CCLP

Throughout this blog, you may encounter references to the Creative Communities Leadership Project or the one of its Creative Connectors.  RIDE Solutions Program Director Jeremy Holmes is one of those connectors, and will often use this blog as a way to bring attention to the projects the program is undertaking.  Though these projects may not always intersect with RIDE Solutions’ core mission of advocating and encouraging the use of transportation options, they are important efforts to grow the region’s profile and economic vitality.

The Creative Communities Leadership Project is an application of Richard Florida’s Creative Class theory of economic development.  The City of Roanoke invited citizens to apply for one of 30 Creative Connectors spots; selected citizens then participated in an intensive two-day data analysis and brainstorming session resulting in four initiatives.  Each initiative was based on one of Florida’s “Four T’s” of economic development:  Talent, Tolerance, Technology, and Territorial Assets.  Though this was a project initiated by the City in conjunction with Florida’s Creative Class Group, the projects are all regional in nature.

The four resulting projects were (each link goes to the Facebook group of the initiative, which is the best way to get involved if you’re interested):

• Roanoke YEA! – Youth Experiencing the Amenities (Talent)
• S.T.A.R. – Spirit of Tolerance and Art in the Region (Tolerance)
• 81 Reasons to Connect (Territorial Assets)
• CNR2030:  Growing a Carbon Neutral Region (Technology)

The project I’m involved in is the latter.   The goal:  To move the region (defined as the urban center of the Roanoke and New River Valleys and the I-81 corridor that connects them) to carbon neutrality by the year 2030.  To do that, we intend on using technology – primarily the internet and social networking technologies – to connect people in the region to their best options for reducing their carbon footprints and to increase their knowledge about carbon and climate change.  We will create systems that connect existing environmental organizations, local government initiatives and incentives, and state and national programs to our users in very specific ways.  We will also create systems that allow users to log and track their personal progression towards carbon neutrality and provide them with new information and incentives as they are created.

This is just the first step, however.  Ultimately, we hope to make the region a proving grounds for sustainable technology by showing that our leadership, both public and private sector, and citizenry are dedicated to the concept of carbon neutrality.  We are particularly interested in making the region a leader in green technology and renewable energy development.  We want to put our money where our mouth is, creating a physical and economic environment where cutting-edge companies dedicated to advancing environmentally friendly technologies will be valued.

CNR2030 is always looking for input and participants, so feel free to use the comments section on this page to make your voice heard, or to join the Facebook group to become part of the mailing list.  You can also follow the progress of the four initiatives on our group blog, thecreativeconnectors.com.