The Hendersonville Environmental Sustainability Board is pleased to announce its second annual Hendersonville Sustainability Hero Award. The Sustainability Hero Award celebrates outstanding achievement in the pursuit of the City’s commitment to lead by example in pursuing environmentally sustainable practices critical to preserving the community for future generations. The Sustainability Hero award will honor an individual, City employee, or team that is a champion for change and is responsible for development and implementation of sustainability practices in Hendersonville and the surrounding community.
Nominations for the Sustainability Hero Award may be submitted by any individual or organization including community members, City employees (co-workers) and non-governmental organizations and should be submitted to the Chair of the Environmental Sustainability Board,
City of Hendersonville Stormwater Division Manager Michael Huffman was the first ever recipient of the Hendersonville Sustainability Award in 2023. During his time with the City, Huffman has been awarded over $4 million in grants to improve local stormwater infrastructure, implemented programs such as the ‘Trash Trout’ to reduce the amount of trash in our waterways, and also manages the City’s rain barrel program and initiatives like storm drain stamping.
Nominations for the Hendersonville Sustainability Hero Award should include a description of:
· The individual’s or team’s success in improving the condition of any of the environmental elements of the City and the surrounding community during calendar year 2023, including: Energy Management; Transportation (including fleet operations, walkability, and bikability); Waste Management (including waste diversion and reduction of toxic and hazardous chemicals and materials); Drinking Water, Stormwater, and Wastewater Management; and, Land Management and Conservation.
· The project(s) or effort(s) carried out by the individual or team, including any strategies and technologies that were deployed, who was involved and an approximate project timeline.
· Results and achievements accomplished during 2023, focusing not only on outputs but also on intermediate and long-term outcomes, and/or anticipated future outcomes.
· The nominee’s leadership in efficiency improvements and financial savings, innovation, education, and outreach.
· The nominee’s success in working across organizational boundaries, as well as working with other localities, organizations, or individuals to support and promote environmental sustainability goals in Hendersonville and the surrounding community.
Nominations for the Hendersonville Sustainability Hero Award may include a letter of support from a local or regional community partner.
2024 Hendersonville Sustainability Hero Award review process:
Nominations submission period January 18, 2024 – March 1, 2024.
Nominations will be reviewed by the Hendersonville Environmental Sustainability Board. The winning nomination will be recognized by the Mayor and Chair of the Environmental Sustainability Board during a public event.
For more information about the Sustainability Hero Award, please visit www.hvlnc.gov/
