Thurston County adopts countywide policies and represents the unincorporated areas of the County. The County is on the forefront of numerous sustainability initiatives, including adopting impact fees for development within unincorporated areas, assessing the economic value of natural systems, investigating bee deaths, and considering the elimination of plastic bags.  Thurston County Solid Waste Program has been  the primary sponsor of the Vision2Action Symposium Series since April 2012.

The Thurston Regional Planning Council (TRPC) is the council of governments for the Thurston County region. TRPC focuses on collaborative planning and decision-making while fulfilling state and federal requirements. Agency products and resources support a wide variety of decision-making processes across the region, including The “Sustainable Thurston” Regional Plan for Sustainable Development, which calls on the community to “preserve environmentally sensitive lands, farmlands, forest lands, prairies and rural lands, and develop compact urban areas.”  The plan  is now available in draft form, and open for public input through October 2, 2013.  Join the Community Conversation at www.SustainableThurston.org

The Mission of the City of Olympia Community Planning and Development Department is to protect and enhance our community’s quality of life, sustainability and public safety through the City’s comprehensive plans, development regulations and service programs.  The City is involved in numerous sustainability initiatives, including using internal “triple bottom line” support tools to help guide decisions and actions, and sustainability policies that promote the use of reclaimed water, and investigating the effects of sea-level rise on this coastal city. The City also supports neighborhoods in their quest to create more livable and sustainable communities.

The City of Tumwater is committed to building a highly livable, people-oriented community with a dynamic economy and vibrant neighborhoods. The City is working to foster sustainable growth by protecting the natural environment and creating healthy places, ensuring a great quality of life for the residents of Tumwater. In active partnership with our citizens, The City of Tumwater provides leadership and essential municipal services to cultivate a prosperous and healthy community where businesses and families can thrive.

South Puget Sound Community College is recognized in the South Sound region for student success, active partnership in community development, and innovative use of technology to enhance learning. The new Natural Sciences complex continues the tradition of adding LEED buildings and solar energy to their wooded 101-acre campus.

The Thurston Climate Action Team (TCAT) is local non-profit dedicated to creating a healthy and sustainable future for Thurston County by encouraging, coordinating and taking action on climate change. TCAT is pursuing three priority areas for its work: Energy efficiency and distributed generation, Transportation, and a climate action plan for Thurston County.

The Chamber is engaged in community stewardship and works to ensure development is done in a healthy and sustainable manner. By engaging in community development, the Chamber assists Thurston County in numerous areas including: economic development, public policy, workforce development, K-12 education, higher education, healthy work place initiatives, green business practices, environmental projects, transportation, small business development, and community leadership development.  The Thurston Green Business Program is a county-wide designation program recognizing area businesses who are taking significant steps toward sustainability.

The Thurston County REALTORS® recognize the incredible gift of Washington’s natural environment and the importance of parks and open space to the marketability of surrounding property.  REALTORS® support policies that encourage conservation and wise use of natural resources and critical areas through incentives and sufficient compensation. REALTORS® also believe government must accommodate quality commercial, industrial and residential growth, while recognizing the importance of local decision-making, private property rights, and the value of a healthy economic sector and attainable home ownership opportunities.

Founded over 100 years ago, Olympia Federal Savings is a local financial institution with a proven commitment to the communities it serves. “OlyFed” annually returns in excess of 5 percent of its earnings to the community, supporting such activities as cultural events, affordable housing, health and human services, children’s programs, and numerous charitable organizations. OlyFed now offers two Green Choice lending programs: Energy efficient mortgages and Retrofit Home Equity loans. Both offer reduced interest rates to encourage energy savings.