Rockefeller Brothers Fund Commits Initial Funding for Venture to Address Climate Change in Context of Economic Development Opportunities
ST. LOUIS, June 8 /PRNewswire/ — With environmental, energy and economic challenges threatening the prosperity of metropolitan regions and states, a new, national nonprofit organization has been launched to guide economic development efforts based on a strategy of “Green Savings, Green Opportunity, and Green Talent.”
The new organization is called Climate Prosperity Project, Inc. It is funded with an initial grant of $100,000 from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, which plans to seek additional funding commitments from other foundations, philanthropic institutions, and companies throughout the nation.
The initial grant is funding pilot projects in 8 metropolitan areas and regions across the country. The eight communities are: Silicon Valley/San Jose, CA; Portland, OR; St. Louis, MO/IL; Denver, CO; Seattle, WA; Southwest Florida; Montgomery County, MD; and the State of Delaware.
Economic developers from those 8 communities, along with
Michael Northrop, Rockefeller Brothers Fund Program Director for Sustainable Development, met in a planning session here last week. The eight communities hope to demonstrate how innovation and economic development can move the country to a carbon-free future.
Richard C.D. Fleming, President & CEO of the St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association, and President of the Climate Prosperity Project, Inc. Board of Directors, said, “The simple definition of Climate Prosperity as ‘green savings, green opportunity, and green talent’ has caught on across the country. Initial efforts in the Pilot Communities are proving to be both inspirational and practical as economic development approaches, and we hope to assist those efforts and expand the number and the impact of climate prosperity strategies throughout the country.”
The Climate Prosperity Project defines the three broad categories of “climate prosperity” as follows:
GREEN SAVINGS: Energy efficiency saves money, which keeps dollars and investment here in the United States. Energy efficiency is the quickest way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and bring prosperity to individuals, businesses, and communities.
GREEN OPPORTUNITY: Addressing the challenges of climate change leads to innovation, entrepreneurship, and strong economic growth. Silicon Valley, the iconic center of American innovation, is betting its future on clean energy technology. DuPont, in Delaware, added $3 billion to its bottom line through energy efficiency, new revenue streams for green building products, and bio-based energy.
GREEN TALENT: To achieve building retrofits, renewable energy installations, etc., entrepreneurs, scientists, and construction workers are needed to get the job done. Communities must ensure they have a trained workforce to prosper during this transformation.
Andrea McGimsey has been named as Climate Prosperity Project’s Executive Director. McGimsey has an extensive background in environmental and regional planning issues, currently serving on the Loudoun County, Virginia Board of Supervisors, chairing their Energy & Environment Committee. She previously held senior management positions with
America Online (AOL), and owns a Virginia-based consulting firm. She is based in the Washington, D.C. suburb or Sterling, Va.
For further information on Climate Prosperity Project, Inc., please go to ClimateProsperityProject.org.
SOURCE St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association
