FRENCH LICK – Accelerate Indiana Municipalities (Aim) announced two Indiana cities have achieved Aim Green Community of the Year distinctions. The cities of Westfield and Whiting received the award on August 28 during the Aim Annual Awards Luncheon, presented by Baker Tilly, at the 2019 Aim Ideas Summit in French Lick.
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.
“Along with the traditional functions of municipal government, a growing number of community leaders are expanding their roles to focus on sustainability and green initiatives,” Aim CEO Matt Greller said. “The health and long-term viability of communities is an important consideration, and we applaud Westfield and Whiting for taking the lead on these issues.”
Representatives from participating cities had to fill out an extensive survey in the areas of purchasing, operations, measuring success, and sample projects. Not only did Westfield and Whiting meet the minimum score required to be a Green Community, they earned the highest score in their population category to become a 2019 Aim Green Community of the Year. This is the 10th consecutive year Whiting has been named a Green Community of the Year.
Conference Facts:
2019 Aim Ideas Summit
August 27-29, 2019
French Lick Resort
Attendance: 700 (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.