While the summer months are often the
slowest of the year, the Initiative office
received a boost this July and August
in the form of one dedicated intern. A Greensboro native, Shawntel Hines
graduated from MIT with a B.S. in Urban
Studies and a Masters in City Planning.
She is currently pursuing her PhD in
Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers
University. Devoted primarily to widening the Initiative’s ‘Landing Jobs’ Program, originally a critical piece of the Land for Tomorrow (L4T) bond proposal, Shawntel researched ways of utilizing natural resources to build sustainable economies around the state.

Shawntel spoke of her eight-week internship. “I was able to really explore the overlap of environmental conservation
and community development through
conservation-based affordable housing,
agritourism, and small business/entrepreneurship support.”

The search for common ground between these two movements is crucial, not just

for the Landing Jobs Program, but also
to ensure that land conservation provides
benefit across all economic stratospheres. While the advantages of preserving open space are many, this process must be carried out intentionally to avoid negative externalities, such as depleting the tax base in our poorest counties. This is what Landing Jobs is all about.

Although Land for Tomorrow’s proposed
bond referendum did not succeed in this
legislative cycle, the state budget did
include $128 million over two years for
land and water preservation. This was a
major victory for the conservation
community as well as for all residents of
North Carolina. “It shows commitment
and vision,” said Marge Anders Limbert,
L4T’s Outreach Coordinator, in response
to the appropriation, “and it will likely
mean more in the future.”

Yet without a sustainable economy, no
conservation effort can succeed in the long run. The economic success of all

North Carolinians must be factored into
the equation. In particular, any large scale
conservation effort must consider the needs of those communities most directly affected by land and water protection efforts. These communities are frequently rural, often low-wealth and always in need of viable economic opportunities.

In response to this major concern, the
Initiative plans to unveil our new Landing Jobs Program in early 2008. With emphasis on sustainability, the program will empower small businesses, nonprofits and local governments to pursue economic development that protects our natural assets while also promoting a “triple bottom line” that measures economic, social and environmental benefits.

Landing Jobs is yet another example of
how the Initiative is seeking to improve
the quality of life for the residents of this great state.