Routledge Sustainable Communities: Creating a Durable Local Economy (Earthscan Tools for Community Planning)

With a foreword written by Senator Bernie Sanders What is a durable economy? It is one that not only survives but thrives. How is it created, and what does it take to sustain over time? Sustainable Communities provides insight and answers to these questions. Citing Burlington, Vermont's remarkable rise to award-winning status, this book explores the balance of community planning, social enterprise development, energy and environment, food systems and cultural well-being. Aimed at policymakers, development practitioners, students, and citizens, this book describes which and how multiple influences facilitate the creation of a local, durable and truly sustainable economy. The authors hope to inspire others by sharing this story of what can be done in the name of community economic development. Review Rhonda Phillips, Bruce Seifer, and Ed Antczak have written about sustainable economic and community development from a great point of view. They have actually done it. Based on their extensive experience in Burlington, Vermont, a city of 40,000 in Northwestern New England with a long history of commercial and industrial development, the three authors have put together a terrific combination of theory and practice in writing about this popular and elusive goal. This is a scholarly work and a how to manual wrapped together, and it has a happy ending. Burlington is fast becoming one of the most sustainable and livable cities on the planet. Howard Dean, former Vermont Governor 1991-2003 If you want to actually know how to build a great and vibrant community, here's the down-and-dirty details from the people who've done it. Absolutely essential! Bill McKibben, author, Oil and Honey: the Education of an Unlikely Activist Burlington is one of those places that offers both opportunity and inspiration to its residents and businesses. This book provides insight into how community inclusion and vision became business as usual in this small city…with remarkable results. Jerry Greenfield, Co-Founder, Ben and Jerry's Burlington is an amazing city, with innovations that make the mind race. How did they do all this? Their successes in creating one of the country's most economically viable cities isn't born of luck, nor is it the work of socialist, ice-cream eating hippies. It is the product of hard work, focus and a fierce commitment to the power of community. The authors have penned a book that should be read by everybody who is working for a new economic vision for America. College students, social entrepreneurs, nonprofit leaders, city administrators and every elected leader in America. Our economic recovery won't be achieved by big projects or multinational businesses. The future isn't in that direction. As Burlington proves, it's as easy as looking in your own backyard. Robert Egger, President LA Kitchen & CForward www.lakitchen.org This is a truly invaluable book! Building upon the exemplary experience of Burlington, Vermont it offers real guidance on how to achieve sustainability, community wealth-building, worker-ownership, and democratic control. A must read for practioners, scholars and students concerned with rebuilding the American system from the ground up on strong principles anchored in strong communities. Gar Alperovitz, Lionel R. Bauman Professor of Political Economy at the University of Maryland, and author, What Then Must We Do? In an era of a dysfunctional federal government, Sustainable Communities: Creating a Durable Local Economy reminds us that change at the local level is possible and that we can all be the better for it. Phillips, Seifer and Antczak document a remarkable adventure set in Burlington, Vermont which demonstrates how indigenous leadership coupled with a strong sense of community can make a difference. They have a written a playbook for transformational change that matters and which can be sustained. Nicolas P. Retsinas, Director Emeritus, Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housin