Spartanburg's Northside Initiative to receive Land Planning & Policy Champion award

The Northside Initiative is the Land Planning & Policy Champion at the 2019 ForeverGreen Awards Luncheon. The award recognizes the Initiative’s participants for their collaborative efforts to transform and revitalize Spartanburg’s Northside community.

The Northside Development Group (NDG) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit community development corporation leading the Northside Initiative effort. NDG is committed to ensuring a safe, strong, and thriving community for generations to come. Located on the northern frontier of Spartanburg, this public and private partnership, built around the needs and wants of the citizens of its geography, has taken bold action to promote a comprehensive approach to rebuilding this historic part of Spartanburg.

Championed by many citizens and institutions throughout the community, this energetic effort has focused on increasing access to cradle-to-career education, mixed income housing, commercial development, health and wellness and supportive services opportunities for residents that live there or those who might choose to move there.

The ultimate goal is a diverse community advantaged by its neighbors (from VCOM's Medical School to Wofford College to Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System) and improved by such projects as the new Dr. T.K. Gregg Community Center, new health clinics, the Franklin School (a newly completed early learning center), walking paths, the Monarch Cafe, and many more.

The initiative's goal is to create an inspiring and inclusive model for authentic community engagement that results in a comprehensive planning process led by residents and implemented into actionable projects by the community through public and private partnerships that lead to positive change.

The Land Planning & Policy Champion Award recognizes a business, organization, governmental entity or individual who has taken bold action to promote more responsible growth, reduce sprawl, promote vibrant communities, and balance economic development with other community priorities. 

Tickets are on sale now for the luncheon, which will take place Feb. 19, 2019 at the Embassy Suites in Greenville. You can read about the other award recipients at our blog. For more information about this event, please contact Murray Dorn at murray@smoakpr.com.