The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced that Charlotte, N.C.-based Bank of America provided $500,000 grant to its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Cities and Communities program, which helps local governments pursue LEED certification and provides access to educational resources and technical support. Funding will assist 20 additional city and county recipients as they pursue LEED certification to address climate change, resilience and social equity challenges in their region.

Mahesh Ramanujam, president and CEO at USGBC, said, “Local governments see the on-the-ground effects of a changing climate and how it impacts people, businesses and communities. They also understand that taking action can lead to a stronger economy and better quality of life for their residents. More than 160 cities and communities around the world are participating in LEED for Cities and Communities outside of the grant program and thanks to our partners at Bank of America, we are able to welcome even more into the LEED family. These cities and communities are committed to finding solutions that improve our living standard and are using LEED to ensure they are on a path of continuous improvement.”

New city and community recipients include:

  • Abington Township, Pa.
  • Charlotte, N.C.
  • Cleveland, Ohio
  • Costa Mesa, Calif.
  • Fayetteville, Ark.
  • Johnson County, Kan.
  • Kane County, Ill.
  • Louisville, Ky.
  • Miami Beach, Fla.
  • Miami-Dade County, Fla.
  • Middleton, Wis.
  • Nashua, N.H.
  • Newark, N.J.
  • Northampton, Mass.
  • Orange County, Fla.
  • Orange County, N.C.
  • Palm Beach County, Fla.
  • Santa Monica, Calif.
  • Sarasota, Fla.
  • Tampa, Fla.

Alex Liftman, global environmental executive at Bank of America, said, “USGBC is a leader in driving positive change through its LEED certification program, helping to create more sustainable solutions for cities, communities and businesses. Our partnership with USGBC is part of our broader sustainable business strategy that includes working collaboratively with clients, partners, communities, employees and multiple stakeholders to address climate change and accelerate the path to a sustainable, low-carbon future.”
Bank of America is a member and partner of USGBC. Bank of America has 19 million square feet of LEED-certified workspace, including more than 200 LEED-certified financial centers. It has provided a total of $3 million in grants to USGBC programs since 2011.