Earth Day Network kicked off the new year by announcing its partnership with five U.S. cities to work toward reducing their carbon emissions.  Selected due to their existing efforts to reduce energy consumption as well as cost-saving, budget-balancing measures are: Fayetteville, Arkansas; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Bozeman, Montana; Babylon, New York and Santa Fe County, New Mexico. Click here for the article.

MCC is offering starting in January a course called “Sustainability for Buildings." This course will provide a comprehensive review of the 5 core components of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for buildings. Click here for more information.

Five years ago, Grand Rapids launched the Community Sustainability Partnership (CSP) with the goal of creating and adopting economic, environmental, and social systems that are in balance to sustain a positive quality of life for future generations.

As a member of the CSP, we invite you to join us for an update on the CSP’s work to date and we will be asking for your help in crafting a vision for the future. The event will include a keynote address from the current chair of the CSP, Mayor George Heartwell, and interactive roundtable discussions. Visit the "Summits Page" for more information.

The State of Michigan invites you to be a part of Pollution Prevention (P2) Week, by incorporating activities into your daily routine that reduce, reuse and recycle waste. The theme of the celebration this year is “Pollution Prevention:  The Cornerstone of Sustainability." Click here for more information.

You don’t have to go all the way to the Mackinac Bridge to join the annual Labor Day Bridge Walk. The City of Grand Rapids offers its own bridge walk on Labor Day, September 5, 2011, at 8:00 a.m., at Ah-Nab-Awen Park. Click here for more information.

June 15, 2011 - Topic: The Role and Importance of Transportation in Sustainable Communities with Andrea Dewey, Jay Hoekstra and Taiwo Jaiyeoba. Click here to listen.

Past segments:

• May 18, 2011
• April 20, 2011
• March 16, 2011
• Feb 16, 2011
• Jan 19, 2011
• December 15, 2010
• November 17, 2010
• September 15, 2010
• August 18, 2010
• July 21, 2010
• May 19, 2010

Employers in all 50 states expect the bleak employment picture to perk up during the three-month period ending in September. In fact, hiring managers in dozens of metropolitan areas anticipate considerable increases in hiring, while others present a darker forecast. The survey reveals that the metropolitan area with the most optimistic forecast of all for hiring this summer is Grand Rapids-Wyoming, Michigan. Click Here for the Entire Article.

The greater Grand RapidsCommunity Sustainability Partnership has formed a new leadership team, appointed by Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell, Grand Valley State University President Thomas J. Haas, and Grand Rapids Community College PresidentSteven C. Ender, and has set goals for 2011 to help maintain Grand Rapids’ status as the most sustainable mid-size city in the U.S. Click here to view the full press release.

Don't miss out on 247 coupons from 200+ locally owned restaurants, retailers, service providers and entertainment venues ... yours for only $20! Purchase the book at one of 40+ sales locations throughout West Michigan. For more information, please visit the Local First website.

Michigan GREEN has identified forty ways for Michiganders to Go Green in advance preparation for Earth Day April 22nd. Michigan GREEN is accepting nominations for the 2009 Michigan Green Eco Award, given to individuals, groups, organizations, businesses and companies that are ecology minded. To qualify, nominees complete just twenty of the forty Go Green initiatives that are designed to be fun, educational, and eco friendly!  Visit www.michigangreen.org. Email: kevinmeaton@michigangreen.org

http://www.sustainablegr.com