SW CERT Receives NADO Transportation Award

Release Date: 10/23/2008

Contact:
Annette Bair
SW CERT Coordinator
phydev@swrdc.org

Southwest Regional Development Commission Receives National Association of Development Organization’s 2008 Excellence in Regional Transportation Award

 
WASHINGTON, DC – The Southwest Regional Development Commission in Slayton, Minnesota has been awarded a 2008 Excellence in Regional Transportation Award from the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) for the Wind Development, Roads, Bridges, and Land Use Initiative.

NADO is a Washington, DC-based association that promotes programs and policies to strengthen local governments, communities and economies through regional cooperation, program delivery and comprehensive strategies. The Excellence in Regional Transportation Awards showcase organizations for noteworthy projects and practices in rural and small metropolitan transportation planning, program delivery and special initiatives. Award winners received national recognition at the 2008 National Rural Transportation Peer Learning Conference, August 17 – 19 in Duluth, Minnesota.

According to NADO President Leanne Mazer, Executive Director of the Tri-County Council for Western Maryland in Cumberland, Maryland, “The Excellence in Regional Transportation Awards highlight the major impact of programs and projects like the Wind Development, Roads, Bridges, and Land Use Initiative. Such initiatives are central to fostering economic growth in our nation’s communities by promoting effective transportation networks.”

The Initiative stemmed from work the Regional Development Commission does with project reviews and review and comment of state regulations and rules, and connecting resources of the Clean Energy Resource Team. The initiative pulled together road authorities, zoning officials, developers, and the state wind permitting staff to discuss wind development and share both good and bad experiences where improvements could be made. This networking meeting / workshop was sponsored by the SW Clean energy Resource Team. One result of this project was initiating next steps to improve communication which the SRDC and the SW CERT are assisting in coordinating.

Download this press release.

The Clean Energy Resource Teams are a joint program of the University of Minnesota Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships, the Southwest Regional Development Commission, the Minnesota Project, Minnesota Department of Commerce, and the Green Institute. The CERTs program brings together team members from diverse backgrounds including farmers, utility representatives, state and federal government staff, educators and academics, small business owners, members of non-profit and environmental groups as well as individuals interested in energy issues. Together they work to identify and implement community-scale energy efficiency and renewable energy projects across the state. Major funding is provided by Minnesota Department of Commerce, The Blandin Foundation, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, University of Minnesota Institute for Renewable Energy and the Environment, University of Minnesota Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships, and U.S. Department of Energy.