Southface presents sixth annual Argon Award to the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce

Atlanta (March 10, 2005)

The prestigious Argon Award will be presented to the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce (MACOC), on March 23 at the seventh annual Visionary Dinner. Jacoby Development and Atlantic Station sponsor the Argon Award, presented by Southface to a Georgia-based business leader or institution in recognition of a significant commitment to environmental stewardship.

The Argon Award Committee, comprised of Southface staff and leaders in the environmental community, chose MACOC to receive the 2005 Argon Award for its outstanding dedication to environmental and quality of life issues.

“The Metro Atlanta Chamber clearly sees the link between the environment and our region's economic health,” says Southface Executive Director, Dennis Creech. “Its leadership has crafted initiatives beyond merely attracting business to ensuring our air and water and preserved and our land is developed in a way that will naturally improve their economic development efforts.”

MACOC is helping Atlanta move toward a sustainable future through visionary efforts including:

• Quality growth task force - a public-private venture to reach consensus on growth strategies necessary to successfully accommodate the next 2.3 million people, and to identify near-term policies and tools to achieve these strategies
• Water Resources - a Clean Water Initiative leading the General Assembly to create the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District
• Clean Air Campaign - another public/private partnership responsible for administering federal funds to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality

The Argon Award is only one of the evening's features that highlight sustainable business. The Visionary Dinner also includes a keynote address by Interface, Inc. Chairman Ray C. Anderson, who will discuss his company's progress to eliminate its environmental footprint and to become environmentally restorative by 2020. Anderson received the inaugural Argon Award in 2000. Subsequent awards have been presented to Emory University ; Arthur Blank, The Home Depot; R. E. “Ted” Turner, The Turner Foundation; Jim Jacoby, Atlantic Station/Jacoby Development and Pam Sessions, Hedgewood Properties.

Since 1978, Southface has promoted sustainable homes, workplaces and communities through education, research, advocacy and technical assistance. For more information about the Argon Award or about the Visionary Dinner, from 6 to 10 pm at the Georgia Freight Depot, visit the Visionary Dinner webpage .