Green Economy:

• Build institutional capacity: We are centrally involved in framing the region’s strategy for developing the “Green Collar” work force, through our 2008-09 work on the Green Talent Pipeline Partnership with the Work Force Investment Boards of seven counties. The Partnership will soon be launching an informational website on education and training resources for emerging and expanding careers in energy and conservation-related fields.

• We're working with the Clean Energy Technology Training Consortium to create an in-depth jobs website and resource centers at the community colleges in five counties: Ulster, Orange, Sullivan, Dutchess and Rockland.
• We are also helping with the formation of key industry groups: the Clean Water Consortium and the Zero Waste Consortium. These follow the model of The Solar Energy Consortium, created last year with the help of the Hudson Valley Congressional Delegation. The Hudson Valley Regional Council, the agency that frames the regional Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy that guides Department of Commerce funding, is SHV’s partner.
• Facilitate solutions to policy and systems problems: To help local green businesses find each other and build a dynamic regional marketplace, we are launching a business-to-business network as a sister organization, the Hudson Valley Sustainable Business Xchange. We're also working to improve the economics of green building, by allying with real estate industry leaders, to develop recommendations for the appraisal process, so that green improvements can be financially rewarded in increased property values.