What does sustainability really mean and what does it look like?  This was the question that led BCLC and Siemens to come together to establish the Sustainable Community Awards.  And now, we have three excellent examples for companies and communities to study.

Last night, U.S. Chamber President & CEO Thomas J. Donohue and Siemens Foundation President James Whaley honored three communities: Albuquerque, NM; Chapel Hill-Carrboro, NC; and Kingsport, TN; as the winners of the inaugural Siemens Sustainable Community Awards.

The Awards recognize outstanding local public-private efforts to build and grow sustainably. The winning communities were announced during a reception at BCLC's National Conference on Corporate Community Investment in Anaheim, CA. 

The City of Albuquerque won in the Large Community category for AlbuquerqueGreen, a comprehensive sustainability plan backed by Mayor Martin J. Chávez that provides the vision and tools for energy conservation, clean energy production and use, and conservation technologies.

In the Mid-Size Community category, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber accepted the award for creating the Foundation for a Sustainable Community, which invests in business and community resources to promote and advance environmental stewardship, social equity, and economic prosperity.

As the Small Community category winner, the City of Kingsport won for its efforts in the last decade to revitalize the manufacturing town through a combination of training/workforce development, entrepreneurism, and diversification of the economic base.

Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez (C) U.S. Chamber President and CEO Tom Donohue (L) and Siemens Foundation President Jim Whaley.

More photos are available at uschamber.com/press/photos and photos.uschamber.com