Bluegrass Tomorrow on Solar Siting

(Intended for Mayors, County Judge Executives, Elected Officials, Planning Commissions and Professional Staff)

Written by: Rob Rumpke President CEO, April 2021

 

Overview: 

Bluegrass Tomorrow presents these insights and recommendations on the siting of solar-powered electric generation facilities in Central Kentucky. We recognize the value of solar and other alternative energy sources, and we encourage that the siting and development of those facilities give proper consideration to the important and limited resource of valuable agricultural lands.  Bluegrass Tomorrow is uniquely qualified to facilitate our communities’ discussions of these issues. 

Bluegrass Tomorrow is a dynamic Quality of Life Organization which promotes expanded regional cooperation toward a strong sense of place and high quality of life throughout our 18-county Bluegrass/Central Kentucky Region. We monitor Quality of Life issues and activities across the region and promote what seems best for the greater good.  Because we are an independent non-profit led by a board of 55 key regional leaders, we are nimble and can integrate broad perspectives to address emerging issues and opportunities that are important to the region.  Bluegrass Tomorrow’s roots go back to 1989, when Toyota was being built in Georgetown.  At that time leaders from Toyota and the region envisioned the Bluegrass Region as a place where our best agricultural land remains secure and productive, and development occurs deliberately, responsibly, and with environmental sensitivity.  We continue to celebrate the region where we work to preserve our unique agricultural resources and heritage; where we enjoy a strong sense of place through constructive, connected governance; and where education is deemed the key to all success and is promoted as such. Today, Bluegrass Tomorrow has two Divisions: the Bluegrass Higher Education Consortium, which promotes education at all levels, and Bluegrass Forever Green, which promotes conservation, preservation and sustainability in the region and includes the Bluegrass Regional Land Use Partnership from which this paper emanates.

All or part of the Kentucky counties represented in the Bluegrass Tomorrow footprint (above) lie in the Commonwealth’s Bluegrass physiographic region.  The most treasured soils of the Inner Bluegrass are found from Clark to Franklin Counties (east to west) and from Harrison to Mercer Counties (northeast to southwest). The land that encompasses Woodford, Jessamine, Fayette, and Bourbon Counties are almost entirely classified as “best soils.”

Value Statement on the Bluegrass Landscape:

Bluegrass Tomorrow’s traditional position on land use issues, is that we will always strive to protect our most precious bluegrass soils and most productive farmland as the centerpiece of our sustainability and economic development efforts.  Bluegrass Tomorrow’s Regional Land Use Partnership formalized this position, and Bluegrass Tomorrow adopted this vision statement:

 

The Bluegrass Regional Landscape is our defining feature and an identified “World Monument,” renowned for its stunning agricultural and natural resources; it should remain forever green through carefully considered, intentional, collaborative balance of economic development and land use planning, ensuring agriculture remains a central pillar to the economy of the region . . . .

 

Our Bluegrass farmland and equine/agriculture industry are renowned and revered around the world and are threatened by growth and development. The importance and vulnerability of the Bluegrass Region is recognized worldwide as evidenced by its selection by World Monuments Watch as one of the world’s the most at-risk cultural heritage sites
facing daunting threats such as encroaching urbanization (https://www.wmf.org/watch).  We must never forget that we are listed among other endangered treasures.

Role of Solar Energy in Sustainability:

Bluegrass Tomorrow also promotes conservation, preservation and sustainability through the work of its Bluegrass Forever Green Division.  We believe that renewable, clean solar energy is an important element of the current and future energy grid and is vital in addressing global warming and a resilient, more sustainable environment for the next generation.  As such, Bluegrass Tomorrow supports solar energy as a part of our total energy portfolio, now and into the future. 

At Bluegrass Tomorrow’s Conversation with the Region on Energy Innovations two years ago, one of the first solar farms in the state developed by the East Kentucky Power Cooperative (EKPC) was discussed and highly lauded as an example of the types of energy innovations needed in our region.  EKPC has set a goal of generating 15 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2035. However, all agreed that solar is only one part of a complicated energy grid in the Bluegrass that also includes coal, natural gas and fossil fuels which keep energy costs lower and ensures the 24/7/365 reliability of energy in Kentucky, critical to economic development.

Another Bluegrass energy innovation nestled in the rolling hills of Mercer County is Kentucky Utilities & LG&E’s E.W. Brown Generating Station.  The station is home to four different types of energy generating resources, including a nearly 100-year-old hydroelectric facility and the first, and largest, existing universal solar facility in Kentucky.  Now the station’s landscape has a dual-use with two new earth-friendly additions—a flock of Shetland sheep and the incorporation of a pollinator habitat. The company continues to educate and help propel solar research and development and helps all citizens understand the capabilities of solar energy in Kentucky as an important part of the overall energy grid. 

Solar is one of the fastest-growing energy sources in the world due to the decreasing cost per kilowatt hour, promotional government policies, growing consumer demand for renewable energy–especially in the business sector–and the solar industry’s comparative speed in constructing facilities. Recently, University of Oxford researchers estimated solar could
increase to 20 percent of global electricity by 2027.  Federal and state tax incentives have accelerated the energy industry’s efforts to bring facilities online as quickly as possible.

Balancing Sustainable Land Use and Energy Production: 

Because Solar is such a new and unique land-use option never considered in the past it has created new challenges for local governments in the Bluegrass.  Local governments are struggling with how to evaluate utility-scale solar facility applications, how to update their land-use regulations, and how to achieve positive benefits for hosting these clean energy facilities, all while balancing the need to protect our most productive farmland and other economic development considerations.  In performing this critical balancing function, our communities must evaluate several distinct but often interacting factors.

While solar energy aligns with national, state, and local sustainability goals, including Bluegrass Tomorrow, solar industries must bring an overall value to the locality beyond the clean energy label and the temporary jobs created during construction of the facilities. Our Bluegrass governments must consider other elements of sustainability and economic development for the land and make deliberate, transparent decisions regarding impacts and benefits to the social fabric, natural environment, scenic view sheds, the local economy, agricultural production, and local government.

The Role of City and County Planning, Zoning, and Ordinances:

Several of our counties are currently considering plans for siting large solar facilities that will collectively consume thousands of acres of Bluegrass farmland.  Some Planning Commissions have already created language in their Comprehensive Plans and/or ordinances and subdivision regulations to regulate large solar developments, which would require a text amendment to change; but in many other cases, there are no ordinances nor regulations, nor Comprehensive Plan language to address these new solar land use issues.  There are two tools available:  the existing Comprehensive Plan itself and the zoning ordinances and subdivision regulations which codify the implementation of the Plan.

 

Bluegrass Tomorrow recommends that our region’s city and county Planning Directors and Commissions must take the reins to see that these documents are amended to bring some structure, consistency, and transparency to the evaluation process for utility-scale solar facilities. Unlike many other land uses, large solar installations will occupy vast tracts of land for one or more generations. This is not a decision to be taken lightly and requires the utmost due diligence.

 

Bluegrass Tomorrow has a long-standing policy that it will never insert itself into the decision making of local Planning Commissions or local governments. However, we will always promote what is best for our overall region as agreed upon by our diverse 55-member Board of Directors, 53 percent of whom are from outside Fayette County. The Bluegrass Tomorrow Board of Directors includes business leaders, educators, farmers, equine and sustainability members, utility representatives and more, representing our 18-county footprint.

Recommendations:

Solar energy systems may typically be found in three formats: 1) Integrated solar panels as part of new construction which are frequently innocuous and hardly noticeable, 2) Small roof-top or small backyard units often installed to serve existing homes or businesses, and 3) Large industrial complexes, perhaps many acres in size, designed for commercial production by private industry or utilities.  It is this third format that raises the greatest threat to our most productive Bluegrass farmland.

 

Bluegrass Tomorrow recommends that our communities consider the following when making decisions about solar siting and solar farms on Bluegrass farmland:

• Prioritize solar development, taking all available state and local guidance into consideration, on such siting as brownfields, rooftops, land zoned for industrial use, empty big box developments.  It is understood that some of these
  sitings could be more expensive for the solar developer.  The question becomes–how much revenue the potential solar development can create, compared to revenue for the landowner and/or government while also considering keeping the land as an agriculture use and associated revenue generated.  Consider methods to provide incentives
  to develop these non-agriculture zoned sites. 
  

• Preserve the abilities of individual home and business owners to implement solar energy production for their own use on their own property.

• Avoid siting large utility-scale solar development on productive farmland in any location or in such a way that it displaces agriculture from the land, if feasible, and understanding that every county and community is different, and solar is one key to our sustainable energy future.

 

• In ordinances and comprehensive planning, primary farmland and most productive agricultural land should be defined and prioritized. Size limitations for large utility scale solar developments should be considered and should require project design to minimize other land use impacts such as access roads, excessive concrete pads, run-off
  considerations et. al.

 

• If farm entities and local governments have invited solar development proposals, consider incentivizing dual-use to support continued agricultural activity and farming.  Dual use, also known as agrivoltaics, is the practice of             co-locating solar panels on farmland in such a manner that primary agriculture activities including animal grazing, and crop production can continue simultaneously on that farmland. In this case, please consider the natural beauty and idyllic scenic viewsheds of our region.

• Work with communities outside of our regionalfootprint to encourage siting of alternative energy facilities.  For example, our Eastern counties’ coalfields may present opportunities for solar installations, if feasible.  It is understood that some of these sitings could also be more expensive for the solar developer. 

 

Implementing These Recommendations:

Through our Bluegrass Tomorrow Regional Land Use Partnership Council, we have learned that within our region there are many disagreements about the uses of the ordinance or the comprehensive planning process to regulate rapidly evolving solar development.  Ordinances may be the most effective and time efficient tool to address this.  But if a city or county is currently in review of the Comprehensive Plan (reviewed every five years), this could be the best avenue.  In either case, wording on solar siting and complete definitions needs to be added to ordinances and all our region’s city, county, and combined Comprehensive Plans in the future.

 

Ordinances and subdivision regulations on solar siting should be considered as a very direct and effective option. Like how Kentucky Administrative Regulations (KAR) spells out the practical way in which Kentucky Revised Statues (KRS) are to be administered, ordinances are codified and hold the weight of law. They are easier to enact than the more complicated process to change to the Comprehensive Plan. The Comprehensive Plan is designed to be more broad, more general, and
more philosophical than ordinances. In an ordinance, for example, one can specify locations of Solar Energy Systems by zones and even require Board of Adjustment (BOA) oversight. One can even spell out specifics that the BOA should look for. That kind of specificity is not so germane to the Comprehensive Plan. This approach is effective, less complicated, and often faster than trying to update the Comprehensive Plan as the first approach to a complicated solar siting decision.

 

Bluegrass Tomorrow and its partners in the Regional Land Use Partnership Council (Bluegrass Area Development District, Fayette Alliance, Woodford Forward, Bluegrass Land Conservancy, and Farm Bureau) have examples of sample ordinances, wording in Comprehensive Plans, and resources for planning directors and our regional governments to make effective, transparent solar siting decisions. Contact: Rob Rumpke, and we’ll work this together! rob@bluegrasstomorrow.org 859.351.2447.

 

 

Other References:

BGADD has provided links to GIS shapefiles of the Agricultural/Farmland Classifications for each of the 17 counties on its website at: Regional Planning Council Reports | Bluegrass ADD (bgadd.org) then scroll down to “Prime Agricultural Lands” for a link to each county’s GIS shapefile of this data.

From the American Planning Association: Planning for Utility-Scale Solar Energy Facilities
(planning-org-uploaded-media.s3.amazonaws.com)  Give it a minute or two to open.  Towards the last section of this report are recommendations for comprehensive plans and solar zoning ordinances from the state of Virginia.

The Kentucky Resources Council also has a model solar zoning ordinance on their website Model Ordinances (kyrc.org) .

Solar siting ordinances from other states. https://farmlandinfo.org/laws/?keywords=158

Solar Ordinance Jessamine County-City of Wilmore   

BLUEGRASS REGIONAL LAND USE RESOLUTION

A Resolution Outlining and Adopting A Common Set of Principles that Promote Conversation and Establish A Broad Framework Upon Which Stakeholders May Build to Implement Effective Regional Land Use Planning.

WHEREAS – The Bluegrass Regional Landscape is our defining feature, renowned for the quality of its agricultural and natural resources, and fully deserving of the best available and most carefully considered intentional and collaborative planning efforts by its Stakeholders; and,

WHEREAS – There is a fundamental need for continued deliberate, collaborative, balanced, and responsible Land Use Planning in the Bluegrass Region; and,

WHEREAS – Ensuring that a reasonable balance is struck and maintained between addressing the ongoing need for regional quality of life concerns and economic development, of which agriculture should be a critical component; and,

WHEREAS – A diverse partnership-style coalition of Stakeholders, employing a set of broadly accepted, common and fundamental principles is the key to establishing an effective and mutually beneficial Land Use Planning Framework; and,

WHEREAS – Such a Framework will result in maintaining, enhancing and celebrating the development and expansion of the distinct character of our cities and counties while protecting the many natural features that make up the unique Bluegrass “Brand;”

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Directors for Bluegrass Tomorrow Incorporated; with input from a wide array of regional stakeholders and organizations, adopts the following principles as a common-ground starting point for discussions, decisions, and local policy development in support of improved Land Use Planning across the Bluegrass Region.

1. Effective communication between all Stakeholders in the Region is fundamental to the success of any collaborative effort. Therefore, all stakeholders will place a priority on improving inter-organizational communication with respect to transparency of planning, education of the citizenry, and outreach beyond individual city and county boundaries.

2. Planning in support of solutions to regional issues will be collaborative, balanced, based on shared responsibility between urban and rural. It will respect realistic and reasonable environmental sensitivities and address relevant cultural, heritage, natural resources, and tourism needs and opportunities in the Bluegrass Region, which supports a multi-billion-dollar travel and tourism industry related to the land.

3. Agriculture is a key economic driver in the Region. Preserving prime agricultural lands and working to limit sprawl are generally recognized and accepted as being of critical importance to the Bluegrass Region. Such concepts as these, as already contained within existing municipal, county, and joint comprehensive plans should be supported.

4. Due to the importance of inter and intra-regional connectivity, planning for multi-modal transportation related projects and road improvements that improve connectivity should receive the same balanced, collaborative approach.

5. A need exists to tie together individual county land use maps for analysis to identify and highlight areas of possible opportunity or conflict, including connectivity of corridors, land use designations, infrastructure, urban service boundaries, and land use planning along county boundaries.

6. The concept of infill and redevelopment and rehabilitation is important and is broadly supported within the region, in comparing comprehensive plans in 18 counties. It should be a standing factor in land use planning deliberations.

7. The broad-based, shared regional land use partnership (RLUP) which has been meeting regularly since planning the Conversation with the Region on Land Use Planning in Nov. 2017, should continue and be expanded. Additional ongoing input from elected officials, local governments, planners, and stakeholders to guide future planning efforts in the 18-county region, will ensure focus on mutually agreed upon principles, encourage consistency and continuity of design standards, and maximize opportunities for economic development and promotion of our Bluegrass “Brand.”

Adopted by Bluegrass Tomorrow Board of Directors and Regional Land Use Partnership: Bluegrass Area Development District, Bluegrass Land Conservancy, Fayette Alliance, Woodford Forward, Fayette County Farm Bureau. February, 2019.

Adopted by Cities, Counties, Agencies to date: Lexington Fayette Urban County Government & LFUCG Planning & Safety Committee, Lexington/Jessamine County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), Bourbon County Fiscal Court,

Scott County Planning Commission, City of Midway, City of Sadieville.

Regional Land Use Partnership Master Plan Document

Last Update: 2-19-2020

NOTE: As identified at the Regional Land Use Partnership Summit in December 2019. The following priority strategies contained in this document will be pursued in 2020.

· Continue working on passage of resolution at regional city and county governments. Focus on prime agricultural soils counties surrounding Fayette.

· Begin to plan an “elected officials leadership academy” to improve knowledge of issues in surrounding counties and promote communication.

· Plan a Mayors/County Judges Roundtable to discuss issues, especially on our boarders, to promote communication.

· Begin the process of developing GIS mapping related to Land Use, especially on our boarders to promote communication.

· Adopt a Vision Statement for the Regional Land Use Partnership, agreed upon by our partnering organizations and stakeholders.

1. Define The Need — There is a fundamental need for responsible Land Use Planning in the Bluegrass Region.

Strategies:

Document and validate what is likely a commonly held belief that there is in fact a need (and opportunity) in a single statement and get sign-off by Regional Stakeholders, i.e. get the stakeholders to publicly buy-in to a common statement of need. This would provide an agreed-to fundamental statement of need (a point of origin) and a foundation for moving forward.

Answer the question “Why” right out of the gate and eliminate that as an argument going forward…answered in Vision Statement below.

Further Develop Principles of Agreement and Resolution to be passed by regional governments and organizations.

2. Define The Vision/Goal — The Bluegrass Regional Landscape is our defining feature and an identified “World Monument,” renowned for its stunning agricultural and natural resources; it should remain forever green through carefully considered, intentional, collaborative balance of economic development and land use planning, ensuring agriculture remains a central pillar to the economy of the region, and where our shared boundaries are gateways to distinct counties and cities whose character should be enhanced, developed, celebrated and preserved as part of our unique Bluegrass brand.

Strategies:

Formally adopt a unifying “Vision Statement.” Publish and promote said statement throughout the region to get folks thinking along these lines with respect to Land Use issues. Perhaps a joint statement (published by Bluegrass Tomorrow, BGADD, Woodford Forward, etc. and possibly including the various county planning departments? … i.e., mobilize the troops…

Develop, adopt, and promote a “Spirit of the Bluegrass” attitude by word and deed to help motivate and excite stakeholders and others in the effort. Should we have a “Spirit of the Bluegrass” Vision Award recognition/award for people and organizations that excel in working across boundaries for the common good?

Specifically identify those activities and areas that cross geographic and organizational boundaries, and demonstrate an existing commonality of position. How can we promote and nurture these?

3. Improve Communications — There is a fundamental need for better communication in the region between city and county planners and elected officials and stakeholders, with transparency of planning, education of citizenry, and outreach beyond county lines as the priority.

Strategies:

Identify, as specifically as possible, the working universe in terms of audience and stakeholders.

– Elected officials, land use stakeholders/landowners/farmland in 18 counties, multiple city & county governments & planning commissions, economic development organizations, chambers of commerce et. al.

Develop and adopt specific strategies for identifying land use issues and effecting collaboration activity to resolve them.

– At least one liaison (stakeholder or planner) from each county to be named on RLUP partnership committee/entity that is created.

– Inter-county & Intra-county meetings/conversations to be staged, planned, perhaps led by interested chambers, planning commissions, EDA’s.

– Create a mayor’s/judge’s caucus to openly discuss issues, perhaps in collaboration with BGADD.

– Create an elected officials leadership academy, aimed at city council/city commission members and county magistrates; so they may understand issues and differences in neighboring counties.

– Identify specific barriers to effective communication between stakeholders (politics, policy frameworks at cross purposes, funding, etc. and develop an action plan to eliminate/address them).

– Barriers include operating in silos, with no outside feedback on issues. Uninformed or unconcerned elected officials, city commissioners, magistrates about their neighbors, other cities & counties.

4. Foster Collaboration — There is a central belief that there should be a balanced, collaborative approach with shared responsibility for planning for both urban and rural land, giving due consideration to appropriate use of agricultural land and resources, respecting reasonable and realistic environmental sensitivities, and addressing all relevant cultural, tourism, heritage and natural resources needs and opportunities in the Bluegrass region.

Strategies: Much can also be gained through expanding collaboration and communication between communities in our region by focusing on shared, mutually beneficial economic development opportunities, with proper emphasis on our signature agricultural land.

– What do we have in place?

– What do we need to put in place?

– Nurture what is working, fix what is not, create solutions for the missing pieces

– This is where we also involve tourism commissions/organizations, environmental organizations etc. to discuss.

– BGADD has tourism, environmental, water committees/councils in place already, expand/promote these opportunities.

– Give credit to collaborations that are working already, ie. Tourism matching funds districts, Bluegrass Alliance (E.D. professionals) Regional Public Policy Council (through Commerce Lex.), Bluegrass Higher Education Consortium etc. Outreach to each of these.

5. Build On Commonly Held Beliefs — It is widely agreed that agriculture is a key economic driver in the Bluegrass, and the land is the factory floor upon which our strong agricultural industries operate. Preserving prime agricultural lands and working to limit sprawl are already recognized and generally accepted as being of great importance to the region. These concepts are already contained in the majority of municipal, county, and joint county comprehensive plans in the Bluegrass Region. There is also strong consensus in the region for more sustainable infill development, thus ensuring sustainable equine and agricultural economic development opportunities.

Strategies:

– Update and share the status of the various Comprehensive Planning efforts underway, or under consideration throughout the region. Stites & Harbison & BGADD Continued Update…. All partners should post on-line.

– Look for ways to influence the direction and content of local Comprehensive Plans in terms of encouraging the issues identified through the Regional Land Use Partnership (RLUP) to be addressed in the various local plans. In other words, encourage synchronization of the local plans to the extent possible.

– Continue to encourage, and help to facilitate the formation of, local land use advocacy groups like Fayette Alliance and Woodford Forward.

– Develop and publish a recommended planning framework throughout the region?

6. Include Transportation & GIS Mapping – Due to the importance of inter and intra-regional connectivity, planning for multi-modal transportation related projects and road improvements that improve connectivity should receive the same, balanced, collaborative approach. There is also a need to create combined county land use maps and develop regional GIS land use mapping for the Bluegrass, including connectivity of corridors, land use designations, and communicating infrastructure and residential, commercial and industrial development.

Strategies:

– How can we help the BGADD Board and Regional Transportation Committee maximize local input and influence in the transportation planning process?

– How can we best involve the various county, regional and state transportation organizations in the planning and implementation processes?

– Continue to foster development of Bluegrass Tomorrow trail planning, with the National Park Service Rivers, Trails Conservation Assistance Program, providing connectivity in the region related to bike, hike, horseback and water trails.

– Look at all aspects of possible mapping and GIS mapping of the region focusing on connectivity of corridors, land use designations and communicating infrastructure and residential, commercial and industrial development.

7. Encourage Reuse and Repurposing — There is an important and widespread consensus regarding the need to repurpose land and structures at the end of their current life cycles, such as big box buildings and other brownfield and infill opportunities.

Strategies:

– Here is where local economic development boards and planning organizations, chambers of commerce can come in. They likely have the best handle on where land and structures exist that can be repurposed. Develop an inventory list.

8. Chart a Course To Region-wide Partnership — The broad-based, shared regional land use partnership which was formed to plan the “Conversation with the Region on Land Use Planning, should be continued, and expanded with input from elected officials, local governments and stakeholders, to improve communication regarding future planning efforts in the 18-county region, focusing on mutually agreed upon principles, and consistency and continuity of design standards to maximize opportunities for responsible economic development and promotion of our Bluegrass brand.

Strategies:

– The successful working models of the Bluegrass Higher Education Consortium, the Bluegrass Alliance, and the Regional Public Policy Group can be followed.

– The possibility of a shared, regional, land use partnership group cannot be viewed as a threat to the authority and autonomy of local governments and planning commissions/organizations. To do so would eliminate involvement and support for the effort. Need to address that concern.

– Focus on Communications Strategies and GIS Mapping for early momentum.

– Economic Development Authorities and Chambers of Commerce, Bluegrass Alliance, must be vetted.

– Begin by identifying and building on existing plans, processes, and organizations, and working to knit them together, synchronize them, and strengthen what is working (picking the low-hanging fruit).

– The ability for local governments, in particular, to preserve their right of choice particularly with respect to economic development opportunities is and must be paramount. We must keep the question “What’s in it for me?” in the forefront to have any chance for continuing local cooperation and support.

– Strategies for pressing forward should be based on voluntary participation, intergovernmental communication, sharing and partnering, and establishing and building on agreed upon and shared common principles of action.

– Bluegrass Tomorrow should work to provide effective coordination and leadership, to include facilitation where appropriate.

Be a Regional Land Use Champion

Support Our Regional Land Use Partnership

The Bluegrass Regional Land Use Partnership (RLUP), which was continued after a successful “Conversation with the Region on Land Use Planning” in November 2017 and December 2019 focuses on two key principles.

• There is a fundamental need for land-use planning in the Bluegrass Region.
• There is a fundamental need for better communication in the region between planning agencies, cities, counties….

Support This Unprecedented Effort by being a Bluegrass Land Use Champion! Regional Land Use Champion Levels of Investment: $5,000, $2,500, $1,000, $750, $500

We need your support to continue our important work! There has never been a better time for regional collaboration and regional agreement on land use planning.

 

Bluegrass Visionary Champion, $5,000 for the Regional Land Use Planning Initiative & Bluegrass Forever Green Series for one calendar year.

Logo and company name used on all promotion, e-news dissemination, and public relations for all series events as corporate partner. Also, table of 8 at BGFG events.

Also includes: Partnership Trustee in Bluegrass Tomorrow’s Vision Society with all benefits which are accorded with that level of investment.

Partnership Trustee

· Partnership Trustee status listing and logo on all Bluegrass Tomorrow printed materials, power points, e-news dissemination web site, at all meetings, speaking engagements, events and public communications during the pledge period.

· Logo on all event signage and power points for major events throughout the year.

· One preferred table, and recognition, at annual meetings and Vision Awards Breakfast.

· Full Page ad in all printed programs and publications, including the Vision Report Magazine, throughout the pledge period.

· Partnership Trustee status listing on home page of Bluegrass Tomorrow web-site.

 

Sustaining Champion: $2,500: for Regional Land-Use Planning Initiative and Bluegrass Forever

Green Series for one calendar year.

– Logo and company name used on all promotion, e-news dissemination, and public relations for the series, meetings & events.

Also Includes: Vision Trustee in Bluegrass Tomorrow’s Vision Society with all benefits which are accorded with that level of investment.

Vision Trustee

· Vision Society Trustee status listing on all Bluegrass Tomorrow printed materials, power points, e-news dissemination, at all meetings, speaking engagements, events and public communications during the calendar year.

· Listing on all event signage for major events throughout the year, including our Vision Awards Breakfast and major Bluegrass Higher Education Presidents Summit and Luncheon events.

· One preferred table, and recognition, at BGFG Luncheon or other major event.

· Half-page ad in Vision Report Magazine and other BGT programs.

 

Bluegrass Land Use Planning Champion: $1,000

· Company logo on e-mails, e-news, website and all other collateral materials, related to the Regional Land Use Planning Initiative & BGFG Series for one calendar year.

· Quarter page ad in Vision Report Magazine which be distributed on site and to all Bluegrass Tomorrow donors and stakeholders. Will be utilized for other key events throughout the year.

 

Bluegrass Land Use Planning Partner: $750

· Company logo on e-mails, e-news, website and all other collateral materials related to the Regional Land Use Planning Initiative & BGFG Series for one calendar year.

· Quarter page in in Vision Report Magazine which will be distributed on site and to all Bluegrass Tomorrow donors and stakeholders. Will be utilized for other key events throughout the year.

Bluegrass Land Use Planning Supporter: $500

· Company logo on e-mails, e-news, website and collateral materials related to the Regional Land Use Planning Initiative & BGFG Series for one calendar year.

· Listing in Vision Report Magazine.

The Working Group has been persistent in working on principles of agreement that will lead to continued discussion and collaboration toward a tangible partnership in regional Land Use Planning.