The Maryland Sustainable Growth Commission today presented first Maryland Sustainable Growth Awards at the Governor Calvert House in Annapolis. This award program recognizes the people, projects and programs that model smart growth and sustainability in Maryland.
"The intent of these awards is to help shed light on some of the exemplary work going on in Maryland to focus new growth in existing communities, to preserve sustainable places and to conserve Maryland's rural and natural resource lands," said Growth Commission Chairman Jon M. Laria. "I am thrilled by the quality of nominees that were put forward for the awards."
Christopher B. Leinberger, noted speaker and author on sustainable growth and walkable urban places, gave the keynote address for the program. He spoke on "Economic Growth through Smart Growth: How Smart Growth Makes Economic Sense for Maryland." Mr. Leinberger is President of Locus, Responsible Real Estate Developers and Investors and the Charles Bendit Distinguished Scholar and Research Professor, George Washington University School of Business, and a Nonresident Senior Fellow at Brookings Institute in Washington, D.C.
Awards were presented for (1) leadership and service and (2) smart growth communities for public and private-sector projects or activities that improve the economy, environment or the quality of life. The list of award recipients follows.
Nominated projects or programs must have completed within the last two years or be ongoing. Likewise, nominated persons must have been involved in the activity or service in question within the last two years or be ongoing. As part of its evaluation, the commission's award committee assessed how the people, programs and projects - whether private or public - have helped further the 12 "Planning Visions" for sound growth and development policy.
The Maryland Sustainable Growth Commission advises the Governor, state agencies and the General Assembly on the progress of state, regional and local planning to achieve the goals of the economic growth, resource protection and planning policy in Maryland. For more information about the forum or the commission, visit the website here.
