City Of Indianapolis Named 2010 Iact Green Community Of The Year 10.13.10

The Indianapolis Star

The Indiana Association of Cities and Towns (IACT) announced the City of Indianapolis as a 2010 IACT  Green Community of the Year. The City of Indianapolis received its award during the Annual Awards Luncheon on Monday, October 4 during the 2010 IACT Annual Conference & Exhibition in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

“We are making our city buildings and operations more energy efficient, creating more bike lanes and adding green infrastructure projects to city streets,” said Mayor Greg Ballard. “All of these improvements are directly improving our local environment, helping save taxpayer money and creating a sustainable, vibrant Indianapolis that current and future generations will want to call home.”

IACT launched the Green Communities Initiative in 2008 to identify potential cost savings to communities facing budget shortfalls, promote economically competitive quality of life concepts, and ultimately serve as role models for citizens while better protecting our environment. The initiative will expand educational opportunities for municipalities and create a consolidated clearinghouse of data and programs that can be accessed by municipalities.

Indianapolis had to fill out a 51-question survey in the areas of purchasing, operations, measuring success, and sample projects. Not only did the city meet the minimum score required to be a Green Community, but ranked highest among other communities its size. The city’s exemplary efforts in the area of green programs earned them the 2010 IACT Green Community of the Year award in the 50,000 and above population category.

“Being named IACT’s Green Community of the year shows that we are making great strides in becoming a more sustainable community,” said Office of Sustainability Director Kären Haley. “All of the actions we have taken since the creating Office of Sustainability two years ago are proof that city government is leading by example in order to make Indianapolis one of the most sustainable cities in the Midwest.”

The Indiana Association of Cities and Towns (IACT) is a coalition of municipal officials who seek to improve the quality of life in Indiana through effective government, and is a member of the National League of Cities. Founded in 1891, IACT is one of the oldest state municipal organizations in the country, with 467 cities and towns as members. IACT advocates for municipalities as the official voice of municipal government in Indiana, and promotes good government through education, training and leadership.

To learn more about Mayor Ballard’s vision of making Indianapolis one of the most sustainable cities in the Midwest, visit www.sustainindy.org.
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