There are four key commonalities among Austins, Chicagos, and Little Rocks green economies: 1) City planners

and governments, educators, environmentalists, and labor, community, and business leaders are essential actors to green growth; 2) Green growth is not accidental, and coordinated planning is necessary; 3) Green growth initiatives and programs with tangible outcomes are vital; and, 4) Sustainable green growth is balanced green growth. In order to build a sustainable green economy, diverse actors need to be at the table. City planners and government leaders are poised to bring local, state, and federal resources. Educators are needed to provide income support and training for workers moving out of declining industries. Environmentalists are needed to ensure environmental concerns are being met. Labor unions, with their capacity to mobilize and educate, are essential actors in growing the green economy. Community groups aid in identifying and reaching out to marginalized populations disproportionately hurt by a deindustrializing nation. And, attracting and retaining green business is one of the most substantial strategies for developing green economies. In addition to needing a variety of actors, green economic growth requires coordinated planning. Planning is needed to identify local and regional growth opportunities and obstacles, as well as future growth trajectories. Through this assessment, initiatives and programs that are aligned with local and regional needs can be developed. By getting key actors involved in working on meeting specified local and regional needs, initiatives and programs are created that have real, meaningful outcomes. Through coordinated planning among key stakeholders and the development of strategic initiatives and programs, sustainable, balanced green economic growth is fostered. Balanced growth is achieved through the cooperation of a diversity of actors, working together to grow the different sectors of the green economy and to meet local and regional needs- economic, social, and environmental.

Key Actors: City planners and governments, educators, environmentalists, and business, community, and labor leaders

Balanced Growth

Green Economic Growth

Coordinated Planning

Initiatives and Programs with Real Outcomes