Dear Friends,

In autumn 2009, the City of Cleveland hosted the first Sustainable Cleveland 2019 Summit and announced an ambitious plan to transform Cleveland into a Green City on a Blue Lake in just ten years.  Sustainable Cleveland 2019 is about taking actions now to prepare for a successful future. Our regional economy can be strong and resilient, with investment opportunities in growth sectors, job creation and smart use of natural resources and human capital.  We have the natural resources, the people and the ideas to be successful in this transformation.  Sustainable Cleveland 2019 has gained support and grown in scope, breadth and numbers since it launched in 2009. We have hundreds of businesses and organizations now engaged. Working groups and more than 200 active volunteers are working on a wide variety of initiatives.

Because of this work, integrating sustainability and economic development is becoming a model of how to prepare for the future, and cities across the country are now beginning to adopt this approach. New businesses have been created; new programs have been developed; and, new jobs have been created by focusing on sustainability. It is important that we – as a broader community – stay focused on this tremendous opportunity to position Cleveland for the future and that we fully support efforts to build a sustainable economy.

Each year we come together during the annual Sustainability Summit to measure progress and to accelerate the momentum already underway.  We will continue using our best assets, natural resources and human capital to benefit the City of Cleveland, area businesses and the 1.6 million people in this region seeking economic prosperity.

We are proud of the progress we are making toward the measurable goals outlines in the performance indicators. With four years of work behind us, and six more to go, we are taking an in-depth look at the strategies that will help us to reach our goals. This new website is one of the tools we will be using to effectively communicate with stakeholders, share successes and challenges and to provide resources for individuals, communities and organizations.

We are integrating sustainability not only into the City of Cleveland’s everyday municipal operations, but also into our residents’ lives and the priorities of our corporate and institutional partners. We are committed to sustaining this work until 2019 and beyond and we look forward to Clevelanders from all walks of life sharing in the benefits of a sustainable Cleveland.

Sincerely,
Mayor Frank G. Jackson

Jenita McGowan
Chief of Sustainability