Gateway partners make progress

Gateway Foundation Report

Gateway partners make progress

The work of the Gatlinburg Gateway Foundation for the last two years, along with our Partners, has been to support and encourage the citizens of our community as they have identified and gone to work to solve issues of concern to them. One of the most valuable lessons learned has been the power of cooperation between the public and private sectors. Several examples of public-private collaboration need to be brought to your attention, and I want to start with air quality.

The Air Quality Action Team will host the third annual Air Quality Forum, "Solutions to Air Pollution," on Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Gatlinburg Convention Center — on the porch. Everyone in the county is invited to learn about the things we as individuals can do to help solve the problems with air quality.

With a mission to "provide and advocate clean air solutions for our community through education and awareness programs," this Action Team has truly formed public-private partnerships by working with the Sevier County Electric System and the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy to promote the switch to Green Power, a program of TVA. Businesses and individuals in our county have the opportunity to sign up with Sevier County Electric System to provide a portion of their monthly electricity usage through environmentally friendly sources of power.

Allen Robbins at Sevier County Electric System has worked with the Team to set a goal of making Sevier County the most "green" county in the country and has regularly attended team meetings. When you are in Gatlinburg, you can see the sign erected by John Hondulas and the Team, with the permission and help of the City of Gatlinburg, to track our progress. As more Green Power is purchased, more mountain peaks will appear on the sign. To date, 40 businesses in Sevier County have made the Green Power Switch.

The team has worked with four public schools in the county to showcase its Air Fair — an interactive, hands-on demonstration of solutions to air pollution. Partnering with the team and providing exhibits are Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Shifting Gears, Parks as Classrooms, Sevier County Electric System, National Parks Conservation Association, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, and Discover Life in America. The Gatlinburg-Pittman High School Interact Club provided students who assisted at the Air Fairs. The team also sponsors Green Power Challenge contests in the schools, including the Green Power Switch Contest, Clean Air Solutions Art Contest and Clean Air Solutions Essay contest.

This is only one example of the benefits to all of us in our county, and our region, that working together in public-private collaboration can bring. See you on the 13th for "Solutions to Air Pollution."

Geoffrey A. Wolpert is president of the Gatlinburg Gateway Foundation.