WASHINGTON, DC – The Southwest Regional Development Commission recently received a National Association of Development Organization (NADO) 2008 Excellence in Regional Transportation Award for their Wind Development, Roads, Bridges, and Land Use Initiative.
NADO is a Washington, DC-based association that promotes programs and policies to strengthen local governments, communities and economies through regional cooperation, program delivery and comprehensive strategies. The Excellence in Regional Transportation Awards showcase organizations for noteworthy projects and practices in rural and small metropolitan transportation planning, program delivery and special initiatives. Award winners received national recognition at the 2008 National Rural Transportation Peer Learning Conference, August 17 – 19 in Duluth, Minnesota.
According to NADO President Leanne Mazer, Executive Director of the Tri-County Council for Western Maryland in Cumberland, Maryland, “The Excellence in Regional Transportation Awards highlight the major impact of programs and projects like the Wind Development, Roads, Bridges, and Land Use Initiative. Such initiatives are central to fostering economic growth in our nation’s communities by promoting effective transportation networks.”
The Initiative stemmed from work the Regional Development Commission does with project reviews and review and comment of state regulations and rules, and connecting resources of the Clean Energy Resource Team. The initiative pulled together road authorities, zoning officials, developers, and the state wind permitting staff to discuss wind development and share both good and bad experiences where improvements could be made. This networking meeting / workshop was sponsored by the SW Clean energy Resource Team. One result of this project was initiating next steps to improve communication which the SRDC and the SW CERT are assisting in coordinating.
For more information about the award winning project, contact the Southwest Regional Development Commission at 507.836.8547 ext 101.
