Southeast Sustainability Directors Network Urges the Tennessee Valley Authority to Strengthen Its Commitment to a Clean, Resilient Energy Future

December 6, 2024 – The Southeast Sustainability Directors Network (SSDN), representing more than 125 local governments dedicated to advancing sustainability across the southeastern United States, submitted comments yesterday to the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) regarding its 2025 Draft Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). SSDN’s recommendations focus on driving a stronger commitment to sustainability, transparency, and equity…

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SSDN 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…

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Knoxville’s long term commitment to energy efficiency and developing equity partnerships pays dividends for struggling residents

As any local government official knows well, strong community partnerships aren’t developed overnight. Establishing ties that yield meaningful impacts takes time to cultivate and a commitment to shared goals.  The City of Knoxville knows a thing or two about what it takes to form a solid partnership and, through their long term commitment to equity-centered…

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SSDN Announces 2021 Community Collaboration Catalyst Micro Grant Award Winners

SSDN members believe that rooting sustainability work in equity is essential to seeing success in both solving the climate crisis and dismantling inequity. Our members are committed to addressing climate change by centering people and their experiences, and promote equal opportunity in the benefits from climate action.  With support from The Kresge Foundation, SSDN launched…

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Nashville’s Partnership with Goodwill Industries Leads to Green Jobs for the City

Resilience is the result of sustainability being the driving force of a community’s growth. With this in mind, SSDN’s Southeast Sustainable Communities Fund (SSCF) provides governments in the Southeast with the financial capacity to foster tangible, resilient growth in their communities. Equipped with a $300,000 grant from SSDN, Tennessee homeowners are now able to rely…

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Knoxville’s Energy & Sustainability Initiative and Chattanooga’s Build it Green Program Announced Winners of the 2020 Tennessee Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards (GESA)

The Tennessee Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards (GESA) are presented annually to recognize outstanding achievements by individuals, local governments, businesses, organizations, educational institutions, and agencies for successful environmental projects and conservation measures. This year, two projects of the Southeast Sustainable Communities Fund, the Built it Green Program of Chattanooga and Knoxville’s Energy & Sustainability Initiative. Congratulations…

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SSDN 2019 Annual Report

2019 was a year of building, a year of trying new things, and experimenting with creative opportunities to meet the network’s strategic planning goals.

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