2010

Grand Rapids, MI

After witnessing the myriad of green business programs spreading across the country, it did not take long for the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce to establish itself as a leader in the movement. Though the Chamber has been a participant and supporter of local sustainability campaigns for some time, it now boasts a strong program of its own for the benefit of its members and that of the region. Officially launched on January 6th, 2010, the Greater Grand Rapids Partnership for a Sustainable Community provides participating businesses the tools to become more energy efficient, reduce operating costs and boost their bottom lines.

Asheville, NC

Though countless businesses around the country are implementing new practices to reduce their environmental impact, the carbon-emitting necessity of travel is often beyond their control. Even the greenest of employees find themselves towing briefcases filled with recycled paper onto an airplane that burns nearly a gallon of fuel every second. Those individuals traveling to Asheville, North Carolina, however, can fly through clean skies with a clean conscience. Thanks to the innovative Asheville Offset program of the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce’s Convention and Visitors Bureau, visitors have the opportunity to counteract carbon emissions produced from their travel. Through this program, Asheville can continue to protect the great natural amenities that have supported a tourist economy for decades.

State of Massachusetts

The 495/MetroWest region is one of the most economically productive in the state of Massachusetts and is still growing. Between 1980 and 2006, the region experienced a 59 percent increase in employment; during the 1990s alone, the region experienced a 12.1 percent increase in the local population. Though this trend is immensely beneficial to the area’s economic health, it also places a great strain on existing infrastructure and water supplies. More than 40 acres of open land per day, or nearly 300 acres every week in Massachusetts are converted into residential, commercial, or industrial land, putting local resources and biodiversity at risk. As a public/private association dedicated to the sustainable economic and physical growth of the region, the 495/MetroWest Partnership provides local businesses and governments with an effective strategy to ease burdens on local resources and ensure their future vitality through the Green Infrastructure Toolkit.

Syracuse, NY

When most people think of New York, they’re quick to conjure up images of the Empire State Building and Wall Street. But in the era of clean energy, New York’s emerging ‘Green Apple’ is giving the renowned Big Apple a run for its money as the innovation center of the state. With over 30 colleges and universities, the Central Upstate New York region has one of the highest concentrations of students in the country. Couple that with market leaders such as GE Global Research, GM Research and Carrier Corporation that are developing world class new clean technologies, along with $2 billion in annually funded R&D at the region’s top six research institutions, and you’ve got a region prime for green technology incubation. The Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce has been leading that green revolution.  In July of 2009 with a $1.5 million grant from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), the Syracuse Chamber proudly unveiled The Clean Tech Center, a clean energy business incubator program—one of the first of its kind in the country.

St. Louis, MO

The distribution of transportation, housing, human capital, and other similar resources has led most civic leaders to agree that a regional approach to economic development is most effective.  After decades of success in advancing the economy of their 16-county region, expanding into both Missouri and Illinois, the St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association (RCGA) is determined to realize similar accomplishments in their regional approach to climate change issues.  Through their participation as a pilot region in the Climate Prosperity Project, one of the newest and most ambitious initiatives marrying climate protection and economic development, RCGA is improving not only the economic strength, but the environmental vitality of greater St. Louis. 

North Myrtle Beach, SC

One would be hard-pressed to find a region rich in oil with untapped wells or accessible coal unscathed by a miner. It does not take long, however, to find a powerful natural energy source literally blowing past American cities, unharnessed. Current technology is able to capture nearly 60 percent of wind’s energy. This potential power in the wind flowing over the United States in one year is more than the country’s total power needs for those same 365 days, yet wind power currently makes up less than one percent of our energy supply. This number is likely to grow in the not so distant future, however, as communities around the world are working to capture this free and renewable resource. One such community is North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Through alliances with a number of local economic and academic institutions, the North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce is taking steps not only toward local energy independence but toward the establishment of a powerful economic cluster.

This report showcases the innovation and leadership of 22 chambers of commerce that when faced with the challenge of ensuring the future strength of their economies, have employed creative new agendas that not only help reverse the effects of environmental degradation but leverage the occasion for valuable economic and social gain. Click here to download the report.

In his first trip “Down Under”, Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield found many similarities between his community and that of Mayor Paul Pisasale of Ipswich, Australia.  Both cities are essentially bisected by waterways and both are focusing on returning to the riverfront, quality of life and sustainable development as keys to a brighter future.  “I was very impressed by all that I saw there,” said Littlefield.  “Both cities have the same heart.  Ipswich even has a walking bridge using an old railroad trestle which mirrors our restored Walnut Street Bridge in downtown Chattanooga.”  Littlefield noted that other features were remarkable such as both cities having railroad museums and even such interesting details as back-in angle parking in the downtown area.  “We thought that we were doing something different in Chattanooga” Littlefield noted. 

Mayor Littlefield was invited to Australia to talk about Chattanooga’s transformation from “the most polluted city in America” in 1969 to a clean, green community of today that regularly  the 2 mayors makes top ten lists of most livable cities.  While in Australia, he also spoke to attendees at a conference sponsored by the International Riverfoundation, to a gathering of members of Partners for Livable Communities Australia, and a meeting of the Moreton Regional Council.  In a meeting with executives of Cisco Systems in Brisbane, Littlefield outlined Chattanooga’s world class fiber optic smart grid system that is moving his community ahead in the digital age and “once more, putting Chattanooga on the short list of progressive cities”.

Current Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood, has long been a strong proponent for the creation of livable and sustainable communities.

Following an exciting appearance at the National Bike Summit’s Congressional Reception on March 15th, LaHood unveiled some new policy guidelines that will, in his words, “[integrate] the needs of bicyclists in federally-funded road projects.”  Such policy changes will include raising the bar on design standards, additional data collection about current walking and biking trips, the protection of sidewalks and shared-use paths, and efforts to encourage respect for nonmotorized transportation modes. In a recent interview with Green Inc., posted in the New York Times, LaHood explains his new ideas, their impact, and defends his position against the harsh words of critics.  

To read the full interview click here.

This is a Compendium of Community Aging Initiatives, which was made possible by generous support from MetLife Foundation. The Compendium provides information on 121 initiatives and organizations across the country that are helping communities become more aging friendly. The goal of this project is to shorten the learning curve through continued information sharing and cross-learning, so please feel free to distribute this report to other individuals or organizations who may find it useful. The report was produced by the Center for the Advanced Study of Aging Services at University of California Berkley.  Click here to download the Report.

Governing magazine founder Peter Harkness writes about how local business and governmental entities are taking action on climate change issues in their communities.