2014 Maryland Sustainable Growth Forum and Awards Ceremony
Presented by the Maryland Sustainable Growth Commission
The Maryland Sustainable Growth Awards celebrate significant achievement by individuals, businesses, organizations and local governments to realize the 12 planning visions adopted by the Maryland General Assembly. The awards promote exemplary work that represents or inspires collaboration, innovation, conservation, community impact and quality of life.
2014 Sustainable Growth awards
The Commission recognized the following people and projects during its award ceremony and forum on February 5.
Fred Lazarus IV, President, Maryland Institute College of Art and board member, Central Baltimore Partnership
For leadership in efforts to transform central Baltimore into a more vibrant place, expanding the arts into the Station North district and co-founding a high school for design students. (Leadership & Service)
Watch a brief video about the award
Ellen Janes, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, Baltimore Branch
For exemplary community development efforts, including spearheading many state programs that channel funds into towns, cities and neighborhoods. (Leadership & Service)
Watch a brief video about the award
Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission
For demonstrating commitment to connecting farms and food to residents, creating healthy communities and helping transition former tobacco farmers to prosperous alternatives. (Leadership & Service)
Watch a brief video about the award
Maryland Arts & Entertainment Districts Program
For helping build economic potential in communities across Maryland by supporting the arts. (Community Planning & Development)
Watch a brief video about the award
Gibbons Commons Mixed-Use Redevelopment Plan (St. Agnes Hospital)
For plans to transform a former vacant boys’ school in Southwest Baltimore into a health-oriented residential community and sports center for youth and patients, featuring the field where Babe Ruth played high school baseball. (Community Planning & Development)
Watch a brief video about the award
Kent County Farmland Preservation Program
For Kent County’s conservation-oriented planning, which directs development to growth areas while protecting farms and maintaining the rural quality of life that residents value. (Preservation/Conservation)
Watch a brief video about the award
Frostburg Grows
For the conversion of unused mined land to a five-acre greenhouse and shade house complex for raising produce and tree seedlings, providing job training and creating entrepreneurship opportunities. (Preservation/Conservation)
Watch a brief video about the award
Maryland Coastal Bays Program
For a successful campaign to retain agricultural zoning, protecting thousands of acres of farmland and forest and directing growth toward population centers. (Preservation/Conservation)
Watch a brief video about the award
Sustainable Growth Forum
The second annual forum hosted by the Sustainable Growth Commission is entitled Big Box or Bagel Shop? What Baby Boomers and Millennials Want. and features Mitchell J. Silver, AICP, past president of the American Planning Association and chief planning and development officer for Raleigh, North Carolina. Silver, an award-winning planner with over 28 years of public and private sector experience in New York, New Jersey, Washington, D.C. and Raleigh, is internationally recognized for his leadership in the planning profession and contributions to contemporary planning issues. Silver has lectured extensively throughout the United States and abroad on a variety of planning topics. He is a contributing author and editor of Local Planning: Contemporary Principles and Practice.
Silver has been at the center of cutting-edge trends, innovative solutions and visionary plans. In 2012, the Urban Times named Mitchell one of the top international thought leaders of the built environment. Silver’s work has been featured in many news outlets, including Time Magazine, The New York Times, Atlantic Cities, Planning Magazine, BBC World News and National Public Radio.
At the forum, the Sustainable Growth Commission presented the 2014 Sustainable Growth Awards and the Sustainable Growth Challenge student competition winners.
