District officials recently announced the launch of EcoZone, an environmental program designed to fund city projects and educate District residents solely through corporate sponsorships.
In the first three days, eight corporations bought sponsorship packages ranging from $5,000 to $3.5 million from EcoMedia, the environmental media company behind EcoZone.
“We do far beyond what any city could do alone,” said Paul Polizzotto, founder of EcoMedia. “The city will be the beneficiary of an education outreach program that costs millions to produce.”
Half the funding will go toward education and awareness: television and radio spots, print ads, a Web site, an hourlong TV show syndicated quarterly, a lecture/conference series, community events and signage.
Some 100 EcoZone signs will appear within 60 days in all eight wards portraying messages for recycling, ride sharing and litter pick-up.
The other half of the money will go to the District, particularly for environmental projects, an advisory board — composed of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy representatives — and for resource information.
“These cities have environmental departments that are understaffed and under funded throughout this country,” Polizzotto said.
“They really care, have great ideas, and simply aren’t funded properly.”
Department of Public Works spokeswoman Mary Myers listed litter, storm-water pollution and alternative fuel-powered city vehicles as central issues on the District’s environmental agenda.
“We do think [EcoZone] is a good thing,” Mary Meyers said, Department of Public Works spokeswoman.
“It offers assistance, particularly with technologies that can mitigate environmental problems, and does it with no cost to taxpayers.”
EcoZone is an expansion of EcoMedia’s first public/private sponsorship model, Adopt-A-Waterway, an ongoing program in coastal cities around the nation.
Unlike Adopt-A-Waterway, EcoZone will work to meet the needs of all environmental issues: water, air, energy and green space.
