Sustainable Manhattan

Description
 
Sustainable Manhattan, currently a project of the Kansas Center for Rural Initiatives, is a fledgling community effort to promote sustainable development choices in Manhattan and the surrounding areas.  Intended to serve as a catalyst for the creation of sustainable development initiatives, Sustainable Manhattan was borne out of a Students for Sustainability group at Kansas State University (KSU).  The group had been focusing on ways to integrate sustainable development practices at KSU when its members -- concerned citizens, students and faculty -- asked themselves how they could apply the principles of sustainability being discussed on campus to the city as a whole.

As a first step in pursing a city-wide sustainability initiative, the group applied for an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sustainable development challenge grant, but was turned down.  Rather than become discouraged, the group organized a fall seminar series (four one-hour discussions on sustainability) and established a community service team at Kansas State designed to flesh out sustainability issues.  They reapplied for the grant the next year and this time they received it.

Sustainable Manhattan defines sustainability as "meeting the needs of the present while maintaining the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."  The group is working to achieve several goals:

• Research, develop and publish economic, cultural and environmental indicators that measure the community's progress toward sustainability.
• Provide public education and foster community awareness on how these indicators relate to current, local issues and long-term sustainability and how individuals can use this information to guide their own lifestyles.
• Support public policy and decision-making processes that embrace sustainability at every level of the community.
• Encourage action projects with local public, private and grassroots organizations that contribute to the community's long-term sustainability.

• Participate in your community
• Leave your car at home
• Buy locally
• Learn and respect local ecology
• "Green" the neighborhood
• Be frugal and happy
• Celebrate community

"Numerous other communities have similar activities and ideas," said Snead, "but Sustainable Manhattan is unique to this community."

Program Highlights

Indicators

Sustainable Manhattan has established an Indicators Working Group assigned the task of identifying community indicators that can be used to measure progress toward sustainability.  In working to identify these indicators, the group is looking at the programs that have been/are being developed in other communities such as Seattle, WA; Santa Monica, CA; Chattanooga, TN and Racine, WI.

Education

Sustainable Manhattan has established an Education and Outreach Activities group, which is currently working on the development of a Sustainable Manhattan web site.  When completed, the site will be available at the Community Online Resource Exchange (CORE).

The group is also developing a set of four courses for adults that provides an introduction to sustainability issues.

Grants Program

Sustainable Manhattan is developing a statement of principles for a mini grants program they are going to establish that will provide small grants to the individuals, corporations and nonprofit groups that are exploring sustainability issues.

Vital Statistics

• Program Management/Partnerships: Sustainable Manhattan is currently a project of the Kansas Center for Rural Initiatives.
  
  
• Budget: Please contact the program directly for the latest budget information.
  
  
• Community Served: The residents of Manhattan, KS and surrounding communities.
  
  
• Measures of Success:

• Sustainable Manhattan is currently finalizing the grant agreement with EPA Region 7.
• Sustainable Manhattan is currently based at the Kansas Center for Rural Initiatives, but they are exploring becoming a 501(c)(3).

Published: August 1998
Success stories designed by Mark W. Nowak

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