EPA Awards SSDN with Multi-Environmental Media Environmental Finance Grant (EFC) for Region 4
SSDN to expand its Southeast Sustainable Recovery Center to serve local communities across the region with support for accessing federal funding. Reference: Press Release from Biden-Harris Administration Last week, the Biden-Harris Administration announced the Environmental Protection Agency’s selection of Environmental Finance Centers around the country. Environmental Finance Centers provide technical assistance to communities to access…
Read MoreCommunity partnerships power the City of Durham’s successful energy efficiency and home repair program
On a hot and humid afternoon in the summer of 2019, a severe thunderstorm hit Durham, North Carolina. Heavy winds lashed the area, felling large trees that blocked roads and damaged homes. The storm dropped vast amounts of rain that left many residential yards looking more like swamps than places for kids to play and…
Read MoreLocal Government Leaders Weigh in with NC Utilities Commission on State Carbon Plan
Seven mayors and a County Commission Chairwoman representing local governments and communities across North Carolina submitted a letter to the N.C. Utilities Commission (NCUC), sharing comments and recommendations regarding the state’s Carbon Plan, which must be developed and approved by December 31, 2022. The Town of Boone, Town of Chapel Hill, Chatham County, City…
Read MoreEquipping vulnerable communities to navigate extreme weather, health disruptions, and other emergencies with Resilience Hubs
As the impacts of climate change mount, heightened weather and health disruptions are posed to local governments, organizations, and communities to navigate: heat waves, polar vortexes, storms… and pandemics, just to name a few. In 2019 and preceding years, Fulton County, Georgia, was dealing with several of these disruptions, and realized they needed to enhance…
Read MoreStrong partnerships with community organizations, local governments, key to Keep Safe Miami resilience program
Source: Twitter, @CityofMiami Resilience is a journey, and the sustainability staff at the City of Miami are determined to reach their destination. The ever-progressing impacts of climate change across south Florida don’t make the road easy, particularly for those living in the area’s affordable housing communities. But working alongside strong community partners like Enterprise Community…
Read MoreSSDN Communities Make Strides in Participatory Engagement, Supported by 2021 Community Collaboration Catalyst MicroGrant Award
With support from The Kresge Foundation, SSDN launched its new Community Collaboration Catalyst Micro Grant Program in 2021. This program provided small grants to local government and community partnerships for the purposes of supporting equity-centered community leadership and engagement in local climate and resilience planning and program development. Grantees tested innovative approaches to engagement for…
Read MoreA Look Back: SSDN 2022 Annual Meeting
“Best. Meeting. Ever!” “Incredible people! Love to meet my new colleagues.” “I’m happy to know that I’m not alone.” These words and more were shared in the aftermath of our phenomenal 2022 Annual Meeting in sunny Savannah, Georgia at the beginning of May. After three years of pent-up desire to once again enjoy what makes…
Read MoreCity of Little Rock Launches Green Restaurant Certificate Program
Last month, the City of Little Rock launched a new program to add sustainability practices to their local hospitality! Restaurants in the city will now be able to take part in a three tier program to help them learn how to implement changes like composting food waste, installing energy-saving equipment to lower energy consumption and…
Read MoreSSDN Speaks at Congress for New Urbanism’s 30th Congress, Represents at North Carolina Rural Summit
As the restraints of the pandemic wane, SSDN’s staff have stretched their legs and participated in two events that will allow the network to grow its connections, knowledge, and share its successes. SSDN’s Executive Director, Meg Jamison, presented in Oklahoma City on March 25, 2022 at the Congress for New Urbanism’s annual congress. This event,…
Read MoreWorkshop Helps SSDN Members Navigate Federal Funding for Environmental Justice
The Biden Administration has put Environmental Justice front and center to help support equitable distribution of federal investment. Local governments in the Southeast have a need for targeted investment to mitigate conditions that have left many communities to experience environmental justice conditions. Columbia University Master of Sustainability Program recently hosted a Capstone Workshop to help…
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