Look Who’s Coming to Green Cities™ Florida

On May 20th, the Orange County Convention Center will open its doors to Florida’s top business, community and government leaders who are gathering to attend the first ever Green Cities™ Florida conference. The event is designed to create, connect and facilitate meaningful business dialogues while providing educational platforms for business and government with practical steps, strategic plans and appropriate tools for getting started down the path of sustainability.

This is no ordinary ‘green’ conference. Designed specifically to address the economic and environmental challenges and opportunities that Florida faces, Green Cities™ provides 60 of the nation’s sustainability experts speaking on 7 separate educational tracks including: Growing Florida’s Green Economy; Greening your Business A-Z; Green Government; Wise Business Choices in a Changing Economy; Green Events Planning and Production; Understanding and Responding to Climate Change; Green Cities Planning, Design and Construction and a training track.

“Florida has the opportunity to emerge a leader in green business,” states Mayor Richard Crotty. “This event is geared for motivated businesses and government leaders who desire to be more pro-active with ‘green practices’ in order to realize the savings and opportunities associated with this new shift in doing business. Orange County is proud to support this conference because it enables business and government leaders to gain the knowledge they need to implement opportunities to help protect the environment, build community quality, and increase economic opportunities.”

Some of the speakers include:

• Gil Friend – Founder, President and CEO of Natural Logic, Inc., providing advisory services in strategy, design, operations, and information systems that help clients build economic advantage through exceptional environmental performance.
• Mike Italiano – President & Chief Executive Officer for Market Transformation to Sustainability and founder of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
• Dr. Jennifer Languell – Founder and President of Trifecta Construction Solutions and nationally recognized leader in green building education.
• Jerome Ringo – President of the Apollo Alliance, a coalition of business, labor, environmental, and community leaders working to catalyze a clean energy revolution in America.
• Tim Center – Director of Sustainable Florida – Collins Center, an alliance of private and public partners committed to identifying, supporting and communicating sustainable best practices.
• John Lushetsky – Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency for the U.S. Department of Energy, with responsibility for all solar technology development, grid integration, and market transformation activities under the Solar America Initiative.
• Steve Cochran – Internationally-recognized and nationally-prominent leader, speaker, writer, and advocate and practitioner in the field of sustainable enterprise.

Green Cities™ Florida participants will have the opportunity to network with business and government entities through professional and social networking integrated throughout the 2 day conference. In addition, attendees will take part in an historic event: the “Flip The Switch” ceremony for the largest solar array of its kind in the Southeast. The one-megawatt photovoltaic (PV) system is currently being installed atop the Orange County Convention Center and will be turned on for the first time the morning of May 20th during opening ceremonies for Green Cities™ Florida. Both Mayor Buddy Dyer of Orlando and Mayor Richard Crotty of Orange County will be on hand along with Senator Lee Constantine to “turn on the sun” – putting Florida on the map as a leader in sustainability.

Contributing Sponsors include: Advanced Solar Photonics, OUC and Permapave; Media Sponsors are EcoFactory, CSRwire, Sustainability: The Journal of Record and ENS.

ABOUT GREEN CITIES™ FLORIDA
Green Cities™ is produced by Seven-Star, Inc., an EPA award winning green event and green education expert. Green Cities™ Florida offers ideas, products, and services that provide business and government with the necessary tools and resources to make a shift toward sustainable practices. Topics range from green building to clean technology; organic agriculture to green investments; fair trade to the sustainable supply chain; and, integrating sustainability into corporate culture.

For more information, please visit www.greencitiesflorida.com

Green Jobs in Red Hot Markets

Interested in learning from leading experts on how to find a green job, propel your career, and participate in the next wave of economic opportunities for your business, organization, or government agency?

If you answered YES, then get your green tush over to Green Cities™ Florida, May 20-21 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.

Designed as a non-traditional conference, Green Cities™ Florida will equip business, government and YOU with practical steps, relevant case studies, workshops and strategic plans for getting started on a green plan of action. The green economy is growing and transforming every part of the marketplace!

“The Apollo Alliance estimates that an ambitious $500 billion in federal spending over 10 years would create over 5 million jobs. This includes a broad range of activities such as building efficiency, renewable energy investments, smart growth, advanced grid technology, research and development initiatives and a ‘cap and invest’ program to reduce climate change pollution.” ~Jerome Ringo, President, Apollo Alliance

Hear more from Ringo on Wednesday, May 20th in his session entitled The Color of Green: The Next Inconvenient Truth

Here are a few more examples of the exciting & informative presentations that will transform the way you think, live, manage business and govern in Florida:

• What Makes a Business Green? to be presented by Alisa Gravitz, Director of Green America. Learn how a business, agency, or organization grows greener.  Ms. Gravitz shares how to implement authentic sustainable practices and policies into your work from the perspective of businesses who have been walking the green path for the last 25 years. Mark your calendar to attend this session on Wednesday, May 20^th!

• A Growing and Nurturing Your Local Green Economy workshop will be held on Thursday, May 21st, by Mary Anne Bowie, Founder, Sarasota Green Marketplace, where participants will learn how the Sarasota Green Connection Economic Development Model has evolved over a six year period and is replicable in other communities. Results include green building products retail store, local directory of 250 businesses that sell eco-friendly products and services, a 4,000 person community network, six years of monthly eco-forums and a grow the green economy focused non profit.

• Also on Thursday, May 21st, meet Robert Van der Like with The Cadmus Group who will conduct a workshop on Greening America’s Schools, New & Existing, through LEED. Van der Like currently manages the US Green Building Council’s pilot project for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) in existing schools.

To learn more about the Green Cities™ Florida expert speakers and presentations, click here.

With the conference less than a week away, there is no time to waste. REGISTER now! Conference passes start at just $99.

For more conference information, visit the official website or call 1-800-408-0002.

APA Approves More Green Cities™ Florida Courses for Credits

Need another “green” reason to attend Green Cities™ Florida? Hold on to your blueprint!

The American Planning Association has approved 17 of the Green Cities™ Florida courses for AICP CMs (the Continuing Education designation for Planners) for a total of 20.5 hours of credits.

Turn your blueprint into a greenprint!

Here is a list of those courses:

Achieving Climate Neutrality: The LACCD Sustainability Plan Wednesday, 05/20/09 02:30PM to Wednesday, 05/20/09 03:30PM
Alternative Energy Innovations Thursday, 05/21/09 09:00AM to Thursday, 05/21/09 11:30AM
Building Florida’s Clean Tech Economy Wednesday, 05/20/09 02:30PM to Wednesday, 05/20/09 03:30PM
Effective Actions and Collaborations for Addressing Climate Change Wednesday, 05/20/09 04:00PM to Wednesday, 05/20/09 05:30PM
Federal to Local: Translating the Stimulus Package for local governments Wednesday, 05/20/09 01:00PM to Wednesday, 05/20/09 02:00PM
Green Roofs, Living Walls, and buildings as Green Space Thursday, 05/21/09 09:00AM to Thursday, 05/21/09 10:00AM
Leadership in Florida’s Green Local Governments Wednesday, 05/20/09 04:00PM to Wednesday, 05/20/09 05:30PM
Local Government: Setting a Course of Action Thursday, 05/21/09 09:00AM to Thursday, 05/21/09 11:30AM
Preserving Florida’s Water Supply and Quality with LID Practices Thursday, 05/21/09 09:00AM to Thursday, 05/21/09 10:00AM
Re:Visioning The American City Wednesday, 05/20/09 02:30PM to Wednesday, 05/20/09 03:30PM
Renewable Energy Policy and Programs Panel Wednesday, 05/20/09 04:00PM to Wednesday, 05/20/09 05:30PM
Self-sufficient Urbanism: Contraction of the American City Thursday, 05/21/09 10:30AM to Thursday, 05/21/09 11:30AM
Sustainable Hospitality: In Search of Low Hanging Fruit Wednesday, 05/20/09 02:30PM to Wednesday, 05/20/09 03:30PM
The Bridges: Sustainable Community Design Wednesday, 05/20/09 01:00PM to Wednesday, 05/20/09 02:00PM
Transit Oriented Design and Central Florida’s Sustainable Future Wednesday, 05/20/09 02:30PM to Wednesday, 05/20/09 03:30PM
Understanding the Dynamics of the Global Carbon-Climate-Human System Wednesday, 05/20/09 11:00AM to Wednesday, 05/20/09 12:00PM

Green Cities™ Florida, to be held May 20-21, 2009 in Orlando, offers a highly interactive, outcome-based portfolio of courses and workshops presented with practical steps and specific plans for participating in the growing $400 billion green economy.

Check out the full Green Cities™ Florida program and schedule and don’t miss the Planning Central Florida: Integrating Growth and Conservation panel with Jim Yawn, Walt Thompson, and Jeff Jones on May 20! Learn about The Walt Disney Company and The Nature Conservancy’s innovative partnership and model for planning. This presentation will provide insight for successful public and private partnerships that can be applied anywhere a balance is needed between growth and natural resource conservation.

For more conference details visit the official website or call 1-800-408-0002.

Glendale, CA gets its green groove on!

Graceland has Elvis. St. Louis, the Gateway Arch. And if things proceed according to Planning Commissioner Chang Lee’s vision, Glendale will soon join the ranks of iconic U.S. cities by establishing a high-tech corridor with enough unique features to draw people to the area and create a buzz that would sweep the nation.

Lee is scheduled to pitch the idea to his colleagues on the Planning Commission during their meeting today, May 6. While there is no designated location in the proposal, Councilman John Drayman, who chairs the Redevelopment Agency, said the most likely technology-centered area would be along San Fernando Road.

“The Redevelopment Agency has already embraced a lot of forward-looking ideas,” he said, noting that he was eager to learn more about Lee’s proposal in addition to Councilwoman Laura Friedman’s concept for transforming a portion of the San Fernando Corridor into an Arts District. “I believe our residents want innovative ideas.”

Friedman, who campaigned heavily on the concept of establishing an arts manufacturing district along San Fernando Road, said Monday that she did not think the two ideas were mutually exclusive.

“We’re trying to capitalize on that industry and bring more into Glendale,” she said, noting that she didn’t think a technology corridor would conflict with an arts district. “It’s not like we have to bring something here that doesn’t already exist.”

The state is currently targeting tax incentives to keep entertainment jobs in California — a crucial element in any plan, she said.

While both Disney and DreamWorks continue to transform the northern end of the San Fernando Road corridor, major swaths of the redevelopment area remain home to light industrial and service businesses.

Lee’s proposal would change that.

In addition to attracting companies and individuals who promote research, design and application of advanced technologies in information technology and green energy to a designated area, Lee said the designated area could become a leader in LED lighting use and other renewable energies. He said his presentation is aimed at sparking a conversation that will galvanize the city toward creating a corridor that addresses the needs of the city while increasing its competitive edge.

“The world is changing really fast,” he said. “I want this corridor to invite all the corporations that are involved in [green] and at the same time implement the technology so it can become an example. Once you do this, I think [companies] will move in.”

Lee said multiple companies have pledged to move to the corridor should it come into existence.

The proposal also calls for new “media poles” throughout the district that would draw consumers in with touch-screen games and the ability to take self-pictures, among other features.

“I think this will become that unique feature to draw people in,” Lee said.

After a trip to South Korea to visit Glendale’s newest sister city, Goseong, with former Councilman Bob Yousefian last year, Lee said he was inspired to replicate the country’s success in implementing available technologies in the United States.

“They already are way ahead of us,” Yousefian said. “What we saw in South Korea was more of the application of technology that was created in this country, but not really utilized to its fullest.”

For example, he said, of the financial incentives to employ green technology, converting Glendale’s streetlights to LED bulbs could save $9 million every year.

Officials also said having a technology corridor in Glendale would be particularly helpful in bringing jobs into the U.S. economy — a directive currently encouraged under President Obama.

“Being in a redevelopment area, there are incentives the city can take to help foster the movement of industries to that area,” Drayman said. “I’m all for discussion of attracting industries to our city.”

To view the original article, visit TheGlendaleNewsPress.com.

But California is not the only state creating green buzz! Florida stands on the cusp of a tremendous emergence in green building, clean technology, water conservation, innovative business growth and wise land use planning.

Join us at Green Cities™ Florida May 20-21 in Orlando, Florida, for a unique conference designed to equip business and government with practical steps, relevant case studies and strategic plans for getting started and transforming Florida’s green economy.

And don’t miss the presentation on “California’s Hot New Financing Tool: A Model for Florida?” by Paul D’Arelli!

D’Arelli will be speaking about this innovative financing tool and whether it could be a model for Florida to reduce greenhouse gas.

Learn more about this upcoming sustainability conference at the official website or call 1-800-408-0002.

Philadelphia Mayor Envisions a Green City by 2015

Take a walk around Mayor Nutter’s “green” Philadelphia and you’ll find an open, public space within a 10-minute walk of almost every Philadelphian’s home.

Also within a short stroll from every household: a farmer’s market or other healthy, fresh food outlet.

Both visions are part of the mayor’s ambitious plan, scheduled to be announced today, to make Philadelphia the No. 1 Green City in the nation.

“We’ve put out a plan that is aggressive, achievable and measurable,” said Nutter. “The green economy is a pathway to the future. We [Philadelphia] were known for innovation many years ago and now we are reinventing ourselves.”

Called “Greenworks Philadelphia,” the plan identifies 15 goals the administration hopes to reach by 2015 – the last year of a possible second term for Nutter.

The mayor will formally announce the plan in a speech at the Franklin Institute that will mark the culmination of a campaign promise and, at least momentarily, shift attention away from the troubled city budget.

“This is really an economic development strategy. This is about jobs,” said Mark Alan Hughes, Nutter’s director of sustainability.

He described the plan’s overarching goal as repositioning Philadelphia for a new future – and away from a past marked by deep job losses and a declining population.

“So while it is about carbon reduction, it’s really about poverty reduction,” he said. “While it’s about providing fresh food in neighborhoods, it’s really about building an agriculture sector of jobs.”

While other cities, such as New York and Chicago, have in recent years already unveiled similar blueprints for “green” living, none have done so at a time when the federal government is ready to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on renewable energy, energy conservation and other such programs.

But that is just what President Obama is prepared to do as part of the $787 billion stimulus plan – and the mayor’s office anticipates using some of that money to fund some Greenworks programs, such as weatherizing homes and installing electricity-saving LED traffic lights.

“It is a bit serendipitous,” Joseph Manko, chairman of the mayor’s Sustainability Advisory Board, said of the completion of Greenworks Philadelphia. “To me, the timing couldn’t be better.”

In terms of “green” initiatives, Philadelphia is on the White House’s radar, with Vice President Biden convening a task force hearing last February at the University of Pennsylvania on the “green” economy. Nutter was one of the speakers.

Some of the 15 goals Nutter is expected to outline focus on the city government itself.

For instance, he will call for the city government to lower its energy consumption by 30 percent – a move that Hughes said can save the city $36 million in 2015.

The bulk of the energy savings would be achieved in two ways. First, the city is currently searching for a company that specializes in providing energy services to assess how costs can be cut at four major city buildings: City Hall, the Municipal Services Building, One Parkway and the Criminal Justice Center.

Together, energy bills for the four buildings cost $5 million a year. But three companies competing for the work – final proposals are due today – have indicated that they can cut that expense by $1 million annually, Hughes said.

Moreover, under a special state program, he said the city would be able to borrow against the anticipated savings for up to 15 years – freeing up $15 million to spend now on other energy projects.

Second, beginning July 1, city departments will for the first time receive individual energy bills showing how much it costs, for example, to provide electricity to specific police stations and recreation centers. Previously, those bills were lumped into a single expense.

“They’ve had no reason to conserve because it was treated like it was for free,” Hughes said. But now departments will be given projected energy bills – and instructed to reduce them by 10 percent. “So they will have to start doing things like closing the door in August to keep the A/C in, and turning off the lights,” he said.

As an incentive, departments will be permitted to keep any savings of more than 10 percent within their department budgets.

To read the original article and Nutter’s other “green” goals for 2015, visit The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Interested in becoming a green city? Learn how to green your city, government or business A-Z during Green Cities™ Florida – an upcoming sustainability conference to be held May 20-21 in Orlando, Florida.

Green Cities™ Florida will address the key elements that make-up a city such as: energy, tourism, finance, construction, manufacturing, education, health care and infrastructure. The conference will offer green strategies that will transform the way you think, live, manage business and govern in Florida.

To learn more about Green Cities™ Florida, visit the official website or call 1-800-408-0002.

Green Cities Tweet-Up in Orlando!

If you have been looking to connect with the growing ‘green’ business and government community in Central Florida, you’re invited to attend the first Green Cities Tweet-up on Wednesday May 6 at 7 pm at the Orlando Brewing Company.

Doterati.com and Green Cities Florida invite you to join them for a fun evening of networking at the Orlando Brewing Company, Florida’s only fully certified Organic Brewery.

Connect with other sustainably-minded professionals and learn more about what is coming to Florida in terms of green economic growth.

Just a few more reasons you should join us on Wednesday, May 6th for THE progressive networking event of the year!

• Great door prizes including one-day passes to the Green Cities Florida Conference
• Enjoy award winning certified organic beers & wine-right from the source
• Meet and network with ‘eco-preneurs’, business leaders, and other ‘green’ professionals from Orlando
• Green Cities Twitter team will be on hand to help de-mystify the world of Twitter and help you connect with the people, businesses and communities you have been wanting to meet
• Learn more about Green Cities Florida and get to know other conference attendees

And don’t worry, you don’t have to be a Twitter expert to attend. This event is designed to be beneficial to anyone interested in creating professional connections with ‘green’ focused businesses and sustainably-minded professionals in Central Florida.

Click here for directions to the Orlando Brewing Company.

If you are not on Twitter yet, click here to sign up and for the latest buzz be sure to follow us @GreenCitiesNews, @GreenBuzz and @GreenerCity!

Early Bird Registration for Green Cities Florida ends May 11 – Register here today!

*FYI:  Orlando Brewing has Wi Fi, so feel free to bring your laptop and tweet ’til your heart’s content*

Oil Drilling Bill Wins Preliminary Florida House Approval

The Florida House gave preliminary approval on Friday to a bill that would lift the ban on oil and gas production within three miles of the coast.

Early Friday, Governor Charlie Crist and CFO Alex Sink, a Democrat, criticized the proposal as coming late in the legislative session.

HB 1219 would require the governor and Cabinet to approve nominations and solicit bids for leases between three and 10.5 miles from the shoreline, according to Rep. Charles Van Zant, R-Keystone Heights, and sponsor of the bill. He said oil and gas production in Florida would produce 16,000 jobs.

The bill previously only called on the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to draft a plan for allowing oil production while protecting the environment. Last Tuesday the House Policy Council voted 17-7 to amend the bill to allow drilling.

“That part concerns me,” Crist said after a tree-planting ceremony outside the Capitol. “Whenever you do something like that, you want to make sure it is well thought out, that it is done in a very deliberate manner and that people have an opportunity to review it in a reasonable way.”

“And the closeness of it concerns me too,” he added, in an apparent reference to the bill allowing drilling to occur within three miles of shore.

State CFO Alex Sink said oil drilling and production are threats to fishing, tourism and marina-related industries.

“I also think it is unconscionable that a bill that could threaten our economy is being passed at the 11th hour, without any significant debate, serious study or real time to hear from Florida’s citizens,” Sink said in a written statement.  “Floridians deserve to have government in the sunshine — this bill is government in the dark of night.”

The bill was passed on second reading without a vote. Debate and a final vote will occur on third reading, which has not been scheduled.

Associated Industries of Florida have launched an advertising and public relations campaign in support of the HB 1219, purchasing full-page newspaper advertisements and commercials on television stations.

“In the worst economy of our lifetime — a bold plan to meet our energy needs, grow our economy and protect our environment,” the advertisement states. It refers readers to  EnergyFla.com.

HB 1219 requires a $1 million payment to submit a bid to purchase oil and gas leases. The governor and Cabinet would be required to accept nominations for lease areas by September 1 of each year.

Royalties from oil and gas leases would provide $300 million a year for the Florida Forever conservation land-buying program. The bill also requires that $20 million be provided for beach restoration projects and another $20 million for local governments within the counties where leases are issued.

Crist, whose bills to require more renewable energy and fuel-efficient cars are stalled in the Legislature, said there had been attempts by the Legislature to link adoption of his energy bills with lifting the ban on oil drilling.

Such linkage is “kind of an ironic marriage, if you will,” Crist said. “I think we still have a chance to do what’s right.”

To read this full piece by Bruce Ritchie, go to http://bruceritchie.blogspot.com/2009/04/oil-drilling-bill-wins-preliminary.html.

Source: FloridaEnvironments.com and Bruce Ritchie, April 24, 2009

Miami Bids for ‘Smart Grid’ Money

It’s being called as revolutionary as the internet.

‘Smart Grid’ is the name given to a collection of new technologies that will revamp the way electricity is generated, distributed, and used by consumers.

In Miami yesterday, General Electric Co., Cisco Systems Inc. and FPL Group Inc.’s Florida Power & Light Co. announced that for the first time they are bringing ‘Smart Grid’ to an entire region.

The initiative is called Energy Smart Miami. This initiative will be the first in the nation to deliver full scale use of ‘Smart Grid’ technology.

The project will cost $200-million over the next two years, installing more than one million digital smart meters on every home and business in Miami-Dade County. The devices will give customers daily, and even hourly, readouts of electrical consumption. They will show the resident how much power they use and also how power can be used in the most efficient way.

The technology is ready and the need for jobs is now; this project will create economic stimulus and provide affordable and clean energy.

A key part of the decision to go ahead with the ‘Smart Grid’ roll out was government leadership.

Last week, the Obama administration announced guidelines to receive $4 billion in stimulus money to develop the new generation electric grid, and yesterday General Electric, Florida Power and Light and the City of Miami announced their bid.

Roll out of the ’smart grid system’ expects to create 1,000 jobs for Miami residents, and help them to conserve electricity.

To listen to the full report, go to http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103295556#email.

Source: NPR, April 20, 2009

Green Cities Founder Walks the Green Talk

As part of Green Cities’ efforts to advance sustainability initiatives and the challenges of communities in going green, Green Cities’ visionary founder Joseph Malki is in Florida on the Green Cities “Listening Tour”. Malki is meeting with business and government leaders to identify and address their priorities in building Florida’s green economy.

During the tour, Malki has been presenting the exciting and informative presentation “Florida is Going Long for Green,” highlighting Florida’s green achievements while explaining the overall global transformation to sustainable government, business and communities. Malki’s expertise and passion is paving the way for a greener future!

Leaders are learning “best practices” for sustainability and “first steps” toward creating real green communities. If you are interested in having Joseph speak at your event or meet with your organization, email Kylie Black at kylie.black@greencities.com.

Interested in becoming a greener city? Listen to Malki’s podcast where he discusses sustainability, the birth of Green Cities, and the importance of walking across party lines.

Check out Malki’s inspiring and entertaining podcast at http://greencitiesmedia.com/2009/04/podcast-joseph-malki-interview/.

Malki will also be a speaker at Green Cities Florida in Orlando this May. To learn more about the upcoming sustainability conference, go to http://greencities.com/usa/florida/orlando/2009.

Orange County Mayor Supports Green Cities

In an effort to support Florida’s sustainability initiatives and bolster Florida’s green economy, Orange County Mayor Richard Crotty endorses Green Cities Florida!

Dear Business and Community Leaders:

I am writing to share with you an exciting new conference that will take place at the Orange County Convention Center on May 20-21, 2009. GreenCities Florida will be a catalyst for green economic development, promoting green businesses and advancing government sustainability initiatives.

Florida faces unique challenges related to climate change, energy, water, biodiversity, construction, tourism, jobs and health care. GreenCities Florida addresses these issues and serves as the catalyst for sustainable innovation in Florida.

Orange County is honored to be a GreenCities Florida Partner, and is excited to participate in this historic conference on building the local, regional, and statewide green economy. Orange County is committed to supporting sustainable innovation, clean technologies, green business, and proactive responses to climate change.

GreenCities Florida will provide members of the private and public sector with insight, inspiration, tools, and resources to create and implement sustainable solutions. Florida’s greater business and government community are invited to learn about sustainable initiatives and help plan the next phase of Florida’s economy. This conference will inspire innovation and provide functional, practical and interactive experiences to equip and empower businesses and governments with sustainable decision making. The conference producers are Seven-Star, Inc., America’s oldest and most reputable green event producers.

Florida has the opportunity to emerge a leader in green business; from clean tech, to green building, to organic lifestyle products. This event is geared for motivated businesses and government leaders who desire to be more pro-active with “green practices” in order to realize the savings and opportunities associated with this new shift in doing business.

Orange County is proud to support this conference because it enables business and government leaders to gain the knowledge they need to implement opportunities to help protect the environment, build community quality, and increase economic opportunities.

With the creation of statewide event like GreenCities Florida, we believe that we can succeed and build a better future for our children, our residents, and the world. We hope that you will join us as a sponsor, speaker or attendee at this unique and historic conference.

Sincerely,

/s/

Richard T. Crotty
Orange County Mayor