Cleveland State University
EN-10: Community Partnerships

CSU has partnered with the Cleveland 2030 District to support the goal of creating high-performance building districts throughout Greater Cleveland with the goal of dramatically reducing the environmental impacts of building construction and operations. http://www.2030districts.org/cleveland/partners The Cleveland 2030 District partnered with Cleveland State University to provide ASHRAE Level 2 energy audits to participating buildings. CSU, in collaboration with the University of Dayton received a grant from the Ohio Lean Building Program to give students a real hands on experience in performing energy audits. The students created a professional audit report including recommendations, cost savings and simple payback calculations after a site visit to participating buildings. https://www.csuohio.edu/news/ohio-lean-buildings-program-seeks-make-region-greener Cleveland State University is an Affiliate Sponsor of the Cleveland 2030 District . http://www.2030districts.org/cleveland/supporters

Sustainable Cleveland is a 10-year initiative that engages people from all walks of life, working together to design and develop a thriving and resilient Cleveland region that leverages its wealth of assets to build economic, social and environmental well-being for all. People from every walk of life will work together to shape vibrant livable communities, innovative businesses, and a flourishing natural environment that will result in health, wealth, creativity, and economic opportunities for all. Sustainable Cleveland 2019 is guided by the Sustainable Cleveland Stewardship Council which includes two members of the CSU community, Byron P. White, Ed.D., Vice President for University Engagement and Chief Diversity Officer; and Julian Rogers, Director of Community Partnerships. http://www.sustainablecleveland.org/sustainable_cleveland

The Campus District is home to three anchor institutions: Cleveland State University, Cuyahoga Community College, and St. Vincent Charity Medical Center. As an anchor member, CSU pays a minimum $25,000 annually to Campus District to achieve its mission. Campus District Inc. and CSU advance sustainability through their efforts to elevate the district into a dynamic downtown Cleveland neighborhood where private sector investments are matched by public infrastructure improvements, schools provide high quality education, residents and visitors enjoy ample amenities, businesses and residents are attracted and retained, and the concepts of sustainability are implemented in the community. Campus District sustainability initiatives include a successful grant application to improve a bridge that connects CSU to another neighborhood. Improvements to the bridge included energy-efficient LED lighting, as well as sidewalk branding and student art. This renovation will create a stronger connection between the two neighborhoods and enhanced security. CSU and Campus District also worked to obtain funds for the improvement of East 22nd Street. The $4.3 million dollar project revitalized a one-mile corridor between Orange and Euclid Avenues with new pavement, curb, drainage, sidewalk work, median improvements and new traffic signals. Upgrades also included new streetscape elements such as signage, benches, brick pavers, bike racks, trash receptacles, trees and shrubs. Other partnerships included a study of east-west connectivity for improved bicycle and pedestrian travel and a local hiring program that allows CSU to give preference to those who live in the public housing that is in the same neighborhood as CSU. The three anchor institutions will work alongside Campus District, Inc. and CMHA’s highly successful Jobs-Plus Program, which offers on-site job training and placement services along with rent incentives, to connect residents to entry-level jobs.

The Sustainable Business Center at the Monte Ahuja College of Business offers current and future business leaders a multidisciplinary approach to learning and implementing sustainability initiatives. Real and immediate value is added through connections to cutting-edge research, graduate students and other opportunities for Northeast Ohio businesses to initiate service-learning projects with business students. This connection to research, teaching, learning, and business outreach delivers multiple benefits to businesses, faculty and students. The Center is committed to working with businesses to address real-world sustainability challenges. A peer-learning network of like-minded individuals, the Corporate Roundtable is a sharing mechanism for sustainability initiatives that sparks conversation for local businesses, non-profits, government and civic organizations and others. The Centers community and business partners include: Nash Daniels Advisors, LLC Conscious Capitalism NEO Chapter GL Biomimicry COSE Delta Institute MAGNET River's Edge Cleveland Engineering Society Cleveland Water Alliance NEO USGBC Sustainable Cleveland 2019 Cleveland 2030 District GAINS Cleveland State University Faculty and Students http://www.csuohio.edu/business/sustainability/sustainability