Greentown

Join the conversation on revitalizing downtowns and neighborhoods, creating a bike plan, community sustainability plan and more. GreenTown Michiana is this Friday; register today.

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GreenTown will be held Friday, October 11, 2013, at the
DoubleTree Hotel in Downtown South Bend, IN.
Pre-conference events will be held on Thursday, October 10.

GreenTown brings together the public sector and the
private sector to “connect the dots”, to inspire and to work
together to remake our communities. From healthy living
to local food, energy to green infrastructure, water to
outdoor space, GreenTown will help you make the healthy
choice the easy choice.

Register here.

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Featured Sessions

Bike Plans, Bike Culture

In cities such as Madison, Portland and Chicago, bicycling is becoming engrained as a means of recreation--and getting to and from work. Former mayor of Madison Dave Cieslewicz will talk about how Madison, Wisconsin adopted a cycling culture--and how your community can create a plan.
Speaker: Dave Cieslewicz, former mayor, Madison, Wisconsin

Redeveloping Neighborhoods Through Mixed Use and Transit-oriented Development

Walkable, bikable communities are "in". Learn from three developers about projects in Ohio, Illinois and Mishawaka on how mixed use, transit-oriented developments can revitalize neighborhoods and communities.
Moderator:
John Houseal, Houseal Lavigne.
Speakers:
Adam Branscomb, Fairmount Properties (Cleveland/Kent/Hudson developer), John McLinden, Streetscape Development (Libertyville), Greg Kil, Kil Architecture & Planning (Mishawaka), Charles Lehman, Lehman & Lehman (Mishawaka).

Revitalizing Downtowns: Bringing Back South Bend's Downtown

Revitalizing Downtowns: Bringing Back South Bend's Downtown
Development is taking place on both sides of the river in downtown South Bend. but what will it take for the area to really rebound? Hear from a planner, a developer, a transit leader and the head of Downtown South Bend on the future.
Moderator:
Charles Lehman, Lehman & Lehman.
Speakers:
David Matthews, Matthews, LLC, David Cangany, TRANSPO, Jitin Kain, City of South Bend and Aaron Perri, Downtown South Bend

Community Sustainability Planning and Implementation: Case Studies from Oak Park, Terre Haute and Valparaiso

South Bend is host of the 15th GreenTown event. What happens after a GreenTown? Hear from Oak Park, Terre Haute and Valparaiso--GreenTown hosts all--and learn about what has taken place since GreenTown. From sustainability plans to implementation to lessons learned, this session will give you the information to take home and work towards becoming a healthy, sustainable community.
Speakers:
Jim Speer, Our Green Valley Alliance (Terre Haute), Gary Cuneen, Seven Generations Ahead (Oak Park) and Bill Oeding, City of Valparaiso (Valparaiso).

See Friday's full event schedule here.

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Pre-Conference Workshops will be held Thursday, October 10.

See Thursday's schedule here.

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GreenTown Michiana Key Speakers Include:

George Heartwell, Mayor, City of Grand Rapids

Mayor George Heartwell took office in 2004 and is now serving his third term as mayor.  During his tenure, City government has focused on sustainability, bringing the public sector and private sector together to make Grand Rapids a model for sustainable communities. Among other initiatives, Grand Rapids has provided leadership through the purchase of renewable resource energy, use of alternative fuels in city vehicles, continued attention to water quality in the Grand River, and widespread implementation of energy conservation measures.  In January 2007 the United Nations recognized Grand Rapids as a “Regional Center of Expertise in Education for Sustainable Development.”

Grand Rapids is widely recognized as one of the most sustainable cities in America.  In 2010 the US Chamber of Commerce gave Grand Rapids the “Nation’s Most Sustainable City” award, and in 2012 Mayor Heartwell was given the first place Climate Protection Award by the US Conference of Mayors.

Mark Fenton, Walkable Communities Advocate

  Mark Fenton is a fast-walking, power-
  talking advocate for creating walkable
  communities – and for getting people out
  to walk in their community. A contributing
  editor to Health Magazine and host of
  "America's Walking" on PBS, Fenton is a
  high energy speaker that will get you
  motivated to walk – and create a healthy
  environment for all.

In addition to his keynote address Friday morning, Fenton will lead a walk audit of downtown South Bend on Thursday, October 10 at 5pm.

Click here to learn more about "America's Walking" and Fenton's efforts in creating a healthier America.

Pete Buttigieg, Mayor, City of South Bend, Indiana

Mayor Pete Buttigieg is the chief executive of the City of South Bend. The city’s thirty-second mayor, he was sworn into office on January 1, 2012.

Buttigieg is working to strengthen the local economy by retaining and attracting businesses, partner with the local public school system, manage a cutting-edge and transparent city administration, and provide safety and security by empowering neighborhoods throughout our community.

Buttigieg is also an officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve. He lives in the same neighborhood where he grew up, where he is restoring a once-vacant home.

Continued:
-Jonathan Allinson, Indiana Recycling Coalition
-Krista Bailey, IU South Bend's Center for a Sustainable Future
-Mike Curry, Midwest Ecological Landscape Alliance (MELA)
-Rick Berger, BSA LifeStructures
-Adam Branscomb, Fairmount Properties
-Tom Brown, Inovaetus
-Jon Burke, City of South Bend
-David Cangany, TRANSPO
-Steven P. Christman, QEP, Northeast Indiana Solid Waste District
-Gary Cuneen, Seven Generations Ahead
-Nayla Jimenez Cabezas, Maple City Health Care Center
-Norman Christopher, Grand Valley State University,  author of "Sustainability Demystified"
-Dave Cieslewicz, former mayor, Madison, Wisconsin
-Robert Colangelo, GreenSense Radio and GreenSense Farms
-Matt Davis, Wightman & Associates
-Margo DeMont, Memorial Hospital of South Bend
-Michael Divita, City of South Bend
-Dani Elgas,YMCA of Michiana
-Raquel Falk, Monroe Park Grocery Co-op
-Jennifer Gulick, Davey Resource Group
-Carey Hamilton, Indiana Recycling Coalition
-Bridget Hardy, Fitness Specialist
-John Harris, a5
-Lorie Heber, Our Green Valley Alliance
-Chris Hebron, Hebron Farms
-Darlene Heemstra, Three Oaks Community Garden
-John Houseal, Houseal Lavigne
-Jenny Jones, River Valley Schools
-Jitin Kain, City of South Bend
-TJ Kanczuzewski, Inovaetus
-Allan J. Kauffman, Mayor, City of Goshen, Indiana
-Mike Keen, IU South Bend's Center for a Sustainable Future
-Meg Kelly, Biodiversity Project
-Greg Kil, Kil Architecture & Planning
-Becky Kliss, Green Connection
-Milan Kluko, Green Spirit Farms
-Greg Koehler, Purple Porch Co-op
-Lee LaVanway, Benton Harbor Fruit Market
-Milt Lee, Food Bank of Northern Indiana
-Chuck Lehman, Lehman & Lehman
-David Matthews, Matthews, LLC
-John McLinden, StreetScape Development
-Robin Meleski, St Joseph County Health Department
-Don Miller, University of Notre Dame
-Dan Miles, BSA LifeStructures
-Jen Nelson, Seven Generations Ahead
-Edward Noonan, Tryon Farms
-Aaron Perri, Downtown South Bend
-Jan Pilarski, Green Bridge Growers
-Jack Pizzo, Pizzo and Associates
-Billy Ponko, BSA LifeStructures
-Jake Rardin, BSA LifeStructures
-Julie Rizzo, Recycled Granite
-Laura Sandman, ArtAffectsCoalition
-Julie Schilf, Municipal and Industrial Materials Section, Land and Chemical Division, US EPA Region 5
-Jim Speer, Our Green Valley Alliance
-Jessica Stauffer, Be Healthy Berrien
-Sara Stewart, Unity Gardens
-Linda Strohl, Meals on Wheels/Senior Nutrition
-James Summers, Summers Group
-Mark Walker, Kuert Concrete
-Doug Way, 1st Source Bank
-Karen Freeman-Wilson, Mayor, City of Gary, Indiana

       

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GreenTown Local

Event Food
All event food will be provided by:
- Hebron Farms Vandalia, MI
- Green Spirit Farms New Buffalo, MI
- Bread Smith South Bend, IN
- Farming For Life, Martinsville, IN
- Mattawan Creamer, Mattawan, MI

Event Compost
Unity Garden will be taking and using all compostables from the event. For more information, click here.

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Who Should Attend GreenTown?

Public Sector
Government Representatives, Mayors & Elected Officials, City Managers, Economic Development, Health Departments, Public Works and Park District Officials, School Administrators, Urban Planners, Chambers of Commerce, CVBs, etc.

Private Sector
Planners, Architects, Developers, Builders, Remodelers, Food System Operators, Restaurateurs, Landscape Architects, Hospitals / Healthcare Systems, Utilities, Engineers, NGOs, Local Food Specialists, Real Estate Professionals, Media, etc.

Education
K-12, Colleges & Universities and Students

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GreenTown registration is open. 

Click here to register or contact Elizabeth Randle aterandle@a5inc.com / 312.706.2533.

For more information about becoming a GreenTown Sponsor please contact Charles Colley at ccolley@a5inc.com /314.651.2901