Tuesday, June 25, 2013

World's Most Famous Office Building Exceeds Energy Efficiency Savings for 2nd Consecutive Year, Stands as Benchmark for Industry


The innovative energy efficiency program at the Empire State Building has exceeded guaranteed energy savings for the second year in a row, saving $2.3 million and providing a new model for building retrofits that is now being rolled out nationwide.

In 2009, the Empire State Building, President Bill Clinton and Mayor Michael Bloomberg launched a comprehensive retrofit at the landmark property to reduce costs, increase real estate value and protect the environment.  In 2011, the Empire State Building beat its year-one energy-efficiency guarantee by a remarkable 5 percent, saving $2.4 million.  In year two, the iconic property surpassed its energy-efficiency guarantee by nearly 4 percent.  As with the first year's results, all information and monitoring and verification reports can be viewed at www.esbsustainability.com.

"The Empire State Building retrofit project is two for two, dramatically exceeding projected energy savings for the second straight year and reducing costs by millions of dollars," said Anthony E. Malkin of the Empire State Building.  "This effort clearly demonstrates the sustainability leadership of The World's Most Famous Office Building and that integrating energy efficiency into building upgrades can significantly enhance the value of any real estate asset while also protecting the environment."
 
 

Malkin and the Clinton Climate Initiative Cities program, an aligned partner of the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, assembled a coalition of leading organizations focused on energy efficiency and sustainability.  The team, comprised of the Empire State Building, Johnson Controls, Jones Lang LaSalle, and Rocky Mountain Institute, developed the energy efficiency program that has been implemented at the Empire State Building.

"The Empire State Building retrofit project is a shining example for C40 Cities the world over, helping them to make the case for wider policies and programs that advance building energy efficiency in the private sector.  The positive results announced today will boost cities' efforts by demonstrating—once again—the economic benefits of climate action," said Terri Wills, director of Global Initiatives, C40.

"The Clinton Foundation and President Clinton have been proud to work with the Empire State Building on this retrofit project," said Bruce Lindsey, CEO of the Clinton Foundation.  "As one of the world's most recognizable buildings, the Empire State Building's retrofit serves as a model, and proves that retrofitting existing buildings is the best way for a city to become environmentally, and economically, sustainable."

The core base building energy-efficiency retrofit at the Empire State Building is complete, with the balance of the projects to be finished as new tenants build out high-performance workspaces.  Once all tenant spaces are upgraded, the building will save $4.4 million a year, at least a 38 percent reduction of energy use that will cut carbon emissions by 105,000 metric tons during the next 15 years.

Over the past two years, the energy retrofit model has been replicated throughout the United States.  Johnson Controls and Jones Lang LaSalle jointly implemented the program at all 13 properties in Malkin's New York metropolitan-area commercial portfolio, as well as One Worldwide Plaza in New York. Johnson Controls has replicated this same model at 44 commercial buildings in the U.S., including The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and The Port of San Francisco's historic property at Pier 1, the corporate headquarters of Prologis Inc.  Jones Lang LaSalle has also instituted the model at 25 other properties across the nation, including The Moscone Center in San Francisco and Chicago Union Station.  In the past year, Rocky Mountain Institute has leveraged learnings from its work on the Empire State Building to collaborate with two large portfolio owners, global communications company AT&T and the Exchange, the Department of Defense's oldest and largest retailer, on an integrated design approach to dramatically improve energy efficiency across their facilities.

"The success from the Empire State Building retrofit project further demonstrates that thoughtfully applied energy-efficiency investments can deliver unparalleled returns through a combination of lower energy, lower operating costs, and increased building valuation," said Iain Campbell, vice president, Global Energy and WorkPlace Solutions, Johnson Controls Building Efficiency.  "When implemented under a performance contract, the energy savings are guaranteed, ensuring a no-risk investment and a smart business decision."

The retrofit has attracted new Empire State Building tenants over the past two years, including LinkedIn, Skanska, LF USA, Coty Inc., the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., and Shutterstock.  These tenants sought space that reflected their sustainability values, provided more comfort for employees, and allowed them to monitor and control their energy use.

"The Empire State Building project has conclusively proven the business case for deep energy retrofits of any building," said Raymond Quartararo, international director at Jones Lang LaSalle.  "We have consistently surpassed annual projected energy savings through a process that is very transparent, quantitatively intense and internationally approved.  The overwhelming majority of people want to do their part to reduce energy usage while delivering economic returns and occupying an environmentally responsible building."

The retrofit project focused on eight innovative improvement measures addressing core building infrastructure, common spaces and tenant suites.  Improvement measures performed by Johnson Controls and Jones Lang LaSalle included the refurbishment of all 6,514 windows, installation of insulation behind all radiators, a chiller plant retrofit, new building management systems controls, new revenue-grade meters serving the entire building, and a web-based tenant energy management system.

In the United States, 40 percent of energy is consumed by buildings, according to the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.  In dense urban settings like New York City, commercial buildings account for up to 75 percent of energy used.  If every commercial building in New York City followed this blueprint, carbon emissions would be reduced by 4 million tons—the equivalent to that generated by a typical coal-fired power plant.

"While the Empire State Building retrofit savings are impressive, its impact if extrapolated over the U.S. building stock is astounding," said Rocky Mountain Institute Buildings Principal Victor Olgyay.  "Today, more service providers than ever are optimizing the deep retrofit process and achieving significant energy savings in a single building.  What's needed is progress on scaling the solution by enabling large portfolio building owners to pursue energy savings across multiple buildings through a deliberate and well-timed portfolio-wide strategy."

About C40 Partnership With Clinton Climate Initiative
C40 is a network of large and engaged cities from around the world committed to implementing meaningful and sustainable climate-related policies and programmes locally that will help address climate change globally. C40 works in an aligned partnership with the Clinton Foundation's Clinton Climate Initiative Cities programme. To learn more, please visit http://www.c40.org/ or www.clintonfoundation.org.

About Johnson Controls
Johnson Controls is a global diversified technology and industrial leader serving customers in more than 150 countries. Our 168,000 employees create quality products, services, and solutions to optimize energy and operational efficiencies of buildings; lead-acid automotive batteries and advanced batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles; and interior systems for automobiles. Our commitment to sustainability dates back to our roots in 1885, with the invention of the first electric room thermostat. Through our growth strategies and by increasing market share we are committed to delivering value to shareholders and making our customers successful. In 2012, Corporate Responsibility Magazine recognized Johnson Controls as the #14 company in its annual "100 Best Corporate Citizens" list. For additional information, please visit http://www.johnsoncontrols.com.

About Jones Lang LaSalle
Jones Lang LaSalle (NYSE: JLL) is a professional services and investment management firm offering specialized real estate services to clients seeking increased value by owning, occupying and investing in real estate. With annual revenue of $3.9 billion, Jones Lang LaSalle operates in 70 countries from more than 1,000 locations worldwide. On behalf of its clients, the firm provides management and real estate outsourcing services to a property portfolio of 2.6 billion square feet and completed $63 billion in sales, acquisitions and finance transactions in 2012. Its investment management business, LaSalle Investment Management, has $47.7 billion of real estate assets under management. For further information, visit www.Jones Lang LaSalle.com.

About Rocky Mountain Institute
Rocky Mountain Institute is an independent, entrepreneurial, nonprofit think-and-do tank. Rocky Mountain Institute emphasizes integrative design, advanced technologies, and mindful markets in fulfilling its mission to drive the efficient and restorative use of resources. Rocky Mountain Institute's strategic focus is to map and drive the U.S. transition from fossil fuels to efficiency and renewables by 2050. Visit http://www.Rocky Mountain Institute.org for more information.

About the Empire State Building
Soaring 1,454 feet above Midtown Manhattan (from base to antenna), the Empire State Building is the "World's Most Famous Office Building." With new investments in energy efficiency, infrastructure, public areas and amenities, the Empire State Building has attracted first-rate tenants in a diverse array of industries from around the world. The skyscraper's robust broadcasting technology supports all major television and FM radio stations in the New York metropolitan market. The Empire State Building was named America's favorite building in a poll conducted by the American Institute of Architects. The Empire State Building Observatory is one of the world's most beloved attractions and is the region's #1 tourist destination. For more information on the Empire State Building, please visit www.esbnyc.com, http://www.facebook.com/empirestatebuilding, @EmpireStateBldg, or http://pinterest.com/empirestatebldg/.

Contact:

Mike Marinello, C40
(212) 617-2383
mmarinello@c40.org

Carolyn Conners, Edelman on behalf of Empire State Building
(212) 704-4484
carolyn.conners@edelman.com

Monica Zimmer, Johnson Controls
(414) 524-7654
monica.m.zimmer@Johnson Controls.com

Mark Faris, George Shea, Shea Communications on behalf of Jones Lang LaSalle
(212) 627-5766
mfaris@sheacommunications.com

Rebecca Cole, Rocky Mountain Institute
(303) 567-8570
rcole@RockyMountainInstitute.org

SOURCE Empire State Building

Friday, June 21, 2013


President Barack Obama, Christine Lagarde, Sheryl Sandberg, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu Among More than 1,000 Global Leaders to Join President Clinton, Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, and Chelsea Clinton for Ninth Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative 

Top business, government, and NGO leaders and philanthropists, including Bono, lead singer, U2, and co-founder, ONE and (RED); Winnie Byanyima, executive director, Oxfam International; Mo Ibrahim, founder and chairman, Mo Ibrahim Foundation; Antony Jenkins, group chief executive, Barclays PLC; Tawakkol Karman, 2011 recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize and founder, Women Journalists Without Chains; Bill McDermott, co-chief executive officer, SAP AG; Arne M. Sorenson, president and CEO, Marriott International, Inc., and others to explore ‘Mobilizing for Impact’ at 2013 CGI Annual Meeting, September 23-26 in New York City

NEW YORK – Today, President Bill Clinton, Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, and Chelsea Clinton announced the program and participants for the ninth Annual Meeting of the
Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), to be held September 23-26 in New York City. 
 

President Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States; Christine Lagarde, managing director, International Monetary Fund; Sheryl Sandberg, chief operating officer, Facebook; and Desmond M. Tutu, archbishop emeritus and chairman of the Elders, will join more than 1,000 CGI members and leaders from business, government, the nonprofit sector, and philanthropy to create solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

 


Featured participants at the 2013 CGI Annual Meeting will also include His Excellency Sheikh Abdullah Al Thani, chairman, Ooredoo Group; Feng An, president, Innovation Center for Energy and Transportation; Matt Bannick, managing partner, Omidyar Network; Cherie Blair, founder, Cherie Blair Foundation for Women; Bono, lead singer, U2, co-founder, ONE and (RED); Winnie Byanyima, executive director, Oxfam International; Gary M. Cohen, executive vice president, Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD); Robert Collymore, chief executive officer, Safaricom Limited; Esther Duflo, Abdul Latif Jameel Professor of Poverty Alleviation and Development, MIT, director, Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL); Regina E. Dugan, senior vice president, advanced technology and projects, Motorola Mobility; Tony Elumelu, chairman, Heirs Holdings Limited; Hikmet Ersek, president and CEO, the Western Union Company; Linda J. Fisher, vice president, safety, health & environment, and chief sustainability officer, DuPont; Helene D. Gayle, president and CEO, CARE; Adrian Gore, chief executive officer, Discovery Holdings Limited; Aldi Haryopratomo, co-founder and CEO, Rekan Usaha Mikro Anda (Ruma); Mo Ibrahim, founder and chairman, Mo Ibrahim Foundation; Antony Jenkins, group chief executive, Barclays PLC; Tawakkol Karman, founder, Women Journalists Without Chains; Kay Krill, president and CEO, ANN INC.; Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, president and CEO, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; Rose Marcario, chief executive officer, Patagonia Works; Eduardo Martinez, president, the UPS Foundation; Bill McDermott, co-chief executive officer, SAP AG; Satyan Mishra, co-founder, Drishtee; Radha Muthiah, executive director, Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves; Mark Newton, vice president, corporate social responsibility and sustainability, the Timberland Company; Tracy Palandjian, co-founder and CEO, Social Finance, Inc.; Bre Pettis, chief executive officer, Makerbot Industries; Bunker Roy, founder, the Barefoot College; Soraya Salti, president and CEO of Middle East and North Africa, Junior Achievement Worldwide, INJAZ Al-Arab; S.D. Shibulal, managing director and CEO, Infosys Limited; Arne M. Sorenson, president and CEO, Marriott International, Inc.; Faith Taylor, senior vice president, sustainability and innovation, Wyndham Worldwide; Halla Tomasdottir, founder and chair, Sisters Capital; Zhang Xinsheng, president, International Union for Conservation of Nature; and Gabi Zedlmayer, vice president, sustainability and social innovation, Hewlett-Packard, among others.

Members at the Annual Meeting develop commitments: new, specific, and measurable plans to address one of the world’s most pressing challenges, in areas ranging from Environmental Stewardship to Education & Workforce Development to Global Health. Convening under the 2013 theme Mobilizing for Impact, participants will explore how to create lasting and scalable success in their commitment efforts by effectively leveraging people, partner organizations, and key resources.

Plenary session topics at the 2013 Annual Meeting include:
  • Impact Giving and Investing, which will explore how members can engage philanthropists, investors, social entrepreneurs, and NGOs to comprehensively and most effectively take on global issues;
  • Healthier Futures: Prioritizing Prevention, which will highlight ways to put prevention at the center of the health debate, invest in more economical measures to address non-communicable diseases, and use behavioral economics to encourage change at home and on the job;
  • Women Decision-Makers in The Global Economy, which will provide strategies to boost women’s access to decision-making positions in environments ranging from small businesses to the boardroom;
  • Vital Resources: Doing More with Less, which will address how individuals, communities, and businesses around the world can work together to bridge the gap in the supply and the demand for natural resources;
  • Creating Business at the Base of the Pyramid, which will highlight successful business models that have led to both profitable markets and considerable social benefits, and how to accelerate the creation of these business opportunities by harnessing mobile technology; and
  • Game-Changers in Technology, which will address how to successfully apply the next generation of innovation technology – such as 3D printing, crowdsourcing, and gamefication – in developing solutions to current global challenges.
In addition to the Annual Meeting’s plenary sessions, CGI members will also engage in networking, partnering, and learning opportunities through a variety of engaging formats, including highly interactive design workshops, commitment-based community dialogues, pitch sessions, and conversations with global leaders, which will be moderated by Fareed Zakaria, host of “CNN-GPS”; Charlie Rose, host of “Charlie Rose”; Piers Morgan, host of CNN’s “Piers Morgan Tonight”; and Maria Bartiromo, anchor of CNBC's "Closing Bell with Maria Bartiromo” and “On the Money with Maria Bartiromo,” and taped for broadcast.

Thursday, June 20, 2013

June 1, 2009 In an Absolut World No Destination Is Impossible


Pernod Ricard Travel Retail is launching a global marketing campaign this month entitled In an Absolut World No Destination Is Impossible to “celebrate the global traveller in space and mind”. According to the drinks company, the campaign is aimed at the contemporary global business and leisure traveller who values the trip as a means of expanding perspectives geographically, mentally and intellectually.

In a statement, the company said: “This campaign is created for longevity and will introduce the global traveller to a series of ideal destinations, the only boundaries for which are those of imagination. The first of these is The Eternal Sunset Coast, an ideal destination where the most romantic and poetic moment of the day lasts eternally.”

The campaign, which is being launched initially at Singapore Changi, London Heathrow and Frankfurt airports, is the first to use In an Absolut World as a marketing platform.

With reference to the aforementioned travel guide gift, the campaign is being run in collaboration with Monocle, a global affairs magazine created by Editor in Chief, Tyler Brûlé. This is a special In An ABSOLUT World travel guide with 12 selected features identifying the magazine’s ideal destination.

in_an_absolut_world_eternalsunsetcoast.png

“As a special bonus to our ultimate travel guide we have compiled our favourite features from our most loved destinations and asked Satoshi Hashimoto - one of our favourite illustrators - to render the elements we’d like to see punctuate a perfect destination IN AN ABSOLUT WORLD,” said Editor in Chief Tyler Brûlé in his foreword. 


The Absolut Company global travel-retail director Anders Olsson said: “Our market is all about travelling, physically and mentally, so we are excited about introducing a campaign concept that adds new dimensions to the art of voyaging, with the traveller in the role of the hero.”

Monday, June 17, 2013

ABSOLUT CILANTRO - New Core Flavour in USA


Rumors were confirmed. After the ABSOLUT CILANTRO trademark was registered  by The Absolut Company, the photo of real bottle was published on the Facebook. The new core flavour will be a mix of coriander and lime. The ABSOLUT CILANTRO should be available in the USA first.

Absolut Cilantro

Saturday, June 15, 2013

Workplace random alcohol tests rejected by top court in Canada



Supreme Court says Irving pulp mill's random testing policy has 'severe' impact on privacy
Posted: Jun 14, 2013 10:22 AM ET

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The Supreme Court of Canada has overturned a company's right to impose mandatory, random alcohol testing on its unionized workers in a dangerous workplace.

In a 6-3 decision released on Friday, the court ruled the policy unilaterally adopted by Irving Pulp and Paper Ltd. in Saint John in 2006 for employees in safety sensitive positions is unreasonable.

The Supreme Court of Canada says random alcohol testing by an employer is only justified in certain circumstances. (Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld)

A dangerous workplace is not automatic justification for random testing, the court ruled in the case, which dealt narrowly with unionized workers and management's ability to balance privacy rights with the need for safety in dangerous workplaces.

The decision says dangerousness of a workplace only justifies testing particular employees in certain circumstances:
  • Where there are reasonable grounds to believe an employee was impaired while on duty.
  • Where an employee was directly involved in a workplace accident or significant incident.
  • Where the employee returns to work after treatment for substance abuse.
"It has never, to my knowledge, been held to justify random testing, even in the case of 'highly safety sensitive' or 'inherently dangerous' workplaces like railways (Canadian National) and chemical plants (DuPont Canada Inc. and C.E.P., Loc. 28-0 (Re)(2002), 105 L.A.C. (4th) 399), or even in workplaces that pose a risk of explosion (ADM Agri-Industries), in the absence of a demonstrated problem with alcohol use in that workplace."

'In this case, the expected safety gains to the employer were found by the board to range from uncertain to minimal, while the impact on employee privacy was severe.'—Supreme Court of Canada
The case stems from a 2006 grievance filed by Local 30 of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada (CEP), at the Irving mill.

"We respect the decision," Irving spokeswoman Mary Keith said in a brief emailed statement.

"We will be reviewing the decision and have no further comment at this time," she said.

"Our focus has and continues to be the safety of our co-workers and communities where we have operations."

Could affect Alberta Suncor case

David Coles, the national president of CEP, said the ruling is "very clear" and believes it will help resolve a similar dispute in Alberta.

Suncor Energy is trying to bring in a random drug and alcohol testing program for employees and contractors at its oilsands operations in Fort McMurray.

"As clear as it is written… if someone was to have random drug testing, they would have a fairly high bar to cross before they would be able to, I believe, get it past the judiciary because there just isn’t any evidence at all that it affects the outcome at work," said Coles.

"The fundamental issue here is there’s absolutely no evidence presented here or anywhere else that random drug testing increases the safety in any operation," he said.

"So it turns out to be nothing more than an invasion of ones' privacy with no net gain for the consequence of safety."

Coles said the union is opposed to anyone using any kind of alcohol or drug at work, but contends substance abuse is a societal issue that must be dealt with, not a workplace issue to be legislated.
"Stop spending so much money trying to beat on blue collar workers and get to the problem," he said. "You don't see random drug testing in downtown Toronto in the big white towers… And please don't tell me that the incidence of drug and alcohol abuse is any different in Fort McMurray than it is on Bay Street."
The Alberta Federation of Labour, which was an intervener in the Irving case, also believes the decision could influence the Suncor arbitration, said president Gil McGowan.

"Employers simply have to demonstrate there's a problem with drug abuse or alcohol abuse in the workplace before they can move ahead with these kind of arbitrary random drug testing regimes, but it's clear the employer didn't prove that and we would argue that they haven't been able to prove that in Suncor either. So we're very pleased with the decision."

The court found the Irving policy had been properly rejected by a labour arbitration board.
"In this case, the expected safety gains to the employer were found by the board to range from uncertain to minimal, while the impact on employee privacy was severe," the decision states.

Irving "exceeded the scope of its management rights under a collective agreement by imposing random alcohol testing in the absence of evidence of a workplace problem with alcohol use."
The court awarded "costs throughout" to CEP.

Daniel Leger, a lawyer representing the union, declined to discuss the amount involved, citing attorney-client privilege.

But he said the judgment will allow the union to recoup some of its legal costs in the seven-year dispute.

Broad implications

he decision from the top court could have broad implications. It is considered a national test case for how far an employer can go when it comes to a worker's right to privacy.

It attracted numerous interveners, including the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, the Canadian National Railway Company, Via Rail Canada, the Canadian Mining Association, and the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME), which describes itself as the largest industry and trade association.

Ian Howcroft, vice-president for the Ontario division of the CME, said it's "unfortunate" the Supreme Court did not uphold a company's right to do random testing.

But "it's encouraging the judgment did not close the door completely and companies may still be able to do some testing in certain circumstances," Howcroft said.

He maintains companies should have everything at their disposal to ensure the workplace is free of hazards.

Lawyer argues reasonable cause needed for testing

Irving Pulp and Paper Mill in Saint John had unilaterally adopted a policy of mandatory random alcohol testing for employees in safety-sensitive positions in 2006. (Flickr/Greg Hickman)
The Supreme Court heard arguments last December, but reserved its decision.
Fredericton-based lawyer David Mombourquette, who was representing the CEP, had argued a breathalyzer is an involuntary submission of bodily fluids and amounts to a high level of random personal intrusion.
Testing should only be permitted when there is reasonable cause, such as slurred speech or the smell of alcohol, he had said.

But the Irving company's lead counsel, Neil Finkelstein, had argued the policy is justified because the mill is full of hazardous chemicals, flammable substances, heavy rotating equipment, a 13,000-volt electrical system and a $350-million high-pressure boiler.

In addition, the mill had a history of drinking being a problem, he had said, citing eight documented incidents between 1991 and 2006, when the random testing policy was implemented.

In March of that year, millwright Perley Dey's name was randomly selected by a computer program to take a breathalyzer test.

Dey said he took the test because he was afraid of losing his job. The test showed a blood alcohol level of zero.

But Dey, who describes himself as a religious man who doesn't drink, said the test was humiliating and unfair.
An arbitration board allowed the grievance, ruling Irving had failed to establish a need for the policy. But a New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench judge reversed that decision, which the union appealed.
The New Brunswick Court of Appeal dismissed the grievance in 2011, ruling the mill qualifies as an inherently dangerous workplace. The union appealed that decision to the Supreme Court of Canada.

President Clinton Announces Record Results at 2013 Clinton Global Initiative America Meeting
President Bill Clinton and NJ Governor Chris Christie Conclude the Meeting with a One-on-One Conversation
2014 CGI America meeting to convene in Denver, Colorado

CHICAGO – This year, CGI America attendees developed 74 new commitments valued at more than $1.6 billion, which aim to positively impact the lives of more than 2 million people in the United States. The two-day gathering attracted nearly 1,000 leaders of government, business, philanthropy, and NGOs dedicated to improving the nation’s long-term competitiveness. President Bill Clinton, Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, and Chelsea Clinton announced that, after three years in Chicago, the next CGI America meeting will convene in Denver in 2014. President Clinton and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie closed the meeting with a conversation on leadership, cooperation, and collaboration.

“Over the past few days, I’ve seen new partnerships formed and meaningful commitments made that will make a difference in the lives of more than 2 million people,” said President Clinton. “Thanks to these commitments, more than $1.4 billion of new capital will be invested in or loaned to small- and medium-sized enterprises, more than a quarter million people will have improved access to STEM education, and more than 1.2 million tons of greenhouse gasses will be avoided. The work of these dedicated leaders is a great example of what’s working and why collaboration is crucial for lasting success.”

“Over the years, there have been 2,600 concrete Commitments to Action at CGI,” said Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. “I traveled the world quite extensively, the last four years. One of the lessons I took away is that this model of partnerships and commitments is at the heart of what we need to do to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century.”

“CGI America participants have raised the bar by developing a record number of commitments before the meeting began, in addition to creating 50 other commitments and tangible action plans here on-site," said Chelsea Clinton. "Over the past two days, the collective dedication to creating the sorts of opportunities everyone in America deserves and our future needs is truly inspiring.”
Throughout the meeting, attendees generated Commitments to Action: new, specific, and measurable plans to address an economic challenge facing the United States. Some of the commitments announced today will help expand America’s advanced manufacturing sector, make Tennessee the first state to provide comprehensive transition services for all youth who “age out” of foster care, and launch an $11 million fund for healthy food enterprises in rural and urban communities.

When fully funded and implemented, these new CGI America commitments will ensure that:
  • More than 10,000 jobs will be created or filled. Among these, nearly 1,500 are specifically indicated as clean/green jobs.
  • More than $1.4 billion of new capital will be invested in or loaned to small- and medium-sized enterprises.
  • More than 4,500 small- or medium-sized enterprises will receive non-monetary support, such as assistance developing business plans and pro bono consulting, technical training, and access to new markets.
  • More than 250,000 people will have improved access to capital and financial services.
  • More than 212,000 students will gain access to STEM education opportunities.
  • More than 10,000 youth will gain access to mentoring.
  • More than 10,000 teachers will be trained or gain new skills.
  • More than $190 million of new capital will be invested in green initiatives.
  • More than 1.2 million tons of greenhouse gasses will be avoided, mostly through building retrofits and energy efficiency efforts.
Bloomberg anchor Trish Regan hosted discussions for broadcast on Bloomberg TV on America’s energy security and getting capital off the sidelines, featuring Ellen Kullman, chair of the board and CEO of Dupont; Jim Rogers, chairman, president, and CEO of Duke Energy Corporation; Wesley Clark, chairman and CEO of Wesley K. Clark & Associates; Gary D. Cohn, president and COO of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.; Mark Cuban, entrepreneur; and Valerie Jarrett, senior advisor to the president, the White House.
In a session moderated by Ali Velshi, business anchor of Al Jazeera America, Houston Mayor Annise Parker, Jessica Jackley, venture partner at the Collaborative Fund, and Bill Simon, president and CEO of Walmart U.S., discussed what collaborations are required to ensure the country’s global competitiveness in the twentieth century.

For more information, including the full program, visit cgiamerica.org. Follow us on Twitter @ClintonGlobal and Facebook at facebook.com/clintonglobalinitiative for meeting news and highlights. The event hashtag is #CGIAmerica.

The following new commitments and progress reports were announced today:
Aligning Educational Pathways to Jobs & Careers

Commitment By: Business Roundtable
Partners: The Joyce Foundation; Lumina Foundation for Education, Inc.; Siemens AG; ACT Foundation
In 2013, the Business Roundtable committed to develop a summary of the U.S. job market to get a clearer picture of the current and potential role of industry-recognized certifications in order to address the skills gap. This summary will identify common elements among identified credentials, occupations and skills that are in-demand. The findings of the project will be utilized to inform the Business Roundtable’s action and advocacy efforts. A final report will be produced to advise the Business Roundtable’s future work on the creation of industry standards, in sectors where they do not exist, in order to address the skills mismatch. This work hopes to encourage industry leaders to take a leadership role in setting competency standards.

American DreamBuilder: The Women’s Business Creator
Commitment By: Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.
Partners: Thunderbird School of Global Management; Bluedrop Performance Learning; Fresh Start Women’s Foundation
In 2013, Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, The Thunderbird School of Global Management, and BlueDrop Performance Learning committed to build off the success of their 2011 Commitment to Action that launched the DreamBuilder program in Latin America by bringing the program to the United States. The DreamBuilder program consists of 12 online business courses and a virtual support network that will be provided at no cost to at least 4,500 women in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas, giving these women the training and support they need to launch their own businesses.

Serving Our Female Vets/Military Families
Commitment By: Grace Institute
Partners: Rick Miners; Jeri Sedlar; Sheila Casey; Ariela Keysar; Eileen Lynch; Saundra Thomas; Eviction Intervention Services; Continuum Health Partners; OC61 Salon and Spa; Goldman, Sachs & Co.; Blue Star Families; General Belinda Pinckney; Women Veteran’s Interactive; Linear Media
In 2012, Grace Institute committed to tackling the issues of increasing homelessness and unemployment among female veterans. The Grace Institute aimed to enroll, train, and place in jobs 15 female veterans/female family members of veterans, who will be educated through the Grace Institute’s six-month, tuition-free job training program, offered support from Social Work staff, and provided access to numerous programs to aid in the transition to civilian life. The Grace Institute’s commitment to target specifically female veterans and military spouses and families has led to a significant increase in their representation within the program. The class that began in August 2012 admitted four female veterans and 16 military family members while the class that began in April 2013 includes four female veterans and 11 military family members. In total, 36 women have been admitted to the program to-date and five have been placed into employment.

Expanding Jobs to Build On
Commitment By: Consortium for Worker Education
Partners: The New York City Council; Kingsborough Community College Association, Inc.; City University of New York (CUNY); Nontraditional Employment for Women (NEW); South Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation (SoBRO); East River Development Alliance; Henry Street Settlement; Brooklyn Workforce Innovations (BWI)
In 2011, The Consortium for Worker Education committed to scaling its Jobs to Build On (JtBO) program, which will place 1,250 New York City residents in full-time, living wage occupations – jobs paying $10.50 per hour with employee health benefits and $11.50 per hour without – and provide them with follow-up tracking and retention services for one year. CWE’s CGI Commitment to Action ran from July 1st, 2011 to June 20, 2012, during which a total of 3,076 individuals received workforce preparation, 1,482 individuals were placed in employment opportunities, and 922 entered training programs. Participants gained employment in nearly every industrial sector, including transportation, healthcare, travel and tourism, construction and building maintenance, administration, civil service, and the emerging green industries.

Engaging and Mentoring Youth Thru Culinary Arts
Commitment By: Emeril Lagasse Foundation
Partners: Liberty’s Kitchen, Inc.
In 2013, the Emeril Lagasse Foundation committed to investing in the expansion and scaling of Liberty’s Kitchen. Liberty’s Kitchen will relocate to a much larger space as part of the ReFresh Project in New Orleans, and as a result of increased operational space they will serve an additional 200 under resourced youth over two years in foodservice training and employment connections. As part of Liberty’s Kitchen social enterprise model, food prepared by trainees will provide an additional 4,000 healthy meals for school children in New Orleans.

National Database of Black Businesses
Commitment By: U.S. Black Chambers, Inc.
Partners: Dell Inc.; ESRI
In 2013, the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. (USBC) committed to creating an online database of African-American businesses in the United States. The USBC seeks to include 10,000 businesses in the database within the next 12 months. With this commitment, USBC will leverage its membership of over 240,000 businesses and its strategic partnership with national organizations to become the repository for Black business statistics. This database will serve as a resource for corporations, business owners, consumers, and other stakeholders to make more informed business decisions.

EMPOWERHER: Reinventing and Restoring communities
Commitment By: Dress for Success
Partners: The Fortune Society; Grace Institute; Foodbank for New York; Sanctuary for Families; Phoenix House
In 2013, Dress for Success Worldwide committed to address the reintegration and reemployment needs of formerly incarcerated women by creating and implementing the EmPowerHER pilot program to provide a framework for the reentry and restoration of these women into their communities. By collaborating with reentry programs to broaden and deepen support networks and implementing the Going Places Network by Walmart and the Professional Women’s Group, EmPowerHER will provide a continuum of services to women at all phases of the journey and address the unique circumstances facing this population while they transition effectively into the workforce.

Creating Veteran-Owned Coops for Deep Energy Retrofits
Commitment By: Building Performance Contractors Association of NY State
Partners: Cooperative Development Institute; State of New York; Green Workers Cooperative Academy
In 2013, as a dual effort to provide sustainable career pathways for veterans and reduce energy waste in American homes, the Building Performance Contractors Association of New York State (BPCA) committed to developing a veteran-owned cooperative business to perform deep energy retrofits in New York. This pilot start-up will create 15 new jobs and complete 24 home retrofits in one year. Through the launch of this initial coop, BPCA will create the infrastructure, which will include operational resources for business development as well as training and mentor support, for a scalable and replicable model that can be used across other communities in the U.S.

Empowering Workers to Save and Invest in their Futures
Commitment By: EARN
Partners: SaveUp; Citigroup Inc.
In 2013, EARN committed to improving savings and wealth creation for low-income communities with incentive-based savings tools that will foster lifelong savings habits, skill building, and secure financial assets among low-wage workers. Through a new mobile-enabled online platform, EARN will open 10,000 new rewards savings accounts over the next three years for targeted individuals who have no previous history of savings but aspire to reach short- and long-term financial goals. This commitment is a part of a larger scaled expansion for EARN to help 1 million low-wage workers save $1 billion by the year 2022.

Preventing Summer Reading Loss with Mobile Technology
Commitment By: Kids Read Now
Partners: One Call Now; Leib and Barbara Lurie Foundation; City of Piqua; City of Vandalia; United Way of Troy, Ohio
In 2013, Kids Read Now committed to expanding a research-driven program to address summer reading loss for first- through third-graders in Southwest Ohio. Every Sunday night, the family will receive a phone call or text message via One Call Now communications technology, which the student responds to with the title of the book he or she read and how much he or she enjoyed the book of their choosing. When the data is received by Kids Read Now, the next book will be mailed. If the student continues to read every week, he or she can earn all nine books on their list. Students will be tested as they exit school in the spring and again as they enter school in the fall to measure summer learning loss. The short-term goal is for all children participating in the Kids Read Now program to enter the school year reading at grade level. The long-term outcome will be all participating children reading at grade level by the time they enter fourth grade. When brought to scale, this commitment will reach over 18,000 children in first through third grades by 2015.

Inspiring a New Generation of Entrepreneurs and Innovators
Commitment By: The National Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Partners: Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation; Make Media; New York Hall of Science; Maker Education Initiative
In 2013, the National Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (NCEI) committed to create an exhibition space near the National Mall in Washington, D.C., to celebrate entrepreneurship and innovation in America. The NCEI envisions this space opening by 2024 and reaching a significant share of the 30 million visitors who come to the Mall each year. Over the next three years, the NCEI will also conduct programs to reach 50,000 youth with in-person experiences that foster interest in entrepreneurship. Specifically, the NCEI will engage class trips to Washington, D.C., in a unique curriculum featuring design and 3D printing workshops as well as meetings with entrepreneurs. It will also begin convening a Young Makers on the Mall celebration every summer.

Appalachian Community Capital
Commitment By: Appalachian Regional Commission; Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation; Deutsche Bank AG; Pathway Lending; Virginia Community Capital
Partners: Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation, Inc.; Bank of America Corporation; Blue Moon Fund; State of Virginia; Mountain Association for Community Economic Development; Alternatives Federal Credit Union; Mountain BizWorks; The Progress Fund; Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs; Appalachian Development Corp; Appalachian Development Corp; Natural Capital Investment Fund
In 2013, the Appalachian Regional Commission, along with local Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and philanthropic and bank investors, committed to establish a new financial intermediary, Appalachia Community Capital, and help capitalize it with $42 million. Over the next 24 months, this new financial intermediary will leverage $233 million of private bank capital and help create 2,200 jobs throughout the Appalachian region. Appalachian Community Capital will significantly increase business lending in Appalachia by pooling the capital needs of its members, attracting investors at a larger scale, and providing a simplified vehicle for impact investors; dramatically reducing underwriting and servicing costs associated with investing in individual CDFIs. Additionally, the new institution will facilitate sharing of best practices between new and emerging Appalachian loan funds and bring new and needed financial products to the region. Ultimately, this capital will support growing loan demand in a variety of sectors including agriculture, energy, health care, and manufacturing.

Mobilizing STEM Professionals to Mentor Students
Commitment By: US2020
Partners: Hewlett-Packard Company; Tata Consultancy Services Ltd.; Cisco; Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation; NCTAF
In 2013, US2020 and a wide range of partners committed to the launch of the US2020 City Competition, a contest through which cities and counties will develop and submit plans to significantly increase the number of local STEM professionals who mentor students. After selecting up to five winning cities, US2020 will give those cities additional resources to operationalize their plans as US2020 pilot cities and will publically recognize their efforts so as to encourage others to follow their lead. Additionally, US2020 and its partners will work nationally to match STEM professionals with mentoring opportunities via an online matching platform as part of a larger movement to greatly increase STEM mentorship across the country. These efforts will enable at least 5,000 STEM field professionals to mentor a minimum of 10,000 students and provide them with increased opportunities to develop the skills they will need to be the inventors and technologists of the future.

Mobilizing for 20,000 Excellent New STEM Teachers
Commitment By: Carnegie Corporation of New York
Partners: American Museum of Natural History; Ashoka Changemakers; Citizen Schools; Baltimore City Public Schools; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; Creative Commons; Google Inc.; The National Science Foundation; KIPP Houston; EnCorps; Good Corps; DSST Public Schools; DSST Public Schools; IDEA Public Schools, and many others.
In 2011, the Carnegie Corporation, along with a wide range of partners, committed to identifying and funding programs that focus on recruiting and training 20,000 new STEM teachers within three years, while supporting existing STEM educators. To do this, Carnegie and its partners planned to create a funding pool valued at a minimum of $20 million and invite relevant programs to apply. The commitment, now known as 100Kin10, has progressed significantly since its launch in 2011. After having exceeded the initial goal of $20 million by $4 million, the campaign launched a second fund that has raised $7.5 million to date, with a target goal of $20 million by June of 2013. In addition, the network has surpassed 130 partner organizations. As a result of the growing movement, over 7,000 STEM teachers have been recruited and trained, with thousands more supported and retained to date. Partners have committed to training more than 35,000 new teachers on the way to their goal of training 100,000 by 2021.

Joint Wind Power Development Project on Tribal Lands
Commitment By: Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe; Crow Creek Sioux Tribe; Yankton Sioux Tribe; Rosebud Sioux Tribe; Oglala Sioux Tribe
Partners: Arent Fox LLP; Herron Consulting LLC; Intertribal Council on Utility Policy; Rally; Liati Group LLC; Bush Foundation; Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors
In 2013, five Sioux Tribes in South Dakota committed to the formation of the Oceti Sakowin Power Authority, a multi-tribal Power Authority, with the purpose of designating Tribally-owned land for a wind farm and transmission facilities. The Sioux Tribes committed to the creation of the Power Authority and the pre-development phase of a longer-term project to finance, develop, and operate a 1,000 megawatt utility-scale wind power and transmission system across the South Dakota Sioux Reservations. The creation of the Power Authority will uniquely allow the Sioux Tribes to own the wind and transmission assets and distribute the surplus revenue to its member Tribes.
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 About CGI America

The Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), an initiative of the Clinton Foundation, convenes global leaders to create and implement innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges. Established in June 2011 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative America (CGI America) addresses economic recovery in the United States. CGI America brings together leaders in business, government, and civil society to generate and implement commitments to create jobs, stimulate economic growth, foster innovation, and support workforce development in the United States. Since its first meeting, CGI America participants have made close to 300 commitments valued at nearly $15 billion when fully funded and implemented. To learn more, visit cgiamerica.org.
CGI also convenes an Annual Meeting, which brings together global leaders to take action and create positive social change, CGI University (CGI U), which brings together undergraduate and graduate students to address pressing challenges in their community or around the world, and, this year, CGI Latin America, which will bring together Latin American leaders to identify, harness, and strengthen ways to improve the livelihoods of people in Latin America and around the world. For more information, visit clintonglobalinitiative.org and follow us on Twitter @ClintonGlobal and Facebook at facebook.com/clintonglobalinitiative.