Neighborhood food businesses can provide significant benefits for the local economy in the form of jobs, local retention of wealth, and amenities for local residents. However, budding businesses may face challenges such as lack of capital and technical knowledge. A neighborhood food business incubator can help businesses overcome these challenges and start off on the right foot, improving their chances of success and amplifying their positive impact in the community.
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Dark surfaces are absorbing and trapping heat on the surface of cities, raising temperatures. This forces residents and businesses to increase energy use on air conditioning, giving them higher electricity bills and exacerbating climate change by increasing emissions. White and cool roofs can be a solution to help reduce surface temperatures and electricity bills by reflecting solar energy back into the atmosphere, reducing energy costs, and increasing air quality and livability for citizens.
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Provide a viable, and affordable, transportation option to help de-congest Broad Street, and spur more economic development for the City of Whitehall.
The Farm to School initiative proposes to address food system sustainability problems at their roots through a three-pronged approach of education for school-age children, experiential learning in the form of school gardens, and local food procurement policies for schools. These actions directly promote student health and provide students with a foundation to make healthy and sustainable food choices, as well as fostering economic growth and sustainability in the form of a robust local food economy.
(Image credit: Franklin County Public Health)
Creating a guide for homeowners and developers on how they can benefit from sustainable construction methods is the first step in increasing awareness of the city's dedication to sustainable development. It will help buildings in the city become more efficient, increase long-term savings for building owners, and reduce adverse environmental impacts on water and air quality, among other aspects.
Unfortunately, most of Whitehall's pre-twentieth century architecture has been largely demolished over the past fifty years. However, there are some examples of mid-century architecture in pristine conditions, including ranch homes, neon signs, and the City Hall that was constructed in the 1960s and has been well-maintained since. These are features that should be preserved and celebrated as a part of Whitehall's culture.
(Image Source: Nick Badman)
Mixed use development is starting to make its way into Whitehall, but allowing taller, denser structures that can provide a mix of uses is environmentally friendly and economically attractive. By reducing the amount of land that is used for development, the natural environment is less disturbed, buildings can use energy more efficiently, and tax bases can increase with the addition of office and property tax for the extra floors created in a mixed use development.
(Image Source: Curbed Atlanta)