View Past Award Winners
Each year, Southern Growth Policies Board honors
Southern initiatives that are improving economic opportunities
and quality of life in the region. Innovator Awards are presented
annually to one organization in each of Southern Growth’s
thirteen member states, and winners are recognized at Southern
Growth’s Annual Conference. The 2009 Innovator Awards were
chosen from creative initiatives in the region that encourage economic
opportunities relating to bio-products, alternative energy, and/or
energy efficiency. The 2009 Innovator Award winners are
as follows:
ALABAMA
The
Auburn
University Natural Resources Management & Development Institute supports the creation
and promotion of traditional and innovative natural resource products
and services and sustainable practices for the benefit of communities
today and for the well-being of generations to come.
ARKANSAS
Green
Valley Network is a non-profit
organization dedicated to creating a green technology cluster in
Arkansas by fostering collaboration and through the commercialization
of sustainable innovations.
GEORGIA
The
Georgia
Centers of Innovation for Agribusiness and Energy are collaborations among state and
federal agencies and universities to encourage bioenergy development
in Georgia.
KENTUCKY
The
Kentucky
Rural Energy Consortium’s goal is to develop partnerships and fund research that advance
Kentucky’s potential for renewable energy and energy efficiency.
LOUISIANA
The
Gulfsouth
Youth Biodiesel Project engages, empowers and inspires youth involvement in community development
and social entrepreneurship through green collar job training in
which youth learn the ins and outs of how to turn raw organic materials
into eco-friendly alternative fuels.
MISSISSIPPI
Mississippi
State University’s
Sustainable
Energy Research Center aims to develop renewable transportation
fuels to meet the nation's goal of replacing 20 percent of the
fuel supply with renewable energy.
MISSOURI
The
Northwest Missouri State University Alternative Energy Innovation program utilizes alternative fuel
sources to reduce the University's dependence on fossil fuels,
and purchases regionally-produced renewable energy sources that
create economic benefits for the region.
NORTH CAROLINA
NC
Woody Biomass is a research-based,
educational initiative that promotes economic opportunities related
to renewable energy derived from woody biomass.
OKLAHOMA
The
University of Central Oklahoma works to become a Green University through a range of alternative
energy and energy-efficiency strategies, including the use of biodiesel
and wind power.
SOUTH CAROLINA
The
USC-Columbia Fuel Cell Collaborative encourages the commercialization of multiple products and applications
within the hydrogen and fuel cell space by providing funding and
support for industry/university collaborations.
TENNESSEE
BioSAT is a comprehensive web-based
tool that helps rapidly screen and optimally site biomass collection
or processing centers in the Eastern U.S.
VIRGINIA
GreenTrees uses financial incentives
to encourage landowners to plant forests to aid in the growing
of renewable biomass supplies, carbon sequestration, and conservation.
WEST VIRGINIA
The
Natural Capital Investment Fund fosters sustainable economic development and creates quality employment
in rural communities by providing financing for green businesses.
