 The City of South Bend has been named 2009 Green Community of the Year by the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns.
South Bend, which won the large city designation as Green Community of the Year, also was designated an IACT Green Community for the second consecutive year. Mayor Stephen J. Luecke and Gary A. Gilot, director of public works, received the award during IACT’s annual conference and exhibition at the French Lick Resort.
The award includes a road sign that will recognize South Bend’s statewide achievement.
“We’re pleased to receive this award on behalf of the City’s many efforts to become a greener community,” said Mayor Stephen J. Luecke, who received the award in a luncheon on Monday, Oct. 5, 2009, at the historic French Lick Springs Resort. “South Bend will continue to raise the green bar in our community. We’re using computer exhaust to help heat our greenhouse and saving millions with the state’s largest conversion of LED traffic signals. We are becoming the world’s first city to use technology to monitor (and soon control) combined sewer overflows. We will avoid tens of millions of dollars in costs, allowing us to make our river cleaner.”
 South Bend had to fill out a 51-question survey in the areas of purchasing, operations, measuring success, and sample projects. South Bend’s 18-page application detailed energy-procurement efforts, municipal operations and practices, measuring successes and current-year initiatives. Not only did the City meet the minimum score required to be a Green Community, but ranked highest among other communities its size. The City’s exemplary efforts in the area of green programs earned them the 2009 IACT Green Community of the Year award in the 50,000-plus (large community) population category.
“Your city has proven to be instrumental in implementing green programs in your community,” said Matthew C. Greller, IACT executive director. “South Bend will serve as a great example of green efforts that can be undertaken by cities and towns across the state.”
IACT launched the Green Communities Initiative in 2008 to identify potential cost savings to communities facing budget shortfalls, promote economically competitive quality-of-life concepts and ultimately serve as role models for citizens as the nation seeks to wean itself from foreign oil while protecting the environment.
Founded in 1891, IACT, one of the nation’s oldest state municipal organizations, is a coalition of municipal officials who seek to improve quality of life in Indiana through effective government.
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