Who We Serve: Communities

Delta’s broad range of experience in sustainability planning, economic development, green building development and launching social ventures, such as the ReBuilding Exchange, give us a dynamic set of tools to work with a diverse set of communities and goals. Delta provides a wide array of technical expertise to help communities and community-based organizations grow their local green economy. Our Community Economic Development practice includes developing sustainability models for communities and municipalities, partnering on workforce development programs to create green collar jobs, and creating sustainability education resources for community stakeholders.

Through partnerships in communities we strive to provide cost-effective solutions to develop pathways to sustainability that provide benefits to residents, business and community stakeholders. Strategic partnerships are vital and are considered one of our most valuable resources. Engaging community leaders and residents in community sustainability planning is a critical component of achieving desired sustainability outcomes. Involving a broad base of stakeholders generates energy and momentum, allows for the surfacing of good ideas and best practices, and develops the necessary buy-in and commitment that will be critical during the implementation, resource acquisition, and evaluation stages.In sustainability planning, the Delta approach is to enroll top level community stakeholders in visioning, goal setting, and strategy development, and create forums for the community at-large to articulate its vision and strategies, and review and provide input into the sustainability plan on a periodic basis.

Delta is helping communities by:

•    Making Green Affordable:  Delta is improving the health and safety of residents in affordable housing by applying green building standards and educating tenants about how they can improve the environment around them. We are also saving low-income homeowners money while reducing carbon emissions by providing free weatherization services and energy-efficient appliance upgrades.  In addition, The ReBuilding Exchange--Delta’s building deconstruction and reuse center--provides low-cost, high-quality used building materials to budget-conscious homeowners and contractors.

•    Developing Green Jobs and Workforce: Delta is working to stimulate green business development and job growth in weak markets impacted by the economic downturn. Through the Green Business Development Center, we are encouraging entrepreneurs and community-based nonprofits to promote local sustainable businesses and support green entrepreneurs that have the potential to build local economies and create green collar jobs.  Our workforce development program is training hard-to-employ individuals for jobs in growing fields such as deconstruction and home weatherization.