Glassboro Achieves Sustainable Jersey Certification

GLASSBORO, NJ – Sustainable Jersey representatives recently announced that Glassboro has met the rigorous requirements to achieve Sustainable Jersey certification. Glassboro is one of 50 towns that attained certification in 2015 and was honored at the Sustainable Jersey awards luncheon on November 17, 2015 in Atlantic City.

“It has been an exceptional experience for our community to be recognized with such a distinguished award,” said Ed Malandro, Glassboro council member. “This honor proves that Glassboro has the power to ensure a better tomorrow for its residents.”

To become Sustainable Jersey certified, Glassboro submitted documentation to show it had completed a balance of the required sustainability actions, meeting a minimum of 150 action points. In addition to reaching 150 points, each certified community had to create a green team and select at least two out of 11 priority action options.

Certified towns excelled in areas such as improving energy efficiency and health and wellness, reducing waste, sustaining local economies, protecting natural resources and advancing the arts. “Collectively the 430 participating Sustainable Jersey towns are a powerful force in New Jersey,” said Donna Drewes, co-director of Sustainable Jersey.

Glassboro completed 14 actions in 12 categories receiving 190 points in order to become certified. The project categories include: Community Partnership and Outreach, Municipal Energy Audits and Upgrades, Food Production, Health and Wellness, Innovation and Demonstration Projects, Land Use and Transportation, Local Economies, Buy Local Programs, Green Purchasing Program, Grounds and Maintenance, Waste Management, and Recycling. The full list and details of Glassboro’s 14 actions can be viewed here: http://glassboroonline.com/public/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Glassboro-Sustainable-Jersey-Certification-Report-Dec-8-20151.pdf.

“Becoming Sustainable Jersey certified is a significant achievement,” said Randall Solomon, co-director of Sustainable Jersey. “The 191 Sustainable Jersey certified towns demonstrate leadership and are a testament to how much we can accomplish toward the long-term goal of a sustainable New Jersey.”

CAPTION:

Glassboro’s Tawana Bryant (center) and Sonya Harris (second from right) accept the Borough’s Sustainable Jersey Award during the 7th Annual Sustainable Jersey Luncheon on November 17, 2015 in Atlantic City, NJ. Also picture (l. to r.) are Randall Solomon, co-director, Sustainable Jersey, Richard Dovey, chairperson, Sustainable Jersey Board of Trustees, and Donna Drewes, co-director, Sustainable Jersey.

ABOUT GLASSBORO, NJ

Established in 1779, Glassboro, NJ was first known as “Glass Works in the Woods” because of its renowned glass factory. In 1923, Glassboro gained recognition when it became the home of the New Jersey Normal School, later to become Glassboro State College and now the highly acclaimed Rowan University. Today, Glassboro is a thriving 9.2 square-mile Borough located in the center of Gloucester County, NJ with approximately 19,000 residents. Glassboro’s annual retail sales are more than $201 million and growing thanks to its partnerships with Rowan, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, and Nexus Properties, the developer of the Rowan Boulevard revitalization project. As New Jersey’s largest municipal redevelopment project, Rowan Boulevard is a $350 million initiative, directly linking one of New Jersey’s leading universities with the Borough’s downtown retail district.