News Summary
Greenwood has been chosen as a pilot community for a sustainability initiative by VisionGreenwood and Sustain SC, aiming to enhance the city’s resilience and environmental sustainability. Launching in summer 2025, the program will feature workshops and sessions for local stakeholders, guided by an interdisciplinary team from the Shi Institute for Sustainable Communities. The initiative seeks to empower residents to participate in developing sustainable practices, ultimately benefiting both the economy and the environment.
Greenwood has been selected as a pilot community for a new initiative aimed at enhancing sustainability and resilience within the municipality. This program, a collaboration between VisionGreenwood and Sustain SC, seeks to develop a comprehensive sustainability roadmap tailored to the specific strengths and opportunities of Greenwood, ultimately promoting a more resilient, environmentally sustainable, and economically vibrant future for the city.
Set to officially launch in the summer of 2025, the pilot program will feature a variety of planning workshops and stakeholder engagement sessions in the months leading up to its introduction. The initiative will include an interdisciplinary team of experts, such as those from the Shi Institute for Sustainable Communities at Furman University, who will play a crucial role in developing strategies and best practices for Greenwood.
The program is being supported by various state initiatives, including resources and expertise from the South Carolina Office of Resilience. This backing emphasizes the collaborative nature of the initiative, as it aims to integrate local solutions with broader sustainability goals proposed by the state.
Cynthia Davis, who serves as the senior vice president of commerce for Sustain SC, highlighted that Greenwood’s collaborative spirit and enthusiasm for innovation makes it an ideal candidate for this initiative. Similarly, Kay Self, the executive director of VisionGreenwood, described the program as a significant opportunity to influence the future of the community positively. The overarching aim is to empower local residents and stakeholders to actively participate in shaping sustainable practices that benefit economic development alongside environmental preservation.
Over the past two decades, VisionGreenwood has concentrated its efforts on community and workforce development, fostering initiatives that support both economic prosperity and an enhanced quality of life within the city. By integrating these historical investments with the new Sustainable Planning Initiative, Greenwood is positioned to leverage its existing strengths while addressing future challenges related to sustainability and resilience.
Andrew Predmore, executive director of the Shi Institute for Sustainable Communities, emphasized the importance of place-based planning. This approach considers the unique characteristics of Greenwood, enhancing the effectiveness of the sustainability strategies being developed. The insights and successful practices derived from this pilot program are expected to serve as models for other communities across South Carolina, further advancing the state’s overall sustainability goals.
Sustain SC, the partner organization coordinating this initiative, focuses on uniting the sustainability objectives of South Carolina businesses with localized approaches that yield environmental, economic, and community benefits. By fostering these connections, the organization aims to bolster the state’s commitment to sustainable development while ensuring long-term impacts are realized in communities like Greenwood.
As planning workshops and stakeholder sessions take shape leading up to the launch, community members and local leaders will have opportunities to engage directly in the planning processes. Their involvement will be critical to developing a robust sustainability framework that addresses Greenwood’s unique needs and aspirations. The findings and practices that emerge from this pilot program will not only inform future efforts in Greenwood but will also serve as a valuable resource for other South Carolina towns looking to enhance their resilience and sustainable development strategies.
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- Wikipedia: Sustainability
Author: HERE Greenwood
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