| Press Release |
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| June 1, 2007 |
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Governor Kulongoski Presents First Annual Oregon Sustainability Awards
Awards presented to businesses, non-profits and government agencies for adoption of sustainable practices
Salem – Today Governor Ted Kulongoski joined Secretary of State Bill Bradbury and the Oregon Sustainability Board to honor businesses, non-profits and government agencies committed to sustainable business practices at the first annual Oregon Sustainability Awards.
“I firmly believe that a commitment to sustainability is the best vehicle for creating long-term prosperity in Oregon, while also helping enrich our communities and our environment,” said Governor Kulongoski. “As today’s award winners demonstrate, Oregon is pioneering efforts to create more sustainable business structures, attracting investment and economic opportunities to the state.”
In 2006, the Governor signed Executive Order 06-02 which charged state agencies to develop policies and practices to make Oregon a more sustainable state. In addition, the Executive Order directed the Oregon Economic and Community Development Department to establish an awards program to promote and advance the inclusion of sustainable practices in government and the private sector.
Both “Exemplar” and “Focus” awards were handed out at today’s ceremony. Exemplar awards were given to organizations that showed a commitment to sustainability in policies and day-to-day operations. Focus awards were handed out to an organization that showed a commitment to sustainability in a specific initiative or focus area.
The award winners announced by the Governor include:
Exemplar Award for Small Business: Gerding Edlen – Gerding Edlen is a progressive commercial real estate development firm committed to socially and environmentally responsible development.
Exemplar Award for Small Business: Sustainable Harvest Coffee Importers – Sustainable Harvest Coffee Importers is one of the leading providers of organic and fair trade coffee in the North American market. Each year, Sustainable Harvest purchases more than 10 million pounds of shade-grown, organic and fair trade coffee from small farming cooperatives in 16 countries in Central America, South America, and Africa.
Exemplar Award for Large Business: Doubletree Hotel and Executive Meeting Center – The Doubletree Hotel and Executive Meeting Center has embraced a sustainability program that includes food service practices, energy savings initiatives, community engagement and innovative thinking to improve operations.
Focus Award for Small Business: Standing Stone Brewing Co. – Standing Stone Brewing Company is a family-owned, full service restaurant and microbrewery in Ashland, Oregon that is committed to sustainable business practices and has adopted numerous energy-efficient systems.
Focus Award for Large Business: Siltronic Corporation – Siltronic Corporation employs nearly 1,000 people in the semiconductor chip industry and is being honored for its seven-year initiative to reduce water-soluble nitrate discharges. Since 2005, the company has reduced nitrate discharges by approximately half through acid recovery and reuse.
Exemplar Award for Government: Metro – Metro is the Portland metropolitan area elected regional government that serves more than 1.3 million residents. Metro has demonstrated creativity and commitment to sustainability from low-tech innovations to high-tech solutions.
Focus Award for Non-Governmental Organization: International Sustainable Development Foundation – The International Sustainable Development Foundation’s mission is to advance both the understanding and the practice of sustainability by setting standards for sustainable development.
Focus Award for Government: PortlandOffice of Transportation– The City of Portland’s Office of Transportation (PDOT) has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to sustainability at its Sunderland Recycling Facility where traditional “waste” materials generated from street maintenance operations are recycled and re-introduced as value-added product.
For more information, please refer to the Oregon Economic and Community Development Department website at: http://www.oregon.gov/ECDD/.
Contact:
Anna Richter Taylor, 503.378.6169
Jake Weigler, 503.378.6496
Kristina Edmunson, 503.378.5040
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