The Clean Air Campaign Announces 2013 PACE Awards Call for Entries

Applications are now available for employers, property managers and schools to showcase actions for cleaner air and less traffic 

The Clean Air Campaign, together with the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) and the region’s transportation management associations, has issued a call for entries for the annual PACE Awards. Now in its 13^th year, the PACE Awards program recognizes the success of employers, property managers, schools and individuals in advancing the promise of cleaner air and less traffic.

This year’s competition will once again honor the best commute options programs in the region for innovative practices that encourage more commuters to carpool, vanpool, ride transit, telework, bicycle and walk. Platinum Partner workplaces and Clean Air Commuter Champions whose actions have kept at least 50,000 pounds of pollution out of the air will also be recognized.

Award entry forms are available at the Georgia Commute Options website, or by calling 1-877-9-GA-OPTIONS. Winners will be announced at the 2013 PACE Awards ceremony, to be held on Wednesday, November 13 at the Georgia-Pacific auditorium in downtown Atlanta, located next to the Peachtree Center MARTA station. The deadline for submissions is Friday, August 30 at 4 p.m.

PACE Awards will be presented for the following categories:

·         Best Overall Program – Private Sector Employers and Property Managers

·         Government Champions – Public Sector Employers

·         Most Innovative Commute Options Program – Private and Public Sector Employers and Property Managers

·         Georgia Department of Transportation Commissioner’s Award

·         Telework Catalyst

·         School Champions

·         UPS Exemplary Diesel Idle Reduction Partner

“Metro Atlanta is making progress on long-term traffic and air quality issues through innovation and a sense of shared responsibility,” said Tedra Cheatham, executive director of The Clean Air Campaign. “The PACE Awards program showcases the best success stories among the region’s employers, property managers, schools and individuals, all of whom are banding together to improve quality of life.”

The most recent PACE Awards winners include: CBRE Inc./Atlantic Station, Assurant Specialty Property, Cobb County School District, White Oak Elementary, Agnes Scott College, Zoe Spencer (student at Maynard Holbrook Jackson High School), Jamee Douglas (teacher at Big Shanty Intermediate), City of Milton, Robins Air Force Base, UHS Pruitt, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta and Jim Durrett.

WABE 90.1 FM is sponsoring the 2013 PACE Awards, and winners will be recognized on WABE and in the Atlanta Business Chronicle following the November 13 event.

About The Clean Air Campaign

The Clean Air Campaign is a not-for-profit organization that works with more than 1,600 Georgia employers, tens of thousands of commuters and more than 300 K-12 schools to encourage actions that result in less traffic congestion and better air quality.  In conducting these programs, The Clean Air Campaign works in partnership with The Georgia Department of Transportation.

The Clean Air Campaign, along with partner organizations, creates customized commute options programs for employers; provides assistance and financial incentives to commuters that enable the use of commute alternatives; and empowers students, parents and teachers to play a positive role in reducing traffic and improving air quality through an action-oriented school program.  The Clean Air Campaign also protects public health by distributing Smog Alert notifications.

Each day, these programs keep 550 tons of pollution out of the air we breathe.  For more information, call 1-877-CLEANAIR (1-877-253-2624) or visit CleanAirCampaign.org. The Clean Air Campaign is also on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and You Tube.

About Georgia Commute Options

Georgia Commute Options is a joint effort between the Georgia Department of Transportation, The Clean Air Campaign, Atlanta Regional Commission and the region’s transportation management associations that help commuters and employers take advantage of commute alternatives. Georgia Commute Options allows a network of partners to market customized commute options for employers and provides assistance and financial incentives for commuters. Each workday, these programs eliminate 1.1 million miles of vehicle travel and save commuters a combined $500,000 on gas and car expenses. For more information, visit www.GACommuteOptions.com or call 1-877-9-GA-OPTIONS. Georgia Commute Options is also on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.