A Sustainble Cleveland+?

This week, Cleveland+ dreamed. This week, we dreamed about what the Cleveland Plus region could be in 2019. We envisioned a vibrant city, bustling with energized, creative people making a difference in the community and the greater world around us. We saw a beautifully elegant wind farm on Lake Erie supplying clean energy to neighboring states and countries. We imagined new curriculum in schools throughout the region, picturing students of all ages eating from green farms, learning how to build LEED-certified buildings, and studying how to produce energy more effectively.

This week, nearly 600 community leaders, business executives, academics, non-profit practitioners, engineers, communicators and students, gathered in Cleveland’s Convention Center for the 2019 Sustainability Summit to discover, dream, design, and ultimately deploy a plan that helps build an economic engine that empowers Cleveland+ to become a "Green City on a Blue Lake."

But what does “Sustainable” mean? To some, it means air purification, clean water, locally-grown organic foods and educated citizens; while for others, it is about alternative energy industries that create new jobs.

So was this Summit about becoming an environmentally friendly community or about becoming a leader in advanced energy solutions that are used to power communities worldwide? Well done, becoming a “Green City on a Blue Lake” means both.

Many studies have proven that sustainable practices make good economic sense. As Northeast Ohio’s business attraction marketer, it is clear to me that if Cleveland+ has active green policies and practices and if Cleveland Plussers live “green” lifestyles, we will become known to alternative energy companies as a hub for green jobs.

But what comes first? Teams developed prototypes in everything from Advanced Energy Research and Advanced Manufacturing/material to Vacant Land Use, Local Food, and leveraging our Water. Naturally, I participated and facilitated the conversation about Communications and Branding. First on my team’s agenda: communicate the importance of living a green lifestyle in schools and neighborhoods throughout the region. The feeling was that if Northeast Ohioans live a more “green” life, then “green jobs” will follow. My opinion? It’s “Chicken and Egg”. I’d say that if we can get more “green jobs” here, building wind turbines and solar panels, then those employees might just start changing Cleveland+ culture to one that is more "green."

So what do you think?