Phillip Singerman Co-Authors Handbook on Green Economic Development

Phillip Singerman Co-Authors Handbook on Green Economic Development

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Phillip A. Singerman, Senior Vice President of B&D; Consulting, has co-authored with the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) a new handbook featuring cutting-edge strategies for community economic development.

The Climate Prosperity Handbook serves as a free guide to informing communities of the economic benefits through proactively pursuing sustainable development and climate change strategies.

The handbook demonstrates the value of adopting the IEDC's three-part agenda of the Climate Prosperity Project: Green Savings, Green Opportunities and Green Talent. The principal message is that rather than climate change being costly and harmful to the economy, it creates wide ranging savings and benefits by:

• Spending less on energy through increased conservation and efficiency;
• Generating significant new employment and entrepreneurial opportunities;
• Expanding renewable energy production and distribution; and
• Offering a wide range of new products, production processes, goods and services and new technologies.

During development of the 113-page handbook, the Climate Prosperity Project Inc. was launched as a formal nonprofit organization to promote the concept in regions across America. An initial set of pilot regions are now testing these ideas in their communities through private alliances.

The other two co-authors of The Climate Prosperity Handbook, Shari Garmise, Ph.D. and Liz Thorstensen, serve as Vice President for Knowledge Management and Development, and as Senior Associate, respectively at IEDC.

“As the U.S. works to strengthen its economy while at the same time transform its use and management of energy towards more sustainable means, the connection between these two efforts presents many opportunities for a number of stakeholders,” said Singerman.

“State and local government leaders together with regional economic development authorities are seeking way to stimulate their local economies, while business enterprises are looking to research, develop and invest in products and services designed to establish a more sustainable energy platform. My hope is that is guide will help bring both of these efforts to fruition," Singerman continued.

"The Climate Prosperity Handbook represents the shift to a new era in economic development — where environmental policies and strategies are embraced as critical components of the economic competitiveness of our communities," said Ian Bromley, IEDC Board Chairman. "The challenges and opportunities stemming from climate change are becoming of vital importance to our members, and many communities are in need of the resources and guidance to be able to tackle them.

"IEDC is on the cutting edge of understanding these dynamics and by extension, developing response tools, which provide value added to our members," Bromley added.

To view The Climate Prosperity Handbook, visit /climate_prosperity_handbook

Phillip Singerman is a nationally recognized innovator in public-private partnerships that promote local economic development. His 30-year career includes positions in the public — local, state and federal — and private sectors. He was appointed U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development by President Clinton and served from 1995-99. Singerman also was the founding chief executive of two state-sponsored, technology-based economic development organizations — Pennsylvania's Ben Franklin Partners Program in Philadelphia and the Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO).

ABOUT THE IEDC

The International Economic Development Council is the world's largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to helping economic developers do their job more effectively and raising the profile of the profession. With more than 4,600 members and a network of more than 25,000 economic development professionals and allies, IEDC members represent the entire range of economic development experience — from public to private, rural to urban and local to international. Through a range of services — including conferences, training courses, webinars, publications, research and technical assistance — the IEDC strives to be on the cutting edge of understanding the opportunities and challenges stemming from climate change and economic transformation. For more information about the IEDC, visit www.iedconline.org.

ABOUT B&D; CONSULTING

B&D; Consulting is a national advisory and advocacy firm based in Washington, D.C. since 1985. The firm's professionals serve clients across key sectors, advancing their objectives within increasingly complex policy environments. Whether developing a business or advancing a mission, the B&D; Consulting team has the multi-faceted skills to help clients succeed. B&D; Consulting is a division of Baker & Daniels LLP, an international law firm with offices in Indiana, Chicago, Washington, D.C. and Beijing. For more information about B&D; Consulting or Baker & Daniels, visit www.bakerdconsulting.com or www.bakerdaniels.com.