8th ANNUAL SIEDC GREEN & CLEAN FESTIVAL FOCUSES MAKING STATEN ISLAND A SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY
SIEDC focuses on public-private partnerships that will lead to a more sustainable borough for both residents and businesses.
Staten Island, New York, June 7, 2018: The Staten Island Economic Development Corporation (SIEDC) hosted it’s the 8th Annual SIEDC Green & Clean Festival on Thursday, June 7, 2018 at the Staten Island Zoo. The festival focused on strong educational and community bonds that help spread information about sustainability and environmental awareness throughout the borough.
“The Green & Clean Festival is a lively and spirited day-long marketplace where sustainable businesses and organizations showcase their services and where environmentally conscious individuals gather to learn how to incorporate sustainability into their lives,” said festival Ambassador Adam Zellner of Greener by Design. This powerful forum connects local businesses, non-profits associated with sustainability, industry, manufacturing and emerging industries with potential consumers in order to gain exposure for their brand and to explore what other products are available in the sustainable marketplace.
The 8th Annual Staten Island Green & Clean Festival is presented by National Grid and Pratt Industries. Corporate sponsors include Con Edison, Staten Island University Hospital, and Williams Transco. Island Auto Group is the Exclusive Auto Group of the 2018 SIEDC Green & Clean Festival. Extensive support for the Conference youth education initiative comes from ADCO Electric, Borough President James Oddo, Assemblyman Michael Cusick, Puddin’ Kids First, and United Activities Unlimited. Media partners for the festival are the Staten Island Advance and AM 970.
Highlights included:
TICKETED EVENTS:
1. Keynote Breakfast: The Opening Breakfast kicked off the 8th Annual SIEDC Green & Clean Festival with a focus on New Frontiers in a Sustainable Staten Island and featured a panel consisting of academic experts and industry professionals to discuss the local initiatives to address resiliency including storm water management, blue belts, zoning changes, new construction requirements and how businesses can better understand the complex world of post-Sandy development and operations. Speakers included Dr. Robert Fanuzzi, St. John’s University; Dr. Abraham Unger, Wagner College; Dr. Alan Benimoff, College of Staten Island; Mario Bruno, Department of Environmental Protection; Aleena Farishta, NYC Department of City Planning; and Melissa Herlitz, NYC Department of City Planning. The panel was moderated by Adam Zellner of the Greener by Design and the SIEDC Green & Clean Festival Ambassador.
2. It’s Organic Bash: The Festival concluded with the “It’s Organic Bash” cocktail reception. The Felix T. Gilroy Green Genesis Awards Ceremony took place during the reception, where SIEDC acknowledged five organizations for projects that are helping Staten Island become a more sustainable borough. Award recipients included: BioGas Corp for their Biodigester Project, Freshkills Alliance for their Freshkills Park, CetraRuddy for the Corporate Commons 3 Project, Kinder Morgan and EnterSolar for their solar installation project, and NYCEDC for their West Shore Marshes Project. A partnership between two SIEDC members was also announced during the reception. Marcello Sciarrino of Island Auto Group donated $2,500 to the Staten Island Zoo to show his support of the Zoo and the Staten Island Community. SIEDC is proud to foster partnerships like this within the membership network.
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OPEN AND FREE SEMINARS/VENDORS/DEMOS
1. SIEDC Public-Private Partnership Industrial Park RFP Information Session: SIEDC is seeking a private development partner for the construction of Staten Island’s first public/private industrial park. SIEDC staff discussed the recently released RFP and partnership opportunities.
2. SIEDC Marketing Club Meeting: In 2017 the SIEDC launched a Marketing Club which gathered the principals or marketing professionals from several businesses to share strategies and techniques to successfully market to the Staten Island community. During the club’s meetings members discuss a specific marketing strategy with the group and how it applies to each business, share success stories related to this specific strategy and uncover cross-promotional opportunities member-to-member and SIEDC-to-member. This meeting of the SIEDC Marketing Club was open to the public. At this meeting the club discussed different tactics to market Staten Island and Staten Island businesses as a green borough through eco-friendly promotional merchandise.
3. Minority and Women Owned Business Info Session & Small Business Administration Lending Roundtable: SBA approved lenders and other local banks who were interested in lending to small businesses and Minority & Women owned firms especially in the construction and industrial sector.
4. 2018 SIEDC Public Service Awards for NYC Employees: This award ceremony recognized those New York City agency employees who are Staten Island based and have gone above and beyond to assist SIEDC and our members over the years.
5. SIEDC Creative Council Meeting: The SIEDC Creative Council is designed for creative and talented individuals to come together and exchange new ideas, learn about a variety of innovative fields, and support each other’s endeavors by networking and inspiring one another. The SIEDC Creative Council discussed greening Staten Island through creativity.
6. SIEDC Executive Women’s Council Meeting: The SIEDC Executive Women’s Council met to discuss mentorship and educational opportunities within Staten Island’s business community.
7. All Day Vending and Demos: Over 50 businesses, non-profit organizations, and eco-friendly firms including: NYC H2O, Transportation Alternatives, SI Solar Car, Beezy Bee Honey, Ocean Breeze Athletic Center, Greenbelt Nature Center, Home by DIVVY, GrowNYC Greenmarket, Gotham Whale, Partnership for Parks, and eco-friendly Cars Presented by Island Auto Group.
8. All Day Public Projects Information Session: Visitors had the opportunity to meet representatives from City and State agencies to discuss major sustainability and environmental protection projects throughout the borough.
EDUCATIONAL AND STUDENT SEMINARS
1. Gas Safety: Presenting sponsor National Grid, taught students about the importance of gas safety during an interactive seminar. Students were equipped to use their senses at home or school to detect a potentially dangerous situation, and lead their friends and family to safety.
2. Staten Island Zoo Tour: All school students toured the Staten Island Zoo to learn about environmental science, different ecosystems, and the importance of a sustainable planet for all species.
Vending took place at the Staten Island Zoo near the Pavilion and Events Tent from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Vending highlights included presenting sponsor, National Grid’s Income Eligible Free Natural Gas Conversion Program. Applications and other materials were available to families who qualify for free heating and hot water upgrades from oil to natural gas. National Grid is hoping to reduce expenses for low-income families, and be community partners in saving energy and money.
SIEDC is a 501 ©(3) not for profit corporation, the mission of the Staten Island Economic Development Corporation (SIEDC) is to enhance a thriving Staten Island economy by promoting public and private investment, and encouraging the development of commercial and industrial property and projects in an environmentally friendly manner, all of which improve the quality of life and provide broad and diverse employment opportunities.
