Moorestown and Sustainable Jersey are one in the same

Moorestown has now joined with 354 other New Jersey communities as a registered member of Sustainable Jersey. New Jersey is the first state in the nation to have a comprehensive sustainability program for communities that links certification with strong state and private financial incentives, and a fully resourced program of technical support and training. The certification process is a roadmap for municipalities that want to encourage the growth of the elements of a sustainable community.

Being a sustainable community means that Moorestown and its residents will take purposeful steps to create a better quality of life by incorporating certain qualities into everyday living. Some will be accomplished on a grand scale while others will be performed just within one family or group. Most are simple activities, which do not cost much in terms of time or money. They can be grouped into three categories, which, together, define what it means to be a sustainable community:

• Prosperity — support your local economy and use community resources

• Planet — practice responsible environmental management and conservation

• People — embrace social equity and fairness.

There truly is “something for everyone” in the range of activities that qualify as sustainable, from buying goods from local businesses to historic preservation to reducing waste disposal by our schools. We are looking for individuals and groups who have an interest in fostering sustainability in Moorestown and who wish to get involved to make sure it happens. Along the way, we plan to seek certification if there is a collective desire to attain that designation. Certification as a sustainable community brings with it additional opportunities for grant funding and recognition by local and state entities.

To become involved or to just learn more about the program please come to the Sustainable Moorestown Open House at 7:30 p.m. on March 8, in the William Allen Middle School Auditorium. There will be handouts, presentations and individuals to speak to before and after the presentation portion of the open house. The open house will be an opportunity for all interested persons to learn more about the program and to sign up to participate on one or more committees, and to volunteer to serve on a township-appointed steering committee. The steering committee will be made up of a diverse group of community leaders who will meet on a regular basis and interact with the other committees and with the community at large. Those who cannot make the March 8 meeting can still volunteer by notifying Tom Ford at tford@moorestown.nj.us or can mail him at Tom Ford, Director Department of Community Development, Moorestown Township 2 Executive Drive Suite 9A, Moorestown, N.J. 08057

We are excited about this program and I hope that you will be as well. We hope you can join us on March 8 and become part of this program.

Jake Der Hagopian. Chair of the Economic Development Committee.

Chet Dawson. Chair of the Environmental Advisory Committee.