Burlington Free Press Staff

Editor's note: Beginning in 1999, ISC worked with the City of Burlington, VT to craft a new 30-year sustainability action plan: Burlington Legacy. The Burlington Free Press article below discusses the program's latest award. Please click here to read more about how ISC helped create the plan, and some of its key results.

Harvard's Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation, as part of new program called Bright Ideas, has recognized Burlington, Vermont's Legacy Program.

The Legacy program was one of 173 programs selected from across the country.

The city said in a news release that the Legacy Program, unlike other plans that define "sustainability" with an eye just to environmental concerns, includes "economic strength and vitality, social equity and quality educational opportunities for everyone."

Joe Speidel, the University of Vermont's director of local government and community relations and a Legacy Steering Committee co-chairman, said Burlington’s program is special because of "the comprehensive way it captures our community's vision."

Mayor Bob Kiss said the Harvard recognition makes the Legacy Program visible to other communities who can "learn from Burlington’s sustainability planning and implementation efforts."

The Ash center also noted the Legacy Program’s broad steering committee, which includes Fletcher Allen Health Care, Champlain College, UVM, the United Way and the Chamber of Commerce.

Information about the plan is available online at burlingtonlegacyproject.org, or by reaching Jennifer Green at jgreen@ci.burlington.vt.us or 802-865-7532.