FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 3, 2012
MEDIA CONTACTS: Collin Nash & Sid Nathan | (516) 869-7794
Town Joins with Neighboring Municipalities to Kick off Regional Sustainability Initiative
North Hempstead, NY– With North Hempstead as the lead agency in a state-funded program to promote regional sustainability, Supervisor Jon Kaiman joined with officials from neighboring towns and villages, as well as ecological groups, to kick off a state-funded initiative designed to boost regional economical and environmental health.
The kick-off meeting of the regional sustainability plan—Cleaner Greener Communities—September 28 at the Sustainability Institute at Molloy College in Farmingdale, featured roundtable discussions and working group meetings.
“This regional sustainability plan is different because it’s not one that will sit on the shelf,” Supervisor Kaiman said in his opening remarks to the more than 150 attendees including officials from 11 towns, five villages, a number of utilities as well as environmental groups and private industry.
Supervisor Kaiman noted that the development of a plan over the coming months will trigger a two-phase grant process that will fund programs designed to boost the regions’ economic and environmental health.
Led by North Hempstead, a coalition of Long Island municipalities and organizations will partner with public and private sector experts and community leaders to develop the regional sustainability plan.
The planning effort, which is funded by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), will:
- Assess current greenhouse gas emissions and energy use
- Set sustainability targets for energy supplies, transportation, open space and waste and water management, among other things
- Develop a sustainability road map the region can follow to achieve its goals and targets
- Prioritize eligible projects than can apply for Cleaner Greener Communities implementation funding
NYSERDA is providing funding to New York’s 10 regions through a two-phase grant process. The first phase provides nearly $10 million to help regional planning teams create or expand the scope of sustainability plans. Phase two will be launched in 2013 and provides up to $90 million to fund regional projects that support the regional sustainability goals.
“Long Island is in a position to be leaders in the state with so many successful initiatives promoting sustainability development and smart growth practices,” said Neal Lewis, Executive Director of the Sustainability Institute at Molloy College.
The public is invited to share their ideas for sustainable development and smart growth practices. Contact 311 for more information.