Going green for state green
-Messenger photo by Jesse Helling
Jeff Geerts, special projects coordinator for the Iowa Department of Economic Development, expounds upon criteria for the Iowa Green Streets program, which encourages environmentally sustainable business and community development.
Green living: It’s not just a fad, it’s here to stay. Since November 2007, the Iowa Department of Economic Development has pushed the Green Streets Initiative to promote public health, energy efficiency, water conservation, smart locations, operational savings and sustainable building practices in IDED-administered programs. Any community or business seeking funds from said programs is obliged to follow Green Streets guidelines, said Jeff Geerts, IDED special projects coordinator. Geerts expounded upon those guidelines during a Mid Iowa Growth Partnership conference last week. That event, in Fort Dodge, brought together economic development leaders from throughout north central Iowa, many of whom oversee projects that operate with the support of the IDED. That includes the IDED Housing Fund, Community Development Block Grant Program, Community Facilities and Services Fund and Main Street Iowa Challenge Grant projects. Above all, sustainability is key, Geerts said.
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