Green Valley Initiative Seeks Sustainable Growth
Published May 27, 2009
A regional business and economic development initiative aimed at bringing green technologies, renewable energy, alternative transportation and sustainable lifestyles to Riverside and San Bernardino counties is gaining momentum.
Launched in June 2007, the Green Valley Initiative has gained the support of both counties, more than 30 cities and numerous organizations including the Inland Empire Economic Partnership under the leadership of Bill Carney, president and chief executive officer.
A core group has formulated the Green Valley Initiative Sustainable Economic Development Strategic Plan, which highlights the region’s strengths and outlines strategies for attracting, retaining and growing businesses in the green technology sector.
The principles of regionalism, collaboration and focused effort are driving the initiative, says Ali Sahabi, founder of the nonprofit Green Institute for Village Empowerment, which is sponsoring the effort. Sahabi is president and chief executive officer of land-planning and development firm SE Corp. and a leader in sustainable development.
“For us to be successful, we need to be a regional effort,” he says. “We’ve been working with 52 cities, and two-thirds of those have already passed resolutions in support of the Green Valley Initiative.”
He adds, “We are bringing in government and political leaders, business leaders, the academic community, community-based organizations and Native American tribal leaders. These five groups are all stakeholders in this effort. Creating jobs is not something we can expect from just one entity. We all have to work together to make the region conducive to new business.”
Finally, Sahabi says, the effort must be focused. “We have to ask, ‘What is it we offer that is competitive in the global marketplace?’ Green and clean technology is good for us for many reasons.”
One is that the Inland Empire is among the fastest-growing parts of the state. With 2 million new residents expected to settle in the region over the next 15 years, potential demand for green building is considerable, Sahabi says.
“Also, we have become a major hub for logistics over the past 15 years. We have 411 million square feet of warehouse and distribution space, and we receive 41 percent of imports coming into the United States at the Long Beach and Los Angeles ports.” Accordingly, alternative transportation and green logistics are a major focus of the initiative.
Story by Carol Cowan
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