1 1 southwest florida climate prosperity strategy southwest florida regional planning council

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1 1 Southwest Florida Climate Prosperity Strategy Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council

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Southwest Florida Climate Prosperity Strategy

Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council

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Climate Prosperity Project

Created by Global Urban Development in 2007, with financial support from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and the Environmental Defense Fund

Based on the proposition that climate change is a great economic opportunity

8 locations selected to pilot Climate Prosperity Strategies:Silicon ValleyThe State of DelawareMetropolitan SeattleMetropolitan DenverMetropolitan PortlandMetropolitan St. LouisMontgomery County, MarylandSW Florida

Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council chosen as the lead agency for the SW Florida Climate Prosperity Strategy

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SW Florida Regional Planning Council

34 member council 24 elected officials, representing 6

counties and 16 cities 5 state agency representatives 5 gubernatorial appointees

representing:Education

Business

Environment

Economic development

27 Staff

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SW FloridaClimate Prosperity Leadership

A Growing Partnership

SW Florida Planning CouncilEconomic Development Strategy CommitteeEnergy & Climate Sub-Committee

Economic development organizations

Chambers of commerce & private sector stakeholders

SW Florida Manufacturers Association

Universities and community colleges

Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs)

Environmental organizations

Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program

Community Groups

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SW Florida Strengths

Excellent climate Gateway to the Everglades (globally known brand) Access to the Gulf Coast Historically successful economic strategy of:

Encouraging tourism

Leading to purchase of 2nd homes

Resulting in people moving to the region when they retire

Economic clusters have been Tourism

Housing development

Health care

Agriculture

Mining

Retail

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SW Florida Challenges

SW Florida was overbuilt and now is hard hit with foreclosures

58,000 people out of work in SW Florida, more than 10% of the workforce

Relatively few export industries

Poor public transit

Land assembly is difficult due to the large number of platted, undeveloped lots

Florida used to be a low-cost state, but now costs are rising significantly

SW Florida is low lying region, so sea level rise puts the region at risk (worst case is 16 inches by 2050)

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SW Florida Climate Prosperity Goals and Outcomes

SW Florida Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy includes goals for the Climate Prosperity Strategy: Attract and retain a cluster of environmentally sustainable and economically

efficient businesses Garner long term economic and environmental benefits Increase the earning potential for SW Florida residents and businesses Educate SW Floridians on the economic and environmental benefits of

investment in green technologies

Desired Outcomes: Green businesses, green jobs, and green profits Environmentally skilled workforce Improved energy efficiency, green savings

and reduced greenhouse gas emissions Sustainable business and household practices Environmentally conscious businesses

and households Improved quality of life

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SW Florida Climate Prosperity Strategic Framework

Climate Prosperity Strategies have 3 dimensions: Green Savings Green Opportunities Green Talent

SW Florida Climate Prosperity Strategy is organized as a set of Initiatives with component Green Programs: A Green Savings Initiative with 5 component Green Programs A Green Opportunities Initiative with 6 component Green Programs A Green Talent Initiative with 3 component Green Programs

In addition to the SW Florida Regional Planning Council and numerous partner organizations, 2 new structures will be formed: A SW Florida Climate Prosperity Network A SW Florida Green Talent Leadership Group

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Green Savings Initiative

Eco-Smart Development: Establishment of solar powered, energy efficient, walkable communities, such as Babcock Ranch, with preservation zones and organic agriculture. Others include – Ave Maria, Big Cypress, Lakewood Ranch, and Green Mile

Hurricane/Energy Efficient Retrofits: Development and implementation of a new type of retrofit that combines hurricane hardening with energy efficiency, in cooperation with Florida House

Green Business Partnership: Expansion of the Sarasota Green Business Partnership to other counties in the region, encouraging environmental stewardship by assisting and recognizing businesses that operate in an environmentally responsible manner

Climate Adaptation: Completion of the Charlotte Harbor Climate Adaptation Strategy, leading to Climate Adaptation Consultations with other regions

Environmental Mitigation Banking: Institution of environmental mitigation banks, such as Panther Island and Big Cypress, to create, preserve, restore, or enhance a wetland, stream, or habitat conservation area

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Biofuel Industry: Partnership with the Farm to Fuel® Initiative to expand the number of biofuel vehicles; increase fueling facilities; and expand production, such as the new Verenium owned Highlands Ethanol Project

Solar Industry: Promotion of the installation and use of solar energy, particularly solar hot water heating

Green Inland Port: Establishment of a Green Port Policy for the new Inland Port, which will be an off-site warehousing and distribution center to which Florida seaports can ship containers for unpacking

Green Opportunities Initiative

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Green Incubator/Accelerator: Creation of a green dimension for the Southwest Florida Virtual Incubator/Accelerator and the Regional Incubator Network to provide assistance to green and clean tech businesses

Sustainable Agriculture: Partnership with Florida Certified Organic Growers and Consumers to expand the market for organic agricultural products and to assist farmers to undertake or expand organic farms

Ecotourism: Partnership with the Society for Ethical Ecotourism – Southwest Florida (SEE SW FLA) to support of the ecotourism industry in the region

Green Opportunities Initiative (Cont.)

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Green Talent Initiative

Green Talent Program: Partner with the SW Florida Workforce Investment Board to organize a Green Talent Leadership Group to design/implement a Green Talent Program to identify green industry sub-sectors; recruit job candidates; provide job readiness and skill training; and arrange for placement and post-placement support

Green Business Education: Partnership with one or more Florida educational institutions to develop and implement a Green Business Education Program for clean tech entrepreneurs and green business managers with responsibility for environmental/sustainability programs

Location-Neutral Workforce: Promotion, among retirees, 2nd home owners, and vacationers, of “location-neutral” work opportunities that do not require particular locations due to Internet and broadband connections

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SW Florida Green Assets

State assets: Governor’s Climate Action Team Florida Solar Energy Center Sustainable Florida – Collins Center Florida Farm to Fuel Initiative Florida BioFuels Association

Regional assets: Gulf Coast Chapter of U.S. Green Building Council Center for Environmental and Sustainability

Education at Florida Gulf Coast University Florida House Institute for Sustainable Development 3 county and 2 city sustainability programs LEED certified planner on

SW Florida Regional Planning Council Staff

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Obstacles and Impediments

In the current economic emergency SW Florida is one of the hardest hit regions Foreclosures put Lee County No.1 in the nation 76 homes have been being foreclosed upon every day Regional unemployment hit above 10 percent as thousands search for jobs

that no longer exist

Platted Lots

Lack of transit

Need for funding

Conflict with other priorities

Resistance to Change

• Sprawl and platted lots make development difficult and transit difficult.

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Strategic Planning Process

Participation by SW Florida in national Climate Prosperity Project meetings, with a presentation at the San Jose meeting

Formulation of the Climate Prosperity Strategy Goals and Outcomes as an aspect of the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy

Consultation by Sustainable Systems and Urban Sustainability Associates Meetings with SW Florida Regional Planning Council Staff Meeting with a broad group of public, private, education, and community

stakeholders Research on Florida and SW Florida green assets

Draft Climate Prosperity Strategy and PowerPoint produced by Sustainable Systems and Urban Sustainability Associates

Review by SW Florida Regional Planning Council staff

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Future Action Steps

Formulate implementation plans for each Green Program in each of the 3 Climate Prosperity Initiatives

Join with partners to implement aspects of the Climate Prosperity Strategy that can be done without additional funding

Pursue additional funding

Constitute a SW Florida Climate Prosperity Network composed of representatives of: County and city sustainability programs Green Business Partnership Developers of Eco-Smart Developments Regional green resource organizations Statewide sustainability organizations

Form a Green Talent Leadership Group including: SW Florida Workforce Investment Board Community colleges and universities Business representatives

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Funding

Primary funding for the SW Florida Climate Prosperity Strategy has come from in-kind contributions from Council members and staff of the SW Florida Regional Planning Council

Council members and staff will continue to provide substantial in-kind contribution of time and administrative expenses

Partner organizations will also contribute in-kind time and administrative expenses

Up to $500,000 in funding is being sought from: Corporations Educational institutions Regional, state, and federal agencies Florida and national foundations

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Outreach

Present the SW Florida Climate Prosperity Strategy to: Energy & Climate Sub-Committee

Economic Development Strategy Committee

Full SW Florida Regional Planning Council

Century Commission for a Sustainable Florida

Various Florida State Agencies

Regional stakeholders

Use the Climate Prosperity Network to: Hold networking meetings

Sponsor forums and educational events

Establish a Web 2.0 Internet site

Identify new Green Programs to include in the Climate Prosperity Strategy

Host an annual Climate Prosperity Summit and Expo

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Assistance Needed

Collaboration from state agencies, such as: Governor’s Climate Action Team Florida Solar Energy Center Farm to Fuel Initiative

Collaboration from regional partners, such as: Gulf Coast Chapter of U.S. Green Building Council Center for Environmental and Sustainability Education at Florida Gulf Coast

University Florida House Institute for Sustainable Development County and City sustainability programs

Assistance from the National Climate Prosperity Project

Additional consultation assistance from Sustainable Systems and Urban Sustainability Associates

Funding for to hire a Coordinator for the SW Florida Climate Prosperity Strategy on the staff of the SW Florida Regional Planning Council

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Climate Prosperity

is seeing

the opportunity

in the challenge!