The PA Municipal League and Sustainable Pittsburgh will host the 3rd Annual Municipal Sustainability Conference at the Hyatt Place in State College from 9:00 to 4:00.

This year’s day-long Sustainability Conference is packed with exciting and informative sessions running the gamut of sustainable community development, including conversations about community planning, local food, social and racial equity, and the electrification of local vehicles.

The Conference is in support of the statewide performance recognition program, Sustainable Pennsylvania Community Certification.

The event kicks off with a discussion on how to energize and activate the community development process in your municipality using a new model for comprehensive planning.

You will be introduced to the idea of an implementable comprehensive plan, a method that includes defined, resourced, and actionable steps for moving your sustainable development work forward. 

Following the discussion, you will discover the benefits of expanding and encouraging local food production.

Topics covered include a story of a Borough that created a shared garden space, which became an important community asset, and a newly released guide and model ordinance for urban agriculture illustrating how you too can encourage local food production.

During lunch, Jim Price, Sustainable Community Manager for Sustainable Pittsburgh will share the nuts and bolts of earning certification in the Sustainable Pennsylvania Community Certification (or improving your score) and some of the key actions to take for a deeper dive into sustainability, positioning your community for the best possible outcomes.

Conference organizers are excited to welcome participants of the National League of Cities (of which PML is an affiliate), program on Race, Equity, And Leadership (REAL) from Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and State College. 

They will discuss their work as the inaugural cohort of the National Municipal Learning Community for Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation. 

The 18-month program is designed to provide leaders with an opportunity to learn from their peers and national experts, and gain understanding of how they can implement and strengthen efforts to advance racial equity.

The jam packed day will end with two presentations about how to reduce your community’s energy consumption and how to leverage vehicle charging stations to revitalize your community. 

There has been considerable buzz about VW’s payment to Pennsylvania and how communities might take advantage of the Driving PA Forward initiative.

Featured speakers include: Feyisola Alabi, Office of Mayor William Peduto; Jonathan Burgess, Allegheny County Conservation District; Cathy Dauler, State College Borough Council; Thomas R. King, Borough of State College; Majestic Lane, Office of Mayor William Peduto; Bernadette Onyenaka, Race, Equity, and Leadership; Jim Pashek, Pashek + MTR; James Price, Sustainable Pittsburgh; Denny Puko, Dept. of Community & Economic Development; Mary Ellen Ramage, Borough of Etna; Stacy Richards, Stacy Richards & Associates; Matthew Shortall, Constellation Energy; and Nefertiri Sickout, Office of Mayor James F. Kenney.

Click Here for more information and to register.  For more information on municipal sustainability initiatives, visit the Sustainable Pennsylvania Community Certification webpage.

[Posted: May 25, 2018]

5/28/2018