| V.P. BIDEN IN PHILADELPHIA TALKS GREEN JOBS | | VOLUME III,
ISSUE IV | |  | | Van Jones, Mayor Nutter, Knight Foundation and Green Economy Task Force members during VP Biden's visit to Philadelphia | | | | | | |
| | On Friday, February 27, Vice President Joe Biden convened the first meeting of the Middle Class Task Force on the topic of Green Jobs right here in Philadelphia. Among the attendees were six cabinet secretaries, many elected officials including Mayor Nutter and members of the local Green Economy Task Force.Earlier that day, it was announced that the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation was giving a total of $1.1 million to help spur local efforts to create green collar jobs. The Energy Coordinating Agency received the largest sum, with $900,000 to go towards converting a warehouse in Kensington into a green job training center. The Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia will receive $125,000 to launch a citywide green jobs apprenticeship program, to conduct roundtables with local business leaders and to continue the work of the Green Economy Task Force. The City of Philadelphia also received $100,000 to conduct critical research and to pursue policies that will help create the market for green business creation.Keep up to date on this work and more on the SBN website. | | | PARKS AND RECREATION UPDATE | | | The secretary of Pennsylvania's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Michael DiBerardinis, has just announced his resignation from that post in order to return to his native Philadelphia to become the head of the city's new parks and recreation department. DiBerardinis formerly served as the Commissioner of the Recreation Department under Mayor Rendell. In his capacity as DCNR secretary, he has overseen the Commonwealth's open space, parks, forests, trees, experience that will suit him well in his new capacity. Welcome back to Philly, Mike!In related news, the deadline to apply to serve on the new Commission on Parks and Recreation is on March 9. There have been surprisingly few applications thus far, as noted by a Philadelphia Inquirer editorial, so all park enthusiasts are encouraged to apply so that your experience can be shared. | | | SUSTAINABILITY OFFICE FACEBOOK PAGE | | | Want to get the latest news from the Mayor's Office of Sustainability? Become a fan of the office through their newly created FaceBook site. | | | SUSTAINABILITY AWARD WINNERS | | | The 3rd Annual Philadelphia Sustainability Awards were held on Monday, March 2 during the Philadelphia Flower Show at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. A distinguished panel of judges including nonprofit, government and business leaders from across the region selected five winners. A full listing of the finalists is also available at http://www.philadelphiasustainabilityawards.org/. The 2009 winners include: Bob Pierson for Farm to City, Energy Coordinating Agency, Eagles Go Green, Schuylkill Banks Greenway, and Onion Flats (Thin Flats). Congratulations to all of the winners! | | | SUSTAINABILITY AND THE CITY BUDGET | | | February's Urban Sustainability Forum featured Rob Dubow, city finance director, Mark Alan Hughes, city sustainability director, Rina Cutler, deputy mayor for transportation and utilities and a surprise visit from the Mayor himself. The topic of the forum was how sustainability plans fit in during the city's budget crisis. The city representatives, as well as a panel of experts, demonstrated how investing in energy conservation, increasing recycling rates and creating green jobs would not only help Philadelphia's economic woes, but also help achieve the Mayor's goal of making Philadelphia the 'greenest city in America'. You can listen to a podcast of interviews with several of the night's presenters, and a video of the night's event will soon be available online. | | | LITTER SUMMIT | | | Keep Philadelphia Beautiful is gearing up for a busy cleaning and beautification season. Their first event will be a Litter Summit, on March 26, 2009 from 8:00 to 11:30 a.m. at the United Way Building located at 7 Ben Franklin Parkway.They are partnering with Global Citizen to invite business associations, civic groups, CDCs, NACs, faith-based institutions to focus on the issues that affect the cleanliness of our City. Only 100 people will be accepted to this first event so reservations are strongly recommended by emailing info@keepphiladelphiabeautiful.org or by calling 215-477-0235. | | | OTHER NEWS | | - Inga Saffron looks at how federal stimulus money might be spent to make the city greener, more energy efficient and more innovative.
- Lawyers specializing in environmental law are getting lots of new business.
- Judy Wicks, the iconic figure behind the White Dog Cafe, moves on.
- A Delaware company is slated to start building electric cars next month.
- As departments are asked to come up with 10, 20 and 30% cut scenarios, the Streets Department considers ways of reducing trash and increasing recycling- including a trash fee.
- Enforcement of recycling laws is giving some residents a reason to help make compliance easier.
- Pimp your recycle bin! Artists look to make the blue bin hip.
- Philadelphia receives a grant to help secure its water supply.
- A smart energy grid could become a reality through the investment of federal stimulus money.
- Governor Rendell wants legislation that would enact a green building code for the state.
- SEPTA will be receiving money from the stimulus bill to help renovate stations and to purchase hybrid buses.
- Penn State pursues cellulosic ethanol, or fuel made from grass or wood material, as the next big energy source.
- What kind of toilet paper should you be using? Greenpeace has released a guide to the most environmentally-sound brands.
- A coalition of organizations is pushing to create the region's first green transportation corridor along the Schuylkill River.
- With grants, loans and rebates from both the state and federal government, now is the time to go green.
- New parks galore! A grant from the William Penn Foundation will help the city to create a new park on Pier 11, while the University of Pennsylvania unveils its plans to create a park on the former Post Office site.
- State Senator Shirley Kitchen wants to help Philadelphia grown its green collar workforce and to attract new businesses to the region.
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