Tennessee Wildlife Federation Awards CRT 2008 Conservation Organization of the Year

Nashville, TN - Presentation Excerpt - March 19, 2008 - "As we all know, getting together environmentalists, conservationists, farmers, corporate leaders and developers to discuss the future of land use is no easy task.  Yet, our next award winner has managed to do just that.  Not only has Cumberland Region Tomorrow gotten these groups together, they have also gotten CONSENSUS from them as well.  

Created in 2000 as a result of a study sponsored by the Vanderbilt Institute for Public Policy on urban and suburban sprawl, Cumberland Region Tomorrow works in the ten county region of Greater Nashville to support and encourage quality growth through improved planning.  They emphasize land use, transportation, preservation of rural landscape, and character of the region's communities in helping middle Tennessee plan for tomorrow.  

In 2004, CRT brought together hundreds of unlikely collaborators including business leaders, corporate executives, mayors, councilmen and women, Farm Bureau representatives and others to create a blue print for the future called the "Quality Growth Toolbox."  Two years in the making, this publication now gives local communities in the Cumberland River region of middle Tennessee step-by-step strategies, tools, incentives and resources for smart growth.  

In addition to creating the Toolbox, CRT has developed the Quality Growth Training Institute, which offers training and technical assistance to local and region planners.  

Cumberland Region Tomorrow is hard at work ensuring the middle Tennessee Region is able to maximize its economic and natural resources to result in the best possible quality of life for its residents.  It is for this effort we present them with the Conservation Organization of the Year award.  Please join me in acknowledging them."

CRT Co-Chair Pat Emery attended the event along with CRT Director Lynnisse Roehrich-Patrick.  They join Executive Director Bridget Jones in thanking the Tennessee Wildlife Federation for this special recognition and extending a big THANK YOU to each Toolbox Committee member and the CRT Board of Directors for their support in creating the CRT Quality Growth Toolbox!