After a successful launch last year involving 50 companies, Westchester County will begin extending its outreach to help more businesses save money, energy and resources.

Westchester County Executive Astorino says the program is good for business as well as the county.The first phase of the public-private partnership involved creation of a Web site. It includes green business case studies, funding sources for green initiatives, listings of green events and a green business directory. It also features a scorecard, an interactive tool that establishes baseline performance and links companies to targeted resources to help improve.

Going forward, county officials said they will hold seminars and networking events for exchange of ideas about what works. They will offer support to help businesses progress through the program, and will host an annual event to celebrate participation and recognize achievements.

Con Edison donated $20,000 to the educational department of the Business Council of Westchester, which will administer the next phase of the program.