Community Sustainability Partnership

What Are the Positive Impacts?

The work that goes into Sustainability pays off in the biggest way possible. We work to foster intelligent, clean, equal economic growth, and that sustainable outcome benefits us all. Read on to see what other outcomes joining this organization can have on our community.

Examples of Sustainability Themes and Outcomes

To See a Visual Represenation of how goups fit together and affect each other, view the Circles of Connectedness

Clean Environment: Measurable reduction in environmental impact. The natural environment is respected, preserved, and improved for future generations.
Quality Community Design and Infrastructure: Community design promotes efficient mixed use development of buildings, land, and open space.
Prosperous Economy: The economic system fosters and sustains strong business, gainful employment, and continuous community reinvestment, as well as increased economic vitality for the city and region.
Enriched Lives: Improved quality of life for the community. Opportunities for and access to varied recreational and cultural activities are abundant.
Education: Improved educational system for our children and students through life long learning and integrative education.
Social Equity: Society embraces diversity and uses the power of diversity for positive change.
Neighborhoods: Neighborhoods are free from crime and other threats to public safety. Improved social capital and social equity.

Take the Readiness Survey

This survey will help your organization determine where they are on this journey to better practices

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What's the Good News so far?
Well, in Grand Rapids...

Renaissance Zone properties taxable value has increased ~$115MM (1996-2005)
Interurban Transit Partnership (ITP) received an Outstanding Public Transportation Award
Highest Per Capita LEED buildings in the U.S. (USGBC)
Calvin College named one of the best places to work in academia (Scientist)
West Michigan ranked #3 in fun and recreation category of "fun places to be" (Places Rated Manual)
Kent, Barry, Ionia, and Newaygo Counties i.e. West Michigan ranked #6 in World Knowledge Competitiveness Index (Robert Huggins Associates)
West Michigan ranked #7 as America’s Safest Cities (Risk & Insurance)
Kent County Waste to Energy Plant received first Michigan Clean Corporate Citizen (C3) Award given to a municipality
Michigan State University Medical School to be located here
Grand Rapids is ranked among the top 25 cities on the Sustainable Cities Index by Kent Portney.
The Community Sustainability Partnership has now been endorsed by over 115 organizations, businesses, and institutions.
The City of Grand Rapids and the Community Sustainability Partnership recently received the first U.S. designation by the UN University as a Regional Center of Expertise (RCE) in Education for Sustainable Development
A number of Community Sustainability Partnership members have completed “triple bottom line” indicator reports as a business, municipal, and regional level

Community Sustainability Partnership

What Are the Positive Impacts?

Examples of Sustainability Themes and Outcomes

Take the Readiness Survey

What's the Good News so far?Well, in Grand Rapids...

What's the Good News so far?
Well, in Grand Rapids...