Insight Park
OXFORD, Miss. – The University of Mississippi’s combined sustainability efforts are being recognized as Oxford-Lafayette County is designated a Tennessee Valley Authority Valley Sustainable Gold Community.
“The Office of Sustainability was thrilled to make the solid connection between sustainability and economic development and demonstrate that the two are mutually beneficial,” said Anne McCauley, assistant director of UM’s Office of Sustainability. “It allows us to reach a whole new audience and groups of people who are also working to strengthen communities.”
A program officially announcing the award is set for 10 a.m. Tuesday (Jan. 28) at the Innovation Hub at Insight Park. Ian Banner, director of UM Office of Sustainability, university architect and facilities planning director, will welcome visitors to the event on behalf of the university. Other scheduled appearances include Janice Antonow, Oxford alderman; Jon Maynard, president and CEO of the L-O-U Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Foundation; former Oxford Mayor Richard Howorth; and John Bradley, TVA senior vice president of economic development.
“For our recently established Innovation Hub and Insight Park, the designation is a key marketing advantage,” said Richard Duke, Insight Park executive director. “Being located in a mixed-use, sustainable environment is key to attracting the knowledge-based companies we are targeting and recruiting with help from partners, like TVA Economic Development.”
The Valley Sustainable Gold Community status signifies Oxford-Lafayette County has taken a leadership role in implementing sustainable practices and has made a commitment to sustainability efforts focused on economic development. UM contributions to receiving the designation include:
– the largest rooftop-mounted solar array in Mississippi at the Haley Barbour Center for Manufacturing Excellence, which powers the facility’s lighting;
– solar shading, geothermal heating and cooling and plug-ins for electrical vehicles at Insight Park;
– the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment, as a signatory to the commitment, an agreement to set the university on a path to become climate-neutral.
“This designation and others, like the Princeton Review’s ‘Green School’ recognition, help communicate to the broader public the seriousness with which the University of Mississippi is pursuing sustainability,” Banner said.
Sustainability has become a key issue for economic development organizations and communities as more corporations demonstrate an increasing commitment to sustainability. More than 90 percent of corporate real estate executives who responded to a CoreNet Global survey on the issue said it is a consideration in their company location decisions. The typical reasons for this corporate commitment are reduced operating costs for increased profitability and greater employee satisfaction.
“TVA Economic Development’s mission includes helping valley communities like Oxford-Lafayette County prepare to compete by showcasing their community’s strengths, including sustainability attributes,” Bradley said. “We are seeing that more and more companies have an increasing business emphasis on sustainable operations, and are adding this component to their RFIs as they search for a community where they can locate, grow and enhance their company’s sustainability commitments.”
For more information about the Haley Barbour Center for Manufacturing Excellence, visit http://www.cme.ms.
For more information about Insight Park, visit http://www.insightparkum.com. For more information on UM’s Office of Sustainability, visit http://www.olemiss.edu/green. For more information about TVA’s Valley Sustainable Communities program, visit http://TVAed.com/sustainable.