INDIANAPOLIS – Accelerate Indiana Municipalities (Aim) announced two Indiana cities have achieved Aim Green Community of the Year distinctions. The cities of Evansville and Whiting were honored on October 7 during the Aim Annual Awards Program, presented by Baker Tilly Municipal Advisors, LLC, during the 2020 Aim Ideas Summit – virtual edition.
Aim launched the Green Communities Initiative in 2008 in conjunction with Christopher B. Burke Engineering, LLC, 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 has expanded educational opportunities for municipalities. Every year the program honors one outstanding project, which exemplifies the program’s ideals.
“Municipal government leaders are expanding their roles to focus on sustainability and green initiatives as a means for improving local quality of life,” Aim CEO Matt Greller said. “Considering the long-term viability of communities is critical from a public health and safety perspective and I’m proud of what Hoosier cities like Evansville and Whiting are doing to lead on these issues.”
The purpose of the Aim Green Communities Initiative is:
- To improve awareness regarding the development and implementation of green policies, programs, and projects.
- To recognize and promote green initiatives at the municipal level, and
- To award communities who have been the most aggressive and successful in implementing green programs over the last year.
Here are a few examples of initiatives and programs implemented by 2020 Aim Green Communities.
The City of Evansville held eight virtual town hall meetings to engage Evansville citizens and gather their suggestions and priorities for reducing their own – and the city’s – total carbon footprint.
The City of Whiting installed permeable asphalt on problem alleys located in the commercial business district and residential alleys prone to standing stormwater.
Conference Facts:
2020 Aim Ideas Summit
October 6-8, 2020
Virtual Attendance: 500 (pending final registration count)
Further information: www.aimindiana.org
Since the 1890s, Aim, formerly the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns, has been an advocate for Indiana municipalities. Aim is the official voice of municipal government in Indiana, with more than 460 cities and towns as members. Our purpose is to foster, promote and advocate for the success of Hoosier municipalities as laboratories of innovation, hubs of talent and the engines driving our state’s economy.