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The St. Louis Climate Prosperity Project aims to help move the St. Louis bi-state metropolitan region to a greenbelt economy, home to a growing cluster of green businesses, a thriving clean-tech research hub and a robust green talent pool. The Project will be led by the St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association (RCGA), the region’s bistate economic development organization and chamber of commerce. The RCGA represents a broad base of 4,000 member companies and organizations, which makes it uniquely suited to house this initiative. The 100-plus member RCGA Board of Directors represents a broad cross section of regional leadership, including area CEOs, chief elected officials, chancellors, labor and civic leaders.
The St. Louis Climate Prosperity Project will engage area businesses, educational institutions, elected officials and governmental entities and other civic organizations in the 16-county metropolitan region to broaden support around green savings, green opportunity and green talent. Building on the experience of our colleagues at Joint Venture Silicon Valley, the RCGA will develop the St. Louis Regional Climate Prosperity Greenprint and work on the following initiatives in 2010.
The RCGA launched in January 2010, the St. Louis Green Business Challenge to encourage member businesses to adopt sustainable business practices that improve energy efficiency and indoor air quality, reduce waste and water consumption, as well as increase clean transportation options. More than 40 area companies participate in the inaugural St. Louis Green Business Challenge. A recognition event will be held in November.
The RCGA commissioned a Green Economy Profile to examine green technology innovation and green venture capital in the St. Louis region. The report, to be released to the St. Louis community in June 2010, will describe the growth and diversity of the St. Louis core green economy and identify the region’s green cluster specialization.
The RCGA is collaborating with the area Workforce Investment Boards, businesses, college and universities and union training centers to form a regional Green Talent Strategy. The Green Talent Strategy will identify growth in green occupations in the St. Louis region, align job training providers with employers in green industries and develop action plans to meet the growing talent needs of the regional green economy. A Green Economy Symposium, planned for fall 2010, will present the Green Talent Strategy to the St. Louis community.
Contact/Further Information:
Dick Fleming
President and CEO, St. Louis RCGA
Phone (314) 444-1100 or dfleming@stlrcga.org
Eric Schneider
Sr. Director – Energy &
Environment
Phone (314) 444-1148 or
eschneider@stlrcga.org