Grand Rapids, MI — a5 inc. and Seven Generations Ahead announced today that Future Cities: Climate Strategies for Sustainable Communities will be held Friday, September 10, at Grand Valley State University’s Eberhard Center, 301 Fulton Street West in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan. This event, presented by GreenTown: The Future of Community and held in conjunction with the U.S. Green Building Council of West Michigan's “Green Buildings of West Michigan” Tour of 40 LEED certified buildings, will feature keynote addresses from Mayor George Heartwell of Grand Rapids, Doug Farr of Farr Associates and Director Rebecca Humphries of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment. Designed to help the public and private sectors create sustainable communities, GreenTown brings together mayors and elected officials, city managers, public works directors, park district directors, planners, developers, architects, landscape architects, engineers, economic development directors, zoning and code officials, educators, school district representatives and others interested in learning how a community can become greener, healthier and more prosperous. During Heartwell’s tenure in office, city government has been organized around the triple bottom line of economic strength, environmental stewardship and social equity – improving the overall quality of life within the surrounding community and Western Michigan region. Doug Farr, Author, Founder of Farr Associates Architecture and Urban Design, Inc., will detail his firm’s pioneering sustainable urban design practice and his insights gained serving as the inaugural chair of LEED-Neighborhood Development. Humphries, as head of Michigan’s DNRE, is actively implementing an ecosystem-based strategy for resource management aimed at protecting and enhancing the sustainability, diversity and productivity of the state’s natural resources. Future Cities: Climate Strategies for Sustainable Communities will feature case studies and best practices from inspiring speakers in the field of sustainable development. General sessions in the morning will feature a discussion surrounding the future of energy and economy, introducing the latest sustainable efforts of the region and the impact of green jobs on our new economy. The afternoon sessions will include four breakout tracks, providing attendees with the opportunity to experience specialized topics of their choosing. These breakout tracks include: Climate Strategies for Sustainable Communities; Community Design and Building; Healthy Food, Little Waste; and The Outdoors. “Ideas and innovations within the private sector can be introduced to an open-minded public audience,” says a5 Principal John Harris. “Since 2007, GreenTown has been successful in serving as a vehicle for these sectors to discuss how they can create sustainable communities.” “With more leaders becoming interested in sustainability, the task before us now is to work strategically and collaboratively to generate actions that lead to measurable results,” adds Gary Cuneen, Executive Director of Seven Generations Ahead. “Future Cities is that ideal opportunity for local government, business and community leaders to learn, plan, and take action together.” In addition to its partnerships with the City of Grand Rapids and the U.S. Green Building Council – West Michigan Chapter, Future Cities: Climate Strategies for Sustainable Communities is sponsored by: Unilock, Aquinas College, Consumers Energy, Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber; MiBiz, Pioneer Construction, Pizzo & Associates, Ltd., Quest Sustainable Solutions and Serosun Farms. Future Cities is also supported by The Kellogg Foundation and The Wege Foundation. Future Cities: Climate Strategies for Sustainable Communities is pleased to offer continuing education credits for architects (AIA), landscape architects (ASLA), planners (AICP/APA) and teachers. The full program, along with registration information, is available via the GreenTown web site at www.greentownconference.com.

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