Philadelphia was the first city in America to adopt a financial incentive for sustainable businesses. The credit formally acknowledges sustainable business practices in Philadelphia and encourages the growth of the local clean economy. Supporting the clean economy will help the City reach its sustainability goals outlined in Greenworks Philadelphia.

“The City of Philadelphia is pleased to offer an innovative incentive that promotes the local clean economy and creates an attractive and supportive environment for sustainable business practices,” said Mayor Michael A. Nutter. “We value the work of sustainable businesses and hope this credit encourages the expansion of sustainable practices in Philadelphia.”

Since the bill passed in 2009, Pennsylvania and 11 other states have adopted laws supporting sustainable businesses and the B Corporation standard, and the number of certified B Corporations has grown from 240 to 688. For more information on B Corporations, visitwww.bcorporation.net.

The game takes the planning process online.  It informs individuals of current trends in the city’s development, while asking them to think about future improvements, weighing in on proposed projects and making choices about local priorities. Players can use pre-loaded maps, charts and other materials as clues to answer factual questions. There are also opportunities for open-ended comment and discussion about issues ranging from zoning changes and bike lanes to housing policy.

“My Administration is committed to planning for Philadelphia’s future with the input of its citizens. PHL2035: The Game! allows the City to use technology to directly engage residents on the issues that matter in their individual community,” Mayor Michael A. Nutter said.

Players earn video coins for correct answers, which can then be used as votes in support of local causes such as cleanups or tree plantings. The three most popular causes will receive $500 donations at the game’s conclusion with the money being supplied by an award from the Knight Foundation. The prizes are a way to connect the longer-term focus of the game to incremental progress happening now.

Planners hope that the game will attract participants who are often unable to attend community meetings, including seniors, school-age children, and those whose work schedules conflict with evening events. The goal is to attract more than 1,000 individuals during the game’s three-week run, which ends February 18.

“We are always looking for ways to engage in meaningful discussions with the public to produce plans that balance local interests with economic realities,” said Gary Jastrzab, Executive Director of the PCPC. “PHL2035: The Game! is an opportunity to foster an in-depth discussion not only between our staff and the public, but between Philadelphians from different neighborhoods and backgrounds. We expect to share and generate a lot of valuable data, and achieve a better understanding of neighborhood priorities in the process.”

PHL2035: The Game! is a local application of an existing online platform called Community PlanIt, which has been deployed to enrich planning processes in Massachusetts and Michigan to date.  Community PlanIt is a project of the Engagement Game Lab and is funded by the Knight Foundation. The Philadelphia game is a partnership between the Philadelphia City Planning Commission and the Engagement Game Lab.

The partnership came about through Philadelphia’s recently-formed Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics, whose co-directors made the introduction between the game developers and the PCPC. “We’re looking forward to seeing the game in action in a city as diverse and dynamic as Philadelphia,” says Dr. Eric Gordon, director of Engagement Game Lab.  “This is a new way to participate in civic life and long-term planning, and we think it is a great addition to their other outreach efforts.”

The game is another piece in an array of education and outreach efforts undertaken by the Philadelphia City Planning Commission in recent years, including the Citizens Planning Institute; an agency blog;Facebook and Twitter accounts; and a text-message-based feedback tool called Textizen, which will be making a return in conjunction with PHL2035: The Game!

PHL2035: The Game! will be available until February 18 from any computer or smart phone, including KEYSPOTs, the city’s network of free public computing centers. To sign up for the game and learn more, visit www.phila2035.org andhttp://www.communityplanit.org/PHL2035/.

“As Philadelphia strives to be the greenest city in America, we are focused on forging partnerships that help us reach our sustainability goals, increase community engagement and stimulate the local economy,” said Mayor Michael A. Nutter. “In working with us to create Philadelphia Recycling Rewards, Recyclebank has been a strong partner and has helped Philadelphia to reach new heights of urban sustainability and national environmental leadership.”

The award was presented Saturday, January 19 at the USCM 81^stWinter Meeting. The Excellence in Public/Private Partnership Awards were established by the USCM to recognize the achievements made possible by the partnerships between the member companies of the Mayors Business Council and cities across the nation. Mayor Nutter and Erika Diamond, vice president of community solutions at Recyclebank, accepted the award.

“Philadelphia’s strides in building a more sustainable and smarter city is testament to the impact that partnerships between public entities and private corporations can create,” said Diamond. “By rewarding residents for taking more everyday green actions like recycling, Philadelphia has increased recycling rates in the face of stagnant national average rates and helped residents realize the financial benefits of making more sustainable choices.”

In summer 2008, the City of Philadelphia made a commitment to sustainability by expanding its recycling program, switching to a single-stream recycling system. In February 2010, the City furthered its commitment by partnering with Recyclebank and offering more than 540,000 household residents the opportunity to get rewards for recycling at home with the program, Philadelphia Recycling Rewards. In addition to rewards for recycling, the partnership has raised awareness and education for recycling, both critical components to recycling behavior change. Because of these combined efforts, the City has increased the total amount of residential recycling collected by nearly 20,000 tons and its curbside recycling diversion rate is up four percentage points since the Recycling Rewards Program was implemented Citywide in July 2010.

“The Philadelphia Streets Department is very proud to be the co-recipient of the Outstanding Award in Public/Private Partnerships with our partner Recyclebank,” said Streets Commissioner Clarena Tolson. “The award signifies how far Philadelphia has come in its recycling efforts and supporting Mayor Nutter’s vision for Philadelphia to be the most viable and environmentally conscious city in the country,” Tolson said. “Philadelphia Recycling Rewards allows us to give back to residents who have made recycling a priority in their community. This program not only makes the City greener by increasing recycling rates and saving the City from costly landfill fees; it puts more green in the pockets of local residents by giving them points redeemable at local businesses.”

Philadelphia Recycling Rewards, powered by Recyclebank, rewards residents for recycling with discounts and deals from locally-based businesses and national brands. For more information on the program, please visit www.phillyrecyclingpays.com.

ABOUT THE PHILADELPHIA STREETS DEPARTMENT

For more information about the Philadelphia Streets Department, visit:http://www.philadelphiastreets.com.

ABOUT RECYCLEBANK

Recyclebank helps create a more sustainable future by rewarding people for taking everyday green actions with discounts and deals from more than 4,000 local businesses and national brands. Through its online platform and partnerships with municipalities, haulers, small businesses and corporate brands, Recyclebank empowers individuals to make a collective impact on the environment by increasing household recycling and taking other environmentally-friendly actions. A Certified B Corporation, Recyclebank has been recognized as a Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum, a Champion of the Earth by the United Nations Environment Program and for Outstanding Excellence in Public/Private Partnerships from the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Recyclebank is headquartered in New York City. For more information, visit www.Recyclebank.com.

“Philadelphia, like many big cities, faces the challenges of unemployment and city cleanliness, which both have significant impact on the City as a whole,” said Mayor Nutter. “Philly Future Track is a smart strategy to address these challenges by investing in the development and job readiness of Philadelphia’s young adult population. Participants will gain valuable skills to prepare them for future employment while they engage in public service beautifying Philadelphia’s neighborhoods.”

This program will provide a temporary employment opportunity to participants who will assist with cleaning and beautification projects in key areas throughout Philadelphia. The program is designed to be a career readiness pipeline, providing the participants with enough resources and education to transition into full time employment, attend a 2 or 4 year higher education institution, enter into a vocational training program/school or be prepared to take the military aptitude test.

The participants were not previously enrolled in higher education and were unemployed. For three days a week over the course of six months, participants will work in teams on neighborhood beautification projects with direction from the Streets Department. The remaining two days are spent in the classroom, where participants will learn job readiness skills.

“Philly Future Track is designed to create stronger citizens who live, work and serve in their communities,” said Streets Commissioner Clarena I.W. Tolson. “By instilling self-sustainability and civic pride in Philadelphia’s young adults, they will be better prepared to take the next steps towards developing long-term careers, and in turn, improve the City as a whole.”

Philly Future Track is made possible by the partnerships of several city and community organizations. The City of Philadelphia, Department of Streets, Mayor’s Office of Community Services (MOCS), Philadelphia Organized to Witness Empower & Rebuild (POWER), Community Women’s Education Project (CWEP) and Community Marketing Concepts are all investing in the futures of both Philadelphia’s young adult population and the City of Philadelphia as a whole.

The Philly Future Track program is still seeking participants. If interested, please visit http://www.philadelphiastreets.com/future-track.aspx for more information and to learn how to apply.

For more information on the Department of Streets, please visithttp://www.philadelphiastreets.com/.   For more information on MOCS, please visit http://www.phila.gov/mocs/.  For more information on POWER, please visit http://www.powerphiladelphia.org/.  For more information on CWEP, please visit www.cwep.org/. For more information on Community Marketing Concepts, please visitwww.communitymarketingconcepts.com.

“I am pleased to see Philadelphia recognized as among the nation’s most bikable cities,” said Michael A. Nutter.  “The work of the Mayor’s Office of Transportation and Utilities to coordinate agencies across City government has led to major strides in making biking a safe and convenient option for traveling around Philadelphia,” Nutter continued.

More than two percent of Philadelphians bike to work according to the 2011 Census Bureau’s American Communities Survey, this is a full percentage point higher than the next American City with a population more than one million; Chicago.  The Census Bureau data also ranks Center City Philadelphia and South Philadelphia as among the top twenty five biking neighborhoods in the United States.

In the past five years the Mayor’s Office of Transportation and Utilities and Streets Department efforts have significantly expanded bike infrastructure in high demand and key employment areas including Center City, University City and around Temple University. In 2010, the City was awarded a $17.2 million US Department of Transportation TIGER Grant to fill critical gaps in the regions biking and walking trail network. By the end of 2013, nearly five and half miles will be added to the trail network knitting together a more that 50 mile network of cycling and walking trails, with a focus on the ability of the trails to be used for transportation.  By the end of 2014, the City expects to complete another five trail projects creating more than ten miles of new trail that leverage the existing network.

“We have been working hard for five years to make Philadelphia easier to get around, however you travel. The latest survey shows that our efforts are working. Perhaps most importantly, our streets and trails have never been safer for cycling, with bike commuting up by 150 percent since the year 2000 and the number of accidents involving cyclists down 50 percent,” said Deputy Mayor for Transportation and Utilities Rina Cutler.

ship in Energy and Environmental Design) standards, and it was a pilot site for a city-wide effort to employ more women and minority contractors in public projects.  Site-specific artwork was commissioned for inclusion in the PJJSC as part of the City’s ‘Percent for Art’ program.  Two Philadelphia-based painters were chosen to decorate the lobby, the community room and the second-floor waiting area.  A documentary by Greenhouse Media featuring the artists’ creative process will be displayed in the building.

More than 15 City departments, agencies and programs are affiliated with the PJJSC, and major tenants of the facility will include the Department of Human Services, the Juvenile Justice Division, Family Court, the School District of Philadelphia, the District Attorney’s Office, the Public Defender Association, and the Department of Public Property Facilities Division.

“No Philadelphian should go hungry when resources and dedicated volunteers who are willing and able to help are present,” said Mayor Nutter.  “The health, safety and dignity of individuals who utilize emergency food services has to be the key consideration as we work together to increase access to meals and services.  I look forward to the great work that the Philadelphia Food Access Collaboration will do for our most vulnerable citizens.”

The initial goals of the Collaborative are:

• Increase the availability of meals at existing indoor meal service sites– Inventory existing indoor meal service organizations and assess their needs in order to increase the number of indoor meal options;
• Coordinate meal schedules to eliminate gaps in service – Support the coordination of meal schedules for both indoor and outdoor servers to ensure there is adequate coverage throughout the week for individuals seeking food, and make this information widely available;
• Identify opportunities for new space for meal service – Look for potential new space where outdoor servers can provide meals in a safe and healthy environment with indoor and outdoor space available to those being served food;
• Connect individuals to meals and other social service resources – Work to ensure that information on resources for meals and key social services are provided at meal service sites;
• Raise the visibility of these issues – Release an annual report on the work of the Collaborative towards advancing these goals, and the overall state of emergency food in Philadelphia; and
• Fundraise in support of these efforts – Identify additional resources to advance the work of this group.

“The Food Access Collaborative is positioned to be a game-changer in Philadelphia’s ongoing quest to alleviate the trauma experienced through hunger.  By assembling proven leadership from diverse sectors and gathering a range of expertise, the Collaborative is positioned to drive our city toward new solutions to this vexing problem. This is a roll-up-your sleeves kind of group and I am proud to be a part of it,” said Bill Golderer, Co-Chair of the Philadelphia Food Access Collaborative.

Philadelphia Food Access Collaborative Members

Kevin Barr

Executive Director, St. John’s Hospice

John Barrett

Vice President, Logan Square Neighborhood Association

Adam Bruckner

Director, Philadelphia Restart

Bill Clark

President and Executive Director, Philabundance

Andre Cureton

Daytime Program Supervisor, Bethesda Project, Former Outdoor Food Consumer

Kim Fortunato, Esq.

      Director, Childhood Obesity and Hunger Program, Campbell Soup Company

Brian Jenkins

Executive Director, Chosen 300

Samantha Matlin

Special Advisor to the Commissioner for Policy Development and Research,Department of Behavioral

Health and Intellectual disAbility Services

Dick McMillen

Executive Director, Sunday Breakfast Rescue Mission

Carey Morgan

Executive Director, Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger

Joe Pyle

Executive Director, Thomas Scattergood Behavioral Health Foundation

Joseph Rogers

Chief Advocacy Officer, Mental Health Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Former Outdoor Food Consumer

Nilda Ruiz

President and CEO, Asociación Puertorriqueños en Marcha

Jay Spector

President and CEO, Jewish Employment and Vocational Services

Salomon Vazquez

Outdoor Food Provider, The Connect Church

Collaborative Co-Chairs

Bill Golderer, Convening Minister, Broad Street Ministry, Pastor, Arch Street Presbyterian Church

Mary Horstmann, Deputy Director, Policy Planning and Coordination, Mayor’s Office

The Collaborative will be adding additional members to ensure broad representation from key constituencies on this issue.

November 16, 2012 – The Philadelphia Water Department, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Community Design Collaborative have partnered to launch a national, interdisciplinary design competition promoting the creative and innovative use of green stormwater infrastructure in Philadelphia and other cities. The design competition is part of Infill Philadelphia: Soak it Up!—a design initiative exploring how green stormwater infrastructure can revitalize urban neighborhoods.

Design teams must register by Friday, November 30, 2012.  Nine finalists will be selected to present at an awards event at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University next year. A jury will select one winning design for each of the three sites. The three winning competition teams will each receive a cash prize of $10,000.

Interdisciplinary teams of architects, landscape architects, engineers and other professionals will be challenged to develop new models for green stormwater infrastructure, focusing on one of three sites in Philadelphia:

• Warehouse Watershed: A warehouse and a city-owned vacant lot that offer possibilities for public-private partnerships and the revitalization of a high-vacancy, mixed-use residential/industrial district.
• Retail Retrofit: A retail strip center that has the potential to play a more central role in the surrounding neighborhood through improved walkability, pop-up space for community events and access to river recreation.
• Greening the Grid: An historic neighborhood with an engaged community and a dense network of streets, alleys, roofs and open space that offers possibilities for an array of small-scale interventions.

Green stormwater infrastructure is crucial to the implementation of Green City, Clean Waters, the City’s innovative, environmentally-sustainable, 25-year plan to protect and enhance local waterways primarily through the use of green stormwater infrastructure. “As we evolve Philadelphia into America’s most sustainable and green city, the opportunities ahead will be limited only by the confines of our imaginations and the extent of our determination,” says Howard Neukrug, Commissioner of the Philadelphia Water Department.

“Our partnership with Philadelphia represents the EPA’s firm commitment to encourage, support, and assist municipalities that adopt green infrastructure to improve both water quality and the sustainability of their communities,” says EPA Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin.

Beth Miller, Executive Director of the Community Design Collaborative, adds, “This design competition will get everyone thinking about the broader community benefits of green stormwater infrastructure. We look forward to seeing the results.”

A Competition Packet with full details about the competition is available online at http://infill.cdesignc.org.

“Recycling is a cornerstone of my commitment to making Philadelphia the greenest city in the U.S., and it’s   one of the easiest things we can do every day to help conserve natural resources, save energy, create green jobs,” said Mayor Nutter.  “Participating in America Recycles Day in Philadelphia is the best way to celebrate the progress Philadelphia has made in recent years through City initiatives and programs”

Recycling in Philadelphia has made significant strides during the past few years, with more than 120,000 tons of recyclables collected through the City’s curbside recycling program in fiscal year 2012 (July 2011 – June 2012) – an increase of 137% over totals from just five years ago. According to the City’s Recycling Office and Mayor’s Office of Sustainability, Philadelphia’s recycling efforts helped reduce greenhouse gas the equivalent of nearly 1.5 million tons of carbon dioxide during 2011.

“The program changes the Streets Department implemented starting a few years ago, including the switch to ‘single-stream’ and weekly pickup, have not only helped boost program participation, but also increase operational efficiencies,” said Commissioner Clarena Tolson. “Philadelphia’s ever-evolving recycling efforts are forging our way to become the greenest city in America.”

Philadelphia’s recycling efforts do not stop at residential curbside pickup. In FY12, approximately 2,000 tons of other recyclables including leaves, brush, and electronics were also collected either at curbside, at the City’s sanitation convenience centers or at special electronics and household hazardous waste collection events.

Other notable recycling and waste reduction opportunities that were initiated during the past year include:

• Distribution of more than 2,000 recycling bins to residents during the council district’s recycling days;
• Addition of beverage cartons and drink boxes to the curbside recycling program through a partnership with the U.S. Carton Council;
• Increased opportunities to recycle in public places through the City’s Big Belly recycling containers; and
• Partnership with the Philadelphia Water Department and Insinkerator, Inc. to assess benefits of using in-sink disposal units for food waste in two Philadelphia neighborhoods.

Since the inception of America Recycles Day in 1997, communities across the country have organized events in November to promote recycling awareness, commitment and action. Last year during America Recycles Day, some 2 million people took part in more than 2,000 events across the nation.

The America Recycles Day events set to take place in Philadelphia on November 15 include:

John B. Kelly Elementary School America Recycles Day Celebration

Location: 5116 Pulaski Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19144

Date: Nov. 15, 2012

Time: 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

Event Description: Recognition of recycling effort among 2^nd graders and remarks by Streets Department Commissioner Clarena I. W, Tolson

America Recycles Day Celebration

Location:  Liacouras Walk, Philadelphia, PA 19122

Date: Nov. 15, 2012 – Nov. 15, 2012

Time: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Event Description: A combination of student organizations and university departments will be tabling to raise awareness about recycling and waste minimization services available on campus.

Website: http://sustainability.temple.edu/

Rose Recreation Center America Recycles Day

Location: Rose Recreation Center, 75th and Lansdowne, Philadelphia, PA 19151

Date: Nov. 15, 2012 – Nov. 15, 2012

Time: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Event Description: Educational Event at Rose Recreation Center

2012 PHL America Recycles Day Celebration

Location: Terminal B-C Food Court, Philadelphia International Airport Terminal B-C, Philadelphia, PA 19153

Date: Nov. 15, 2012 – Nov. 15, 2012

Time: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Event Description: Promote recycling and environmental awareness through a variety of educational activities that are both informative and fun. Several exhibitors will also be on hand to help promote recycling at PHL and across the Philadelphia region. PHL passengers and employees are encouraged to participate in this event.

Recycling Bin Give-a-Way

Location: Frankford CDC, 4900 Griscom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19124

Date: Nov. 15, 2012 – Nov. 15, 2012

Time: noon – 5 p.m.

Event Description: Recycling education and bin give-a-way event.

Website: http://frankfordcdc.com/

Recycle Philly -After Party

Location: Fado, 1500 Locust St., Philadelphia, PA 19103

Date: Nov. 15, 2012 – Nov. 15, 2012

Time: 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Event Description: Celebrate Recycling Day 2012 with a drink, and a discussion on how to help restaurants and bars in Philly do a better job recycling.

City Council District Recycling Bin Give-Away
Date: November 17^th, 2012
Location: Councilman O’Neill Councilman’s District Office (District 10), Bustleton & Bowler St.
Time: 9:00am – 11:30 a.m.

For more information on any Philadelphia recycling programs, please visit the recycling website at www.PhillyRecyclingPAYS.com or www.philadelphiastreets.com/recycling. Residents may also call the Streets Department’s Customer Affairs Unit at 215-686-5560, or call 3-1-1.

The guide features details about SNAP benefits (formerly known as Food Stamps), home-delivered meals, congregate meals served in community and senior centers, free food boxes, grocery deliveries and discounts on fresh foods.  The guide will be available online atwww.pcacares.org/foodresources and in hard copy at senior centers, community organizations, career development centers, neighborhood energy centers and other City sites.  It is available in English, Mandarin Chinese, Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese and Korean.

“The creation of this guide is a reflection of our partners’ commitment to ensure that seniors, caregivers and service providers have access to critical information about available resources,” said Lydia Hernández Vélez, Deputy Managing Director, Mayor’s Commission on Aging.  “Our shared goal of keeping seniors safe and engaged is well served by this effort.  I would like to thank the Task Force members for their hard work and dedication to the senior community.”

Holly Lange, Senior Vice President, Philadelphia Corporation for Aging added, “Every day, we work to improve the lives of older adults.  Part of this challenge is to connect older Philadelphians with the information they need about available services, resources and contacts.  My hope is that this food guide will bridge availability and knowledge for seniors in our community.  We will continue to work with the City, the Commission and serve on the Senior Hunger Task Force to create sustainable solutions to challenges of the senior community.”

Download Food Resource Guide