Sustainable Living Association announces inaugural Sustainability Contribution Awards event

The Sustainable Living Association (SLA) announces its inaugural Sustainability Contribution Awards Dinner, recognizing individuals and groups who have made exemplary contributions to sustainability in the Northern Colorado region, on Nov. 9 from 6-10 p.m. at the Rio Grande Restaurant in Fort Collins.

At the awards dinner, one non-profit organization and one business headquartered in Northern Colorado will be honored for making a significant and positive impact toward the conservation and preservation of our planet for current and future generations. The SLA Volunteer of the Year will also be announced and honored as someone who has volunteered extraordinary amounts of time and effort and made significant contributions to the success of the organization. “More than 400 people volunteer each year to support the important work we do,” said Kellie Falbo, Executive Director.

The winning business and non-profit will receive a free booth at the 14th Sustainable Living Fair, schedule to take place on September 14-15, 2013. Nominees were announced at this year’s Fair and the Sustainability Contribution Award winners will be announced at the dinner on Nov. 9.

“These nominees demonstrate that business and an environmental conscience are not mutually exclusive. Some finalists have identified a business opportunity that both improves the environment and provides employment for themselves and others. Other groups and individuals show the level of dedication and commitment that exists in communities across Northern Colorado, working to care for our environment,” said Falbo

Five organizations have been nominated in the Outstanding Non-Profit category and the winner will be selected by a “People’s Vote’ on Facebook, which closes on Oct. 25 and winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on Nov. 9.

Wildlands Restoration Volunteers provides an opportunity for people to come together, learn about their natural environment, and take direct action to restore and care for the land. Their mission is to foster a community spirit of shared responsibility for the ecological stewardship and restoration of public and protected lands.

The Growing Project promotes the value of a strong, diverse, and just local food system to all residents of Northern Colorado through direct agricultural experiences, education, and advocacy.

Wolverine Farms is a non-profit literary/arts organization that publishes quality literature and art that mindfully engages humans with the world. Their work supports a community of creative, informed, and engaged citizens living in a diverse, healthy, and beautiful world.

High Plains Environmental Center engages developers, builders, businesses and residents in making their community a ‘living laboratory’ that provides integrated, leading edge examples of community design, land stewardship, eco-literacy and sustainable living that are grounded in reality and replicable.

Bike Fort Collins has been involved with and continues to create new bicycle programs to encourage safe and enjoyable cycling in the Fort Collins community. They have helped with such projects as the Bike Library, Community Cycling School and Safe Routes to School.

Five Northern Colorado businesses have been nominated as a Stand Out Business and the winner will be selected by the SLA Board of Directors and staff and announced at the event.

MM Local partners with local growers to pick produce at the height of ripeness, and preserve those delicious local flavors using the most natural and traditional methods of putting food up. They use real, local food that tastes like it’s supposed to, so people can all eat local and delicious, all year round.

Planet Bluegrass has worked to present the finest musical experiences in some of the country’s most magnificent natural environments while striving to reduce their environmental footprint at the same time. Over the years they have developed a reputation as a national leader in voluntary environmental action.

Canopy Parking located near Denver International Airport (DIA) utilizes it footprint to house and operate a 9.6kW wind turbine farm, a 16.9 kW solar array, geothermal energy production, and much more at their LEED Gold Certified parking facility.

LoCo Food Distribution makes it convenient to buy local food by making connections between farmers and consumers, between growers and restaurants, growers and processors, processors and schools. By consolidating these connections to one catalog, one source, LoCo Food Distribution helps growers, processors, restaurants, institutions and grocers to tie all these ends together in a functional, convenient and friendly way.

Green Ride Colorado is a locally owned and operated airport shuttle service along the Northern Front Range and southern Wyoming to DIA. Their shuttles reduce greenhouse gas by removing other vehicles from the road reducing emissions, congestion, wear and tear on highways, increases safety and helps vehicles last longer so they do not need to be replaced as often. They also had one of the first hybrid fleets around.

For more information or to purchase tickets visit www.SustainableLivingAssociation.org.