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Climate Prosperity Project
Created by Global Urban Development in 2007, with financial support from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and the Environmental Defense Fund
Based on the proposition that climate change is a great economic opportunity
8 locations selected to pilot Climate Prosperity Strategies:Silicon ValleyThe State of DelawareMetropolitan SeattleMetropolitan DenverMetropolitan PortlandMetropolitan St. LouisMontgomery County, MarylandSW Florida
Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council chosen as the lead agency for the SW Florida Climate Prosperity Strategy
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SW Florida Regional Planning Council
34 member council 24 elected officials, representing 6
counties and 16 cities 5 state agency representatives 5 gubernatorial appointees
representing:Education
Business
Environment
Economic development
27 Staff
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SW FloridaClimate Prosperity Leadership
A Growing Partnership
SW Florida Planning CouncilEconomic Development Strategy CommitteeEnergy & Climate Sub-Committee
Economic development organizations
Chambers of commerce & private sector stakeholders
SW Florida Manufacturers Association
Universities and community colleges
Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs)
Environmental organizations
Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program
Community Groups
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SW Florida Strengths
Excellent climate Gateway to the Everglades (globally known brand) Access to the Gulf Coast Historically successful economic strategy of:
Encouraging tourism
Leading to purchase of 2nd homes
Resulting in people moving to the region when they retire
Economic clusters have been Tourism
Housing development
Health care
Agriculture
Mining
Retail
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SW Florida Challenges
SW Florida was overbuilt and now is hard hit with foreclosures
58,000 people out of work in SW Florida, more than 10% of the workforce
Relatively few export industries
Poor public transit
Land assembly is difficult due to the large number of platted, undeveloped lots
Florida used to be a low-cost state, but now costs are rising significantly
SW Florida is low lying region, so sea level rise puts the region at risk (worst case is 16 inches by 2050)
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SW Florida Climate Prosperity Goals and Outcomes
SW Florida Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy includes goals for the Climate Prosperity Strategy: Attract and retain a cluster of environmentally sustainable and economically
efficient businesses Garner long term economic and environmental benefits Increase the earning potential for SW Florida residents and businesses Educate SW Floridians on the economic and environmental benefits of
investment in green technologies
Desired Outcomes: Green businesses, green jobs, and green profits Environmentally skilled workforce Improved energy efficiency, green savings
and reduced greenhouse gas emissions Sustainable business and household practices Environmentally conscious businesses
and households Improved quality of life
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SW Florida Climate Prosperity Strategic Framework
Climate Prosperity Strategies have 3 dimensions: Green Savings Green Opportunities Green Talent
SW Florida Climate Prosperity Strategy is organized as a set of Initiatives with component Green Programs: A Green Savings Initiative with 5 component Green Programs A Green Opportunities Initiative with 6 component Green Programs A Green Talent Initiative with 3 component Green Programs
In addition to the SW Florida Regional Planning Council and numerous partner organizations, 2 new structures will be formed: A SW Florida Climate Prosperity Network A SW Florida Green Talent Leadership Group
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Green Savings Initiative
Eco-Smart Development: Establishment of solar powered, energy efficient, walkable communities, such as Babcock Ranch, with preservation zones and organic agriculture. Others include – Ave Maria, Big Cypress, Lakewood Ranch, and Green Mile
Hurricane/Energy Efficient Retrofits: Development and implementation of a new type of retrofit that combines hurricane hardening with energy efficiency, in cooperation with Florida House
Green Business Partnership: Expansion of the Sarasota Green Business Partnership to other counties in the region, encouraging environmental stewardship by assisting and recognizing businesses that operate in an environmentally responsible manner
Climate Adaptation: Completion of the Charlotte Harbor Climate Adaptation Strategy, leading to Climate Adaptation Consultations with other regions
Environmental Mitigation Banking: Institution of environmental mitigation banks, such as Panther Island and Big Cypress, to create, preserve, restore, or enhance a wetland, stream, or habitat conservation area
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Biofuel Industry: Partnership with the Farm to Fuel® Initiative to expand the number of biofuel vehicles; increase fueling facilities; and expand production, such as the new Verenium owned Highlands Ethanol Project
Solar Industry: Promotion of the installation and use of solar energy, particularly solar hot water heating
Green Inland Port: Establishment of a Green Port Policy for the new Inland Port, which will be an off-site warehousing and distribution center to which Florida seaports can ship containers for unpacking
Green Opportunities Initiative
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Green Incubator/Accelerator: Creation of a green dimension for the Southwest Florida Virtual Incubator/Accelerator and the Regional Incubator Network to provide assistance to green and clean tech businesses
Sustainable Agriculture: Partnership with Florida Certified Organic Growers and Consumers to expand the market for organic agricultural products and to assist farmers to undertake or expand organic farms
Ecotourism: Partnership with the Society for Ethical Ecotourism – Southwest Florida (SEE SW FLA) to support of the ecotourism industry in the region
Green Opportunities Initiative (Cont.)
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Green Talent Initiative
Green Talent Program: Partner with the SW Florida Workforce Investment Board to organize a Green Talent Leadership Group to design/implement a Green Talent Program to identify green industry sub-sectors; recruit job candidates; provide job readiness and skill training; and arrange for placement and post-placement support
Green Business Education: Partnership with one or more Florida educational institutions to develop and implement a Green Business Education Program for clean tech entrepreneurs and green business managers with responsibility for environmental/sustainability programs
Location-Neutral Workforce: Promotion, among retirees, 2nd home owners, and vacationers, of “location-neutral” work opportunities that do not require particular locations due to Internet and broadband connections
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SW Florida Green Assets
State assets: Governor’s Climate Action Team Florida Solar Energy Center Sustainable Florida – Collins Center Florida Farm to Fuel Initiative Florida BioFuels Association
Regional assets: Gulf Coast Chapter of U.S. Green Building Council Center for Environmental and Sustainability
Education at Florida Gulf Coast University Florida House Institute for Sustainable Development 3 county and 2 city sustainability programs LEED certified planner on
SW Florida Regional Planning Council Staff
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Obstacles and Impediments
In the current economic emergency SW Florida is one of the hardest hit regions Foreclosures put Lee County No.1 in the nation 76 homes have been being foreclosed upon every day Regional unemployment hit above 10 percent as thousands search for jobs
that no longer exist
Platted Lots
Lack of transit
Need for funding
Conflict with other priorities
Resistance to Change
• Sprawl and platted lots make development difficult and transit difficult.
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Strategic Planning Process
Participation by SW Florida in national Climate Prosperity Project meetings, with a presentation at the San Jose meeting
Formulation of the Climate Prosperity Strategy Goals and Outcomes as an aspect of the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy
Consultation by Sustainable Systems and Urban Sustainability Associates Meetings with SW Florida Regional Planning Council Staff Meeting with a broad group of public, private, education, and community
stakeholders Research on Florida and SW Florida green assets
Draft Climate Prosperity Strategy and PowerPoint produced by Sustainable Systems and Urban Sustainability Associates
Review by SW Florida Regional Planning Council staff
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Future Action Steps
Formulate implementation plans for each Green Program in each of the 3 Climate Prosperity Initiatives
Join with partners to implement aspects of the Climate Prosperity Strategy that can be done without additional funding
Pursue additional funding
Constitute a SW Florida Climate Prosperity Network composed of representatives of: County and city sustainability programs Green Business Partnership Developers of Eco-Smart Developments Regional green resource organizations Statewide sustainability organizations
Form a Green Talent Leadership Group including: SW Florida Workforce Investment Board Community colleges and universities Business representatives
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Funding
Primary funding for the SW Florida Climate Prosperity Strategy has come from in-kind contributions from Council members and staff of the SW Florida Regional Planning Council
Council members and staff will continue to provide substantial in-kind contribution of time and administrative expenses
Partner organizations will also contribute in-kind time and administrative expenses
Up to $500,000 in funding is being sought from: Corporations Educational institutions Regional, state, and federal agencies Florida and national foundations
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Outreach
Present the SW Florida Climate Prosperity Strategy to: Energy & Climate Sub-Committee
Economic Development Strategy Committee
Full SW Florida Regional Planning Council
Century Commission for a Sustainable Florida
Various Florida State Agencies
Regional stakeholders
Use the Climate Prosperity Network to: Hold networking meetings
Sponsor forums and educational events
Establish a Web 2.0 Internet site
Identify new Green Programs to include in the Climate Prosperity Strategy
Host an annual Climate Prosperity Summit and Expo
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Assistance Needed
Collaboration from state agencies, such as: Governor’s Climate Action Team Florida Solar Energy Center Farm to Fuel Initiative
Collaboration from regional partners, such as: Gulf Coast Chapter of U.S. Green Building Council Center for Environmental and Sustainability Education at Florida Gulf Coast
University Florida House Institute for Sustainable Development County and City sustainability programs
Assistance from the National Climate Prosperity Project
Additional consultation assistance from Sustainable Systems and Urban Sustainability Associates
Funding for to hire a Coordinator for the SW Florida Climate Prosperity Strategy on the staff of the SW Florida Regional Planning Council