Yesterday was National Car-Free Day! To celebrate, this week we are encouraging all to live life car-free by taking part in a challenge: every morning this week at 7:00am, we will post the challenge to our Transportation Choices Alliance facebook page. Participate for a chance to win a package of two tickets to Biketoberfest each day! Congratulations to our challenge winners so far: Holly Hassen and Ciara Meeks!

Are you looking for a fun, family-friendly event this fall? We've got it! Sustain Charlotte's 1st Annual Biketoberfest is on October 17th and you don't want to miss it! Participants will bike, walk, and/or ride transit to a variety of destinations in Center City and South End while obtaining stamps in their official Biketoberfest Passport. The more destinations visited, the more chances to win really cool prizes including a NEW TREK BIKE, generously donated by Trek Bicycle Stores of Charlotte! At 7:00pm, there will be an after party at Triple C Brewing with live music, food trucks, and more. Tickets are only $15 and include a 2015 Biketoberfest t-shirt, entry to the after party at Triple C, a craft beer, and discounts and prizes from sponsoring businesses! Click here to get your tickets now. This event is presented by: Triple C Brewing, Crescent Communities, and Passport.

We are currently seeking raffle prize donations for Biketoberfest! If you are interested in sponsoring or donating a raffle prize, contact Jordan Moore at [email protected]. We hope you will take advantage of this great opportunity to gain visibility for your small business, company or non-profit organization, while supporting a great community event!

We are happy to give a warm welcome to our newest member: Christine Weber! We sincerely appreciate the support of our mission and your community through membership!   

Local residents like you play a critical role in ensuring we have the resources to carry out our work in the community to inspire choices that lead to a to a healthier and more vibrant community for generations to come! Help us do more by becoming a Sustain Charlotte member today for as little as $3/month -- that's one cup of coffee! Click to learn how easily you can support our mission and your community via membership:

Each month we feature a Sustain Charlotte partner to give you a glimpse of who supports our work in your community. If your company is interested in becoming a partner, click here. 

A little bit about our Gold Partner NC GreenPower:

1. Why is sustainability important to your organization? 

NC GreenPower is a nonprofit created in 2003 with the mission of improving the environment in North Carolina. Our program strives to protect the quality of our air, water and health through the support of renewable energy and carbon offset projects. The more people who support our organization, the more projects we can fund; this furthers our efforts to increase sustainability across our state. 

2. Can you share an example of how you have reduced your environmental and/or social impacts, and/or saved money as a result of one of your sustainability initiatives? 

NC GreenPower launched a Solar Schools pilot in April 2015, offering matching grant funding to North Carolina K-12 schools. Funds will be used for the installation of a 5 kW solar PV demonstration system and will provide monitoring equipment and curriculum to each selected school. We just announced the first recipients of the grant for 2015 and more information can be found on our website here. We are also proud to be a Green Plus Certified organization since November 2013, showing our commitment to the triple bottom line: people, planet and performance.

3. Anything else you'd like to share about your organization or why you became a partner of Sustain Charlotte?

For as little as $4, you can help NC GreenPower provide grant funding to install solar PV at K-12 schools in our state. Our office is based in Raleigh, and we have strong local support, but we also recognize the great sustainable leadership in Charlotte. We’ve been fans of Sustain Charlotte since the program’s inception in 2010 and have been fortunate this year to be able to be a Gold sponsor, helping the economic, social and environmental well-being of those living and working in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area.

Seeing the Benefits of Mass Transit for City, Region

In his article in Charlotte Business Journal, Ronnie Bryant, president and CEO of the Charlotte Regional Partnership writes, "nearly 80% of workers in the Charlotte market drive alone to work, while only 2% use public transportation. That has to change." We fully agree with Mr. Bryant and are glad to see that he shares our vision when in comes to our region's growth. We too hope that our leaders make transit projects a priority to ensure the sustainability of our fast-growing region! Click here to read more. 

CATS Adds $20M of Projects to Blue Line extension

According to The Charlotte Observer, "the Charlotte Area Transit System is adding $20 million worth of projects to the Blue Line extension after the city realized it had extra money in the budget. The $1.1 billion extension, which is under construction from uptown Charlotte to UNC Charlotte, is expected to open in the summer of 2017." Some of the additions include a new pedestrian bridge at the Sugar Creek station and the extension of a pedestrian bridge planned for the UNCC/JW Clay Station across the northbound lanes of North Tryon Street. This is great news! The additions of pedestrian infrastructure at the light rail stations will promote more people-friendly development along the Blue Line Extension. Click here to read more.

* October 6 - Green Drinks Charlotte + Sustain Charlotte Monthly Mixer *

6:00pm - 7:30pm @ The Liberty, 1812 South Blvd, Charlotte. Join us for an informal and fun evening of conversation and networking. Our Monthly Mixers provide an opportunity to learn more about us, our partners, and meet others interested in local sustainability! Click here to read more and to RSVP.

* October 17:  Sustain Charlotte's Biketoberfest *

Following the 2015 NC Bike Summit, Sustain Charlotte will be holding our very first Biketoberfest -- an event that will bring together bicycling enthusiasts and 'newbies' alike in a city-wide celebration! Interested in aligning your organization with this event? Click here for sponsorship information and to learn more. Get your tickets here! 

September 24: Charlotte Green Team Meeting

3:30pm - 5:00pm @ Central Piedmont Community College (CCPC) Van Every Culinary Arts Building, Corner of Kings Drive and 7th Street. Come hear from Pamela Metcalf, Director of Energy & Sustainability for CPCC about their latest sustainability initiatives. You’ll also get to see and hear about the updates to the city’s Green Walking Tour phone app from Darcy Everett with the City of Charlotte! To register for the meeting, send an email with your name and organization to [email protected]. 

* September 26: The Grape Taste at Morrison, Benefiting Sustain Charlotte *

2:00pm - 6:00pm @ Morrison South Park, 721 Governor Morrison St, Charlotte, North Carolina 28211. This event includes complimentary wine and food samplings, limited exclusions on sale items, live Music, and benefits Sustain Charlotte! We hope you will join us! Click here for more info. 

September 26: A Fresh Look at School Food Kick-off Event

10:00am - 1:00pm @ Johnson & Wales University, 801 West Trade Street, Charlotte. The Fresh Look at School Food is a collaborative approach to change the culture of school food in our community. Come to this event to learn about your role in creating a school food culture change! The event is free and open to the public. To register for this event, click here. 

September 30: The Planning for Healthy Communities Conference 

9:00am - 4:00pm @ Charles Mack Citizen Center, 215 N Main Street Mooresville, NC 28115. The 2015 Planning for Healthy Communities conference will focus on how the built environment and local government policies impact community health, and will offer practical strategies for making your community a healthier place. Click here to register. 

* October 2: Creative Loafing's 28th Best of Charlotte Party, Benefiting Sustain Charlotte *

6:00pm - 10:00pm @ Harvey B. Gantt Center, 551 S Tryon St, Charlotte, NC. Don't miss out on this chance to celebrate with the Best of Charlotte and show your support for Sustain Charlotte at the same time! Click here to read more and to purchase tickets today!

October 7: International Walk to School Day

This annual event in the United States is a part of an international effort to celebrate the many benefits of walking and bicycling to school. Walk to School Day event registration is free and open to individuals and organizations holding an October event in the United States. Click here to register your event!

October 6-7: Making Energy Work Conference

@ Raleigh Convention Center, 500 S Salisbury St, Raleigh, NC 27601. NCSEA's Making Energy Work Conference is the setting for collaboration to move our clean energy economy forward. It is an opportunity to learn about the next in clean energy, network with clean energy leaders, and identify solutions that advance our clean energy economy. Click here for more information and to register.

* October 15-17: The 2015 NC Bike Summit to be Held in Charlotte *

@ UNC Charlotte - Center City Building, 320 E 9th St. Charlotte. Registration is now open! The 2015 NC Bike Summit promises to be packed full of information useful to bicycle advocates, transportation planners, business owners, elected officials, tactical urbanists, public health practitioners, and livability and sustainability professionals. Our Transportation Choices Alliance is the proud local host for the event!

MANY THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS