Economic Development

Targeting Green Industries in SF

Kate Noble

The City of Santa Fe’s new strategy for economic development includes targeting green industries. Not only is “Green” now one of five key industries for the City [along with Media, Technology, Knowledge-based Enterprises and Arts & Culture], but a project’s environmental impact is now a formal criterion in the evaluation of every potential economic development project. In July 2008 the City Council updated the implementation of the City’s official economic development plan. Members of the local business and economic community worked with City staff for almost a year on the update.

The five target industries will be the primary areas of focus for the Economic Development Division’s funding, time and energy. The Division’s mandate is to provide support for local businesses, to assist in the development of a skilled workforce and to work to improve the infrastructure needed for businesses to compete in the 21st century.

“Green” was named as one of Santa Fe’s five key industries because it has all the qualities important to Santa Fe’s current and future economic health. Here’s why:

• A National and International Growth Trend
  Governments, corporations and a critical mass of individuals have awakened to the potential of green industries. Demand for clean energy, green products and green technology has gone through the roof. Consumers in Santa Fe are on the leading edge of a movement to vote with our dollars by buying green. At the same time, while an economic slowdown has put on the brakes in many areas, green products and practices offer economic opportunities.

• High Quality Local Jobs
  Installing solar hot water systems, marketing clean energy, inventing new wind turbine technology, selling green products, innovating ways to use fewer plastic bottles – these are among the countless career paths in green industries. Most of these jobs pay high wages. Fortunately, many “green jobs” cannot be outsourced because they depend on location-specific installations or energy resources like sun and wind.
• Santa Fe Is Already Good at Green
  Many Santa Fe businesses have been quietly innovating for years in solar heat and hot water, waste reduction, rainwater catchment systems, energy conservation and many other areas. These businesses now have an unprecedented opportunity to lead the way with the knowledge and experience they gathered over the many years when sustainability was not a national priority.
• It’s the Right Thing to Do
  The City is invested in creating a sustainable community. We want our children and grandchildren to have clean, healthy and prosperous lives.

The City’s newly revitalized economic development program is focused on growing green Santa Fe businesses and supporting them in making a difference for all the citizens of the world.

Kate Noble is an Economic Development Specialist with the City of Santa Fe. She may be contacted at 505-955-6915 or kinoble@sanatfenm.gov.