022 List of “100 St. Louisans You Should Know to Succeed in Business”

Blackrock Consulting’s Executive Director, Lisa Cagle, was recently selected as one of 100 St. Louisans you should know to succeed in business. The honor was announced in the April 2022 edition of St. Louis Small Business Monthly.

A panel of community leaders selected the individuals on this year’s list “because they take steps, every day, to help others succeed.” Honorees were nominated and selected based on their efforts, contributions and experiences giving back and helping business owners reach their goals.

Included in the list were fellow leaders and influencers like Emily Breedlove (first Executive Director of Tech STL), Dara Eskridge (Executive Director of InvestSTL), Sandra Moore (Managing Director and Chief Impact Officer at Advantage Capital), Arrey Obenson (President and CEO of the International Institute of St. Louis), and Neil Richardson (Executive Director of St. Louis Development Corporation).

Lisa has over a decade of non-profit and government experience in the St. Louis region, and nearly two decades of experience in sustainability and sustainable development. She is an enthusiastic and strategic systems-thinker, who brings together expertise in research and policy analysis, public health and the built environment, community education, and sustainable development to reframe problems and offer innovative and cost-effective solutions for small businesses and the larger St. Louis community. 
Lisa is President of the Board for local sustainability focused non-profit earthday-365, serves on the Board of Directors for Assisi House, and is the current chair of the Chronic Disease and the Built Environment working group for the St. Louis Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) led jointly by the City and County Health Departments.

Blackrock and Sustainability

St. Louis, Sustainability

Over the last three years, Blackrock Consulting has largely focused on sustainability projects and worked with environmental and social justice organizations. These projects have spanned from coordinating Grow Solar St. Louis, a residential rooftop solar group-buy and educational program, to helping with the Green Business Challenge and creating curriculum and trainings for Missouri Green Schools. We’ve also facilitated environmental justice trainings for earthday365’s board and  US Green Building Council Missouri Gateway Chapter‘s board and helped earthday365 with their Green Dining Alliance program.

The individuals who make up Blackrock have always been sustainably-minded people at home and in our personal lives – gardening with native plants, recycling, advocating for renewable energy and public transportation, and working for environmental justice in our neighborhoods – but the pandemic has helped us to realize that we could be doing more as a business when it comes to environmental and social stewardship.

Certified B Corporations go through a rigorous third-party certification process to ensure that they are considering their impacts on people and the planet throughout their business operations. There are only a few B Corps in St. Louis, including our friends and colleagues at StraightUp Solar, but the practice has become fairly common globally over the last few years – over 100,000 businesses have applied for the B Corp assessment since 2016.

We are currently in the evaluation phase of our B Corp assessment (UPDATE: awarded B Corp certification in December 2021), but this process has already helped us create a baseline for our social and environmental impact that we can track and improve over time. Once our application is approved, we’ll join a global community of leaders who are redefining what success in business means.

B Corp Certification covers internal governance, worker treatment, community impact, environmental impact, and the types of customers organizations serve.

To become a B Corp, we completed a rigorous assessment of our business practices and policies. Our assessment process included conducting a Greenhouse Gas Inventory, performing an employee service day with earthday365, installing on-site renewables (solar power) for two of our home offices, codifying our values in our operating documents and employee manual, and committing to purchasing Renewable Energy Credits to offset 100% of our carbon emissions.

In addition to seeking B Corp Certification, we joined the St. Louis Green Business Challenge at the Apprentice Level, becoming part of a network of sustainable business leaders in the region.

Both of these programs work as internal and external accountability tools, keeping us on track, providing ideas and resources for improvement over time, and connecting us to like-minded businesses here in St. Louis and around the country.

Sustainability is a journey, and we will likely never be finished working to improve our operations, but we are proud of our recent accomplishments and are excited to see what comes next for our tiny-but-mighty business.

The Blackrock team at a trash cleanup in Gravois Park
The Blackrock team at a earthday365’s Environmental Justice Day of Action in Gravois Park.

Who is Blackrock?

St. Louis

Blackrock Consulting is a local, majority-woman owned business with expertise ranging from government relations and public policy to environmental sustainability and community engagement. We’re proud to have worked with some of STL’s finest institutions, including Missouri Botanical Garden‘s EarthWays Center, ACLU of Missouri, NARAL, Action St. Louis, Anheuser-Busch, and more.

Lisa and Lacy Cagle of Blackrock Consulting
Lacy Cagle and Lisa Cagle

The people behind Blackrock, (Nolan Sharkey, J.P. Johnson, Lisa Cagle, Lacy Cagle, and Sunni Hutton), are deeply involved in the community, volunteering for organizations such as the Gene Slay Girls and Boys Club, U.S. Green Building Council, earthday365, and on clean energy projects across the region. We’ve stood on the streets to fight racial injustice and sat at the table with decision makers to influence progressive policy issues. We spend our time, energy, and talent to fight for what we believe in.

We believe that St. Louis is at a crucial turning point.

As St. Louisans, we can both work to make our City and its various neighborhoods and communities more resilient to the shocks and stressors we will see increasingly over the next few decades — shocks and stressors like the impacts of climate change, economic shifts and recessions, political instability and civic unrest. And we can also choose to change the way we do things right now: to make our governments, our laws, institutions, and practices more just and sustainable for all St. Louisans, to elevate Black and brown communities, and choose to eliminate the racial and economic disparities that weaken our city and our region.

The work we do for our clients furthers our vision for a resilient St. Louis, whether that work involves promoting a clean energy future, building community capacity and Black power, or navigating the complex innerworkings of regional politics. We support progressive organizations and help them build the capacity to accomplish their goals.

We believe that with creativity, hard work, transparency, and collaboration, we can overcome the challenges St. Louis faces and become the strong, vibrant region that residents deserve to live in. We love our city, and strive to make it a better place for all St. Louisans.

A Guide to Small Business Relief for Owners and Employees

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This is a quick guide to COVID-19 relief available to local, small businesses and workers. 

  “COVID-19 will bankrupt more people than it kills.” Variations of this rallying cry quickly emerged from groups opposed to the government’s shelter-in-place orders. Regardless of your stance on policies aimed at “flattening the curve,” no one disagrees that tough financial decisions weigh on businesses and their employees. To date, more than 22 million people in the United States filed for unemployment and that number continues to increase faster than government agencies and news reports can keep up with.

  Blackrock Consulting realizes that St. Louis business owners, as well as their employees, feel unprepared to effectively react to this unprecedented challenge. The Coronavirus Air, Relief and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”), along with complimentary federal, state, and local legislation contributes to the trillions of dollars infusing the economy. These efforts provide eligible small businesses access to essential resources and guide employees to financially navigate these turbulent times. 

     This post is intended to educate Missouri small businesses, self-employed workers, and employees – furloughed or laid off – about available resources. This is a general guideline, not legal advice. Always speak with an attorney and/or an accountant to determine what financial decisions are the best fit for your specific status.

Qualifications for paid leave during the COVID-19 crisis.

1.       An employee is diagnosed with COVID-19 or is under a medical professional’s recommendation to enter quarantine. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act gives a full-time employee up to eighty (80) hours of paid sick leave at the employee’s regular wage/salary rate when that employee is unable to work (or unable to work from home) because a medical professional told the employee to self-isolate, and/or is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms while actively seeking medical attention. Part-time employees are eligible for paid leave based on the number of hours they normally work in a two-week period. 

2.       An employee is caring for a family member with COVID-19 or is quarantined themselves due to COVID-19. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act gives full-time employees who must leave work (and are unable to work from home) in order to care for a family member subjected to a COVID-19 quarantine, up to two-thirds (⅔) compensation of their normal wages for up to 80 hours. Part-time employees are eligible for a similar pay rate at the number of hours they normally work in a two-week window. The maximum daily pay is $200, and the total cap on paid leave is $2,000 per employee.

3.       An employee’s child is no longer in school or daycare due to COVID-19 closures. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act gives full-time employees who must leave work (and are unable to work from home) to care for a child whose school or place of care is closed for reasons related to COVID-19 a maximum of 12 weeks of leave (2 weeks of paid sick leave followed by up to 10 weeks of paid expanded family & medical leave) for a period of up to 40 hours a week. A part-time employee is eligible for leave for the number of hours that the employee is normally scheduled to work over that period. Companies with fewer than fifty employees may be exempt if granting such leave jeopardizes the viability of the business. The maximum daily pay is $200 and the total cap on paid leave is $2,000 per employee.

4.       An employer is forcing an employee to use earned paid time off during the COVID-19 crisis. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, employers may leverage employees’ earned paid time off and require them to take the leave, as long as pay is provided during leave, as expected before COVID-19. An employer does not have to pay the employee for the first ten days of the emergency leave (employees may use paid time off during this period). After 10 days, employees are paid at two-thirds (⅔) of their regular rate of pay.  Payments of emergency leave are capped at $200 per day and $10,000 per employee. No employer may retaliate against an employee for taking either the paid sick leave or emergency FMLA under Families First.

Unemployment benefits available to workers affected by COVID-19.

     At the time of this publication, Missouri’s qualification standards for unemployment benefits have remained significantly unchanged. In short, to qualify for unemployment benefits, you must lose your job through no fault of your own or quit for good reasons related to the work or the employer. There is an extremely high standard to show that you’ve quit for good reason, and the standard is heavily fact dependent, so you should speak with an employment attorney before making that decision.

     Generally, an employee who quits due to COVID-19 is not eligible for unemployment benefits. If an employer offers sick leave and/or other leave options to address COVID-19 in lieu of layoffs, a person who has quit of their own volition will likely not qualify for unemployment benefits. This is a continuously-changing area of law due to the impacts of COVID-19, so please speak with the Missouri Department of Labor, an attorney or an accountant about the best options for you. People who meet the following criteria may be eligible for unemployment benefits:

1.       An employee is laid off or furloughed. There is a distinction between being laid off and being furloughed. Being laid off is a termination of the employer-employee relationship, while a furlough keeps the employer-employee relationship, but with a suspension of work and pay for a determined period of time. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Federal Pandemic Assistance Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) is a temporary program that is changing the benefits available to furloughed employees and unemployed workers. Both laid-off and furloughed employees may qualify for unemployment benefits during these times. In addition to traditional unemployment benefits, FPUC provides an additional $600/week for individuals who qualify for unemployment benefits. Payments are retroactive for claims filed on or after March 29, 2020. 

2.       An employee was not laid off, but hours were reduced to part-time status. An employee whose hours have been reduced may qualify for part-time unemployment benefits. The additional $600/week FPUC program discussed in the section above is also available.

3.       An employee lives in Illinois, but works in Missouri. Generally speaking, for unemployment benefits, the state in which one works determines one’s unemployment benefits. Someone who lives in Illinois and commutes to work in Missouri, for example, will likely need to appeal to the Missouri Department of Labor.  

Economic Relief available to small-business owners 

and independent contractors affected by COVID-19.

1.       An employer is a small business who cannot afford to keep staff on payroll, but does not want to lay them off or reduce hours. The Small Business Administration (SBA) and SBA-qualified banks are working to help small businesses weather COVID-19-related economic uncertainty. The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) carry the primary benefits. Both provide low-interest loans that allow employers to mitigate lost revenues. Additionally, the PPP allows a forgivable loan, if 75% of the proceeds are used for payroll cost. The EIDL and PPP loans can be combined for maximum financial assistance, provided program requirements are adhered to. Even if you already laid off employees, you may still be eligible for the PPP loan, as long as you reinstate the payroll by  June 30. If you are interested in applying for these loans, we recommend contacting an SBA-qualified bank. As of April 16, 2020, the $349 Billion dedicated to the PPP loan ran out of funds, but Congress is actively working to pass more funding for the program.

2.       An employer is a small-business owner; can that owner collect unemployment if the company shuts down? Whether or not a small-business owner can collect unemployment benefits depends on the company’s legal structure. Interested owners should consult an accountant and/or an attorney before proceeding. Generally speaking, sole proprietorships do not contribute to unemployment benefits, outside of their employees; therefore, an owner is not eligible for unemployment benefits if the company shuts down. Employee-owners of limited liability companies may qualify for unemployment benefits if they pay themselves through a W2 form. Under the CARES Act, however, self-employed business owners may qualify for federal unemployment assistance (see below).

3.       A worker does not qualify for traditional unemployment because that person is  an exempt business owner, independent contractor (including gig-economy employees, such as rideshare workers, etc.), or a seasonal worker. Generally speaking, these individuals are exempt from unemployment benefits because they do not contribute to the unemployment insurance fund. However, due to the unique circumstances of COVID-19, the U.S. Department of Labor has implemented the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program.  The PUA extends unemployment coverage benefits to self-employed individuals, freelancers, and independent contractors who otherwise do not qualify for unemployment. The Missouri Department of Labor issued a statement on April 6, 2020, that it is still refining the guidelines for PUA allocation in the state but will provide guidance as developed.  https://labor.mo.gov/coronavirus for updates.    

  In the coming weeks, federal and local programs will change how workers and businesses face COVID-19’s harsh economic realities. For more information, reach out to Blackrock Consulting for general guidelines and resources. Contact us via our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/BlackrockConsultingLLC/) or call 314-695-2464.

     We are here to help all Saint Louisans find a better tomorrow. Be safe, stay home, and take care of your loved ones. 

The Sun is Shining in STL! ☀️

Sustainability

In 2019, Blackrock Consulting partnered with the Missouri Botanical Garden’s EarthWays Center, Washington University, and the Midwest Renewable Energy Association on Grow Solar St. Louis, STL’s first-ever solar group buy program. The Grow Solar St. Louis pilot program shattered expectations, adding 424 killowatts of clean, renewable energy to our region.

What’s a Group Buy Program?

Solar group buy programs, sometimes called solarize programs in the industry, make installing solar panels more affordable for homeowners by creating an economy of scale. The more individuals who sign up for solar, the cheaper it becomes for everyone.

Group buy programs typically involve an educational element, (called Power Hours for Grow Solar St. Louis), where community members learn all about the process of going solar, from the science of how solar works to the logistics of instillation and the potential costs and incentives available to customers.

The education provided at Power Hours reduces research time for residents, as solar incentives, rebates, and processes vary by region and the volume of information can feel overwhelming to those unfamiliar with the industry.

A Power Hour at SqWires Restaurant and Annex in Layfayette Square.

Group buy programs have become more popular in recent years, especially those facilitated by the Midwest Renewable Energy Association, who has helped over 12 Midwestern cities generate over 11,000 kilowatts of power on 1,500 properties!

Blackrock’s Role

Blackrock’s Lisa Cagle, Jenn DeRose, and Adam Kepka were contracted by EarthWays Center to schedule and present at 23 Power Hours in the City of St. Louis, Maplewood, Richmond Heights, Clayton, and University City.

If our years of community engagement experience has taught us anything, it’s that people are far more likely to attend community meetings if food and beverages are available – especially beer! That’s why we decided to schedule Power Hours at places people want to visit, including the Schlafly Bottleworks, Urban Chestnut, and SqWires Restaurant and Annex. We also presented at community centers, libraries, Washington University, and even a print shop to reach as many different audiences as possible.

The presentations were fun and engaging, both for Blackrock staff and for our guests, who asked intelligent, thoughtful questions and kept us on our toes. Preparing for the Power Hours involved hours of research, practice, and conversations about the best ways to present complicated information to laypeople – a challenge that we were thrilled to take on. Making environmental information accessible for everyone is a passion for Blackrock’s sustainability team.

Blackrock presenting to a group at The Gezellig in The Grove.

Experts from StraightUp Solar, the contractor who won our original request for proposal, explained the more technical side of solar at each Power Hour and walked attendees through a case study of a typical home in our region’s instillation process. Over the course of our program, we educated over 640 individuals about solar power!

Solar education is better with beer.

In addition to Power Hours, Blackrock had the pleasure of tabling at events like the Green the Church Summit at New Northside Missionary Baptist Church and the STL Solar Expo and Symposium, providing information about solar power and EarthWays Center’s many sustainability programs to attendees.

Blackrock tables for Grow Solar and EarthWays Center at the Green the Church Summit at the New Northside Missionary Baptist Church.

STL’s Future is Bright 🌞

We expected this pilot program to do well, but we were blown away by the final numbers. 71 homes went solar during our pilot program, reducing emissions by 821,810 pounds in their first year of operation! These conscientious homeowners aren’t just doing their part to save the planet – they’re also saving money on their monthly energy bills (around $724 per year) and supporting local job growth. Renewable energy jobs employ 11 million people globally, and “Missouri is adding clean energy jobs faster than every other state in the Midwest,” according to Tradewind Energy).

The results of our first group buy program make it clear that STL is ready to go solar.

We are so proud to have been a part of this historic program and can’t wait to see what the future holds for sustainability in STL.

Be sure to follow us on Facebook to stay informed about our upcoming sustainability projects!