A Triangle company and nonprofit agency have joined forces to support and promote businesses that participate in a two-year program centered on sustainability initiatives.

The Green Plus Certification program provides education, networking opportunities and recognition for small to mid-sized business that seek to improve their bottom line through sustainability initiatives. The program is a product of the Durham-based Institute for Sustainable Development, a partnership of universities, chambers of commerce and business leaders that seeks to educate and cultivate leaders in the sustainability field. The organization has members in 18 states.

Local-Ventures is a Chapel Hill-based company that focuses on local sourcing. The Local-Ventures website enables businesses in the Triangle to find, assess, and purchase from vetted local vendors.

Sugarland bakeries in Raleigh and Chapel Hill have got a sweet deal this week that they hope you can't refuse.

Through June 9, donate $50 in Target or PetSmart gift cards to the tornado victims in Moore, Okla., and you'll receive a coupon for a dozen free cupcakes.

Or, stop by either bakery today, June 5, and treat yourself to cupcake or two. All proceeds from both stores will be donated to the city of Moore to aid in the rebuilding effort.

The fund-raiser is personal for Sugarland. The family of one of Sugarland's employees lost their home -- and everything in it -- during the storm.

HUB Raleigh is in search of a new name.

Due to trademarking issues with the national HUB, the downtown Raleigh co-working space is being forced to rebrand by renaming itself and developing a new logo.

"It has to do with a trademarking incident with the national HUB name," said Liz Tracy, HUB Raleigh's community manager. "We have to rebrand ourselves unfortunately. But we will still be affiliated."

Pete D'Arruda, owner of Capital National Financial Group and local television and radio personality, will be featured on The Biography Channel's documentary series "Profiles of Success."

D'Arruda, also known as Coach Pete, is no stranger to being on the air. The registered financial consultant and investment advisor hosts his own syndicated radio show "Financial Safari" that is broadcast on over 100 stations, including WRDU and WCHL, across the country. He also has a TV show by the same name that airs on WTVD on Saturdays.

"(The Biography Channel was) here in July for a week, filming," D'Arruda said. "They followed me around doing TV and radio events. I'm curious to see how it turned out."

The show also filmed behind the scenes of the financial planning operation, and interviewed some of Capital National Financial Group's charities, including The V Foundation's Nick Valvano.

"Somebody from the channel heard our radio show," D'Arruda said. "... (It's) pretty cool to see a little local planning firm on TV."

"Profiles of Success: Coach Pete's Financial Safari" is scheduled to air on Wednesday at 7:30 a.m.

After last month’s drop in small-business confidence, April’s Index of Small Business Optimism rose 2.6 points to 92.1, which is just above the recovery average of 90.7.

Every month, the National Federation of Independent Business surveys small business owners’ opinion and plans. The April index includes responses of 1,873 randomly sampled small businesses in NFIB’s membership.

In April’s report, four index components rose, two fell and six were unchanged.
NFIB chief economist Bill Dunkelberg, however, said the sub-par recovery persists for the small-business sector.

Each year, the Cary Chamber of Commerce recognizes local small businesses with its annual Excellence Awards. The prizes go to companies based on the business's community contributions such as innovation, work environment, sustainability, success and community service.

Atlantic Tire & Service claimed the top prize: Small Business of the Year.

Also winning awards: BP Studios, Innovation; Wine and Design, Cary, Community Service; Masterpiece Home Improvements, Work Environment; AlphaGraphics Cary, Green Plus Sustainability; Panther Creek High School, Entrepreneurial Award in Education; The Carying Place, Charitable Partners Award.

The awards were given out on May 9.

The U.S. Small Business Administration and Shaw University are teaming up on a Strategic Alliance Memorandum.

Cassius Butts, the SBA's Southeast Regional Administrator, and Dr. Dorothy Yancy, president of Shaw University, will sign the memorandum, which "will signify a joint effort by the University and SBA to promote small business through education and community outreach," according to a press release. The signing also allows the school and organization to address the needs of local minority small business interests.

Butts and Yancy will sign the memorandum on May 9.

Its wealth of highly educated people, low cost of living and large research industry make Raleigh the No. 2 city in the country to start a small business, according to a recent study. The City of Oaks also earned an "A" as its small business grade.

In calculating the top cities, NerdWallet, a consumer finance resource company, used five criteria, including how easy it is to obtain funding, business-friendliness, how the local economy is faring, the affordability of the city and ease in getting hired.

Here are the top ten cities on the list:
1. Atlanta
2. Raleigh
3. Austin, Tex.
4. Tulsa, Okla.
5. Oklahoma City, Okla.
6. Tampa
7. Seattle
8. Minneapolis
9. Houston
10. Omaha, Neb.

For the complete report, go here.

Sutton's Drug Store celebrates its 90th anniversary on Wednesday. Owner John Woodard credits dedication and responding to the changing needs of customers as reasons for the Chapel Hill pharmacy's lasting success.

Has your company been around as long as Sutton's? We want to hear what you've done to stay in business.

Share your success story in the comments field of this blog post.

National Federation of Independent Business President and CEO Dan Danner and Gov. Pat McCrory will be among the speakers at NFIB/North Carolina's Small Business Day at the Capital on Wednesday.