South Shore Clean Cities to celebrate 15-year anniversary on July 24 in Purdue Research Park

MERRILLVILLE, Ind. - South Shore Clean Cities Inc., a nonprofit organization whose mission is to preserve and revitalize Northern Indiana by promoting the use of clean fuels and clean vehicle technologies, will host an event this week to celebrate its 15-year anniversary.

The South Shore Clean Cities celebration will be 4-7 p.m. (CT) Thursday (July 24) at the Purdue Technology Center, 9800 Connecticut Drive, Crown Point. Reservations can be made by emailing dzorich@southshorecleancities.org or calling 219-644-3690.

Carl Lisek, South Shore Clean Cities executive director, said the celebration will include a networking session, appetizers and a wine and cheese tasting.

"We're proud to have served Northern Indiana these past 15 years by presenting seminars to municipal and industry officials on alternative fuels and green technology initiatives, partnering with regional organizations like Northern Indiana Public Service Co., and Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission, and providing resources like the IdleBox toolkit for light- and medium-duty vehicles," he said.

"None of these would have been possible if not for our partners, our board of directors and our staff. The July 24 celebration is to honor all that they have done over the years to strengthen the quality of life in Northern Indiana through their generosity, hard work and commitment to a greener future."

Lisek said South Shore Clean Cities displaced more than a billion gallons of petroleum by 2005, was recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy for having the largest petroleum reduction in the country in 2012, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 63,562 tons and petroleum use by 10,588,552 tons in 2013.

"We know the public and private sectors want to see an even brighter future for Northern Indiana, and we're committed to being part of the community to achieve that goal," Lisek said. "Fifteen years pass in an instant, and we look forward to all the opportunities, options and solutions that will present themselves over the next 15 years, including those that have yet to be created."

About South Shore Clean Cities Inc.

Designated as the 71st Clean Cities Coalition on June 15, 1999, South Shore Clean Cities Inc. was founded on the principle that motivated individuals working together for common goals best accomplish our nation's objectives. In almost 100 coalitions, government agencies and private companies voluntarily form partnerships that meet the objectives of improving air quality, developing regional economic opportunities and reducing the use of imported oil.

About Purdue Research Park

The Purdue Research Park is the largest university-affiliated business incubation complex in the country. The Purdue Research Park manages the Purdue Technology Centers in four sites in Indiana - West Lafayette, Indianapolis, Merrillville and New Albany. The more than 260 companies located in the park network employ about 4,500 people who earn an average annual wage of $63,000. The park is managed by the Purdue Research Foundation, which received the 2014 Incubator Network of the Year by the National Business Incubator Association for its work in entrepreneurship. For more information about funding and investment opportunities in startups based on a Purdue innovation, contact the Purdue Foundry at foundry@prf.org.

Purdue Research Park contact: Steve Martin, 765-588-3342, sgmartin@prf.org