3/10/2011-AdvantageGreen initiative kicks off
AdvantageWest, the six regional COGs in Western North Carolina, and a coalition of leaders from the economic development, education and government sectors have launched a project to grow and market the region’s potential in energy efficiency, renewable energy and clean vehicles industries. Funded with grants from the NC Rural Center, the US Dept of Commerce and the Appalachian Regional Commission, the goal of the project is to position the region as a global leader in clean energy innovation. Land-of-Sky Regional Council is serving as project administrator and fiscal agent.
The initiative kicked into high gear recently as more than 100 representatives of businesses, governments, colleges and universities, nonprofits and other organizations around the region gathered in a series of meetings and focus groups as part of an assessment of the region’s existing clean energy business cluster. This activity followed several months of foundational work on the project, including the formation of a leadership group that represents business, government, education, the public policy sector, economic development organizations, utilities and related groups. An online networking platform and resource directory for clean energy businesses has also been established: www.advantagegreennetwork.org.
Over the next few weeks, a process of identifying trends, niche strengths and opportunities in the clean energy economy will lead to a plan for developing a regional clean energy brand. Scheduled to be presented in June, the plan will also include strategies for marketing, business outreach and recruitment.
The project builds on other clean energy efforts led by Land-of-Sky and AdvantageWest through the AdvantageGreen initiative. Learn more at the project websiteHERE or contact Matt Raker, Sr Director of AdvantageGreen & Grants Administration, or Patrick Harper, Clean Energy Regional Planner at Land-of-Sky Regional Council.
Read the Asheville Citizen-Times article about the project HERE and an editorial HERE.
Article from March 2011 AdvantageWest eNews
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