The Atlanta Regional Commission announced today that the City of Canton has received certification as a Green Community for the first time, achieving the Bronze Level status.

ARC’s Green Communities program is a voluntary certification program that recognizes local governments for implementing measures that will reduce their environmental impact. It highlights their commitment to environmental stewardship and their leadership in sustainability practices.

Measures that earned Canton certification include:

• Allowing additional parking spaces if a commercial development uses pervious pavement that allows rainwater to soak in rather than runoff.

• Providing support for the Canton Farmers Market and Canton Victory Garden East, increasing access to local foods.

• Adopting a sustainability plan that provides a vision for Canton’s future development of Canton based upon eight tenets, including sustaining the environment, connecting citizens to parks and recreation, improving infrastructure for future demands, and advancing regional economic success.

• Becoming electric vehicle ready by installing 10 electric car chargers for public use at the Canton downtown parking deck.

• Reducing City’s Hall’s utility costs and carbon footprint by installing an 80kw solar array to provide a portion of the building’s electricity.

“The City of Canton is thrilled to receive the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Bronze Level Green Communities certification for the first time,” said Canton Mayor Bill Grant. “In keeping with the tenet in our Roadmap for Success, this achievement and certification provides proof positive of the work we are doing to sustain our natural resources to improve the beauty of our community and enhance the quality of life for all.”

In metro Atlanta, 21 local governments — 15 cities and six counties – are currently certified under the ARC Green Communities program. The nationally recognized program, developed in 2009, was the first in the country to promote sustainability through a comprehensive green certification program for local governments.

More information about ARC’s Green Communities certification program is available at atlantaregional.org/greencommunities.