Green Ribbon Committee Meeting Friday April 17 at 2pm

Please join Allentown's Green Ribbon Committee, a special group being assembled by the City of Allentown to address both the urgent needs and the historic opportunities being faced by our community at this time.

This group has a single goal:

Create a well-defined strategy for a green community and a sustainable economy for Allentown.

To do this effectively, we hope to draw on your experience as it relates to community/economic development and the environment. We will benefit greatly from your participation and expertise.

Allentown, relative to the rest of the Lehigh Valley, has the greatest concentration of people in need of family-sustaining wages and the greatest number of properties in need of retrofit or remediation. This places us squarely as a leader with respect to the new economy, and we must proceed wisely.

Every day we hear more about the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the “Stimulus Package”). The City will be receiving allocations of funds from the Act. Additionally, competitive grants will be available for collaborative projects. Being prepared with a clear, focused plan will allow for the maximum impact of the available funds on the community.

A facilitator will help us establish a plan of action within two meetings, after which the committee will disband. Membership on this committee will require your attendance at both of its meetings, which are presently scheduled for Friday , April 17th and Friday May 1st. Both sessions will be held from2:0 0 to 5:00 p.m. at the Lehigh County Government Center, Public Hearing Room, 17 South Seventh Street, Allentown PA 18101.

Here are some suggested areas to be addressed, but you may have others. Please bring them with you.

1. EDUCATION AND TRAINING – Providing low-income people with training for, and access to,
green jobs and careers.

2. ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND GREEN ENERGY – Residential housing and commercial,
industrial, institutional, governmental buildings.

3. INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRANSPORTATION

4. WATER, PARKS, AND REMEDIATION/REUSE OF BROWNFIELDS