"Heart of the Megalopolis"

The Summit Smithville Expo is right around the corner! Please check out the Expo's facebook event page for additional information and to sign up to attend. Many thanks to our sponsors and speakers for helping us create a terrific event. Come out to learn about solar, wind, and cutting-edge energy technologies; waste reduction through recycling and composting; xeriscaping with drought-resistant plants; water conservation; building an energy efficient home; and much more as you can read in the Program. Come to the Red Brick School Administration Building at 901 NE 6th Street in Smithville on Saturday, November 5 from 10AM-3PM to learn how you can bring these ideas to your home or business. Come to the EXPO! Get some great ideas for your home and/or business.
Saturday, November 5: 10AM-3PM
SISD Red Brick Administration Building
901 NE 6th Street
Smithville TX 78957

Program
Speakers:
10-10:45AM: Alternative energy on the small and large scale
Mark Rangel, Meridian Solar 
Rob Webb, Revolt Windpower
Marsha Fatino, the Climate Reality Project 
11-11:45AM: Zero waste including recycling and composting
John Dees, Technology for All 
Jack Ranney, LCRA 
Stacy Guidry, Zero Waste Alliance 
Jimmy Mitchell, Restaurant Recyclers 
11:45-12:15: Lunch break
Lunch provided on site by: Kay’s Café, Brookshire Brothers, and Frankendog
12:15-1PM: Water conservation
Ralph Smoot, Earth Sheltered Homes 
Dave Schraub, Texas Rain 
Comer Tuck, Texas Water Development Board 
Mike Willmon, Mike’s Metal 
1:15-2PM: DIY projects for homes and businesses
Jim Horton, Xeriscaping with drought-tolerant plants
Gayle Borst, Design~Build~Live 
Effie Weaver, USGBC Central Texas Chapter 
Various speakers from other panels
2:15-3PM: Remodeling or Rebuilding? Fire Safety Questions? Q/A with the Experts
Mark Bunte, Mayor of Smithville
Mike Fisher, Emergency Management Coordinator for Bastrop County 
Michal Hubbard, FireCAP 
Various speakers from other panels

Exhibitors and Information Tables:
• AgriLIFE Extension
• Association of Citizens for Education (on Facebook)
• Central Texas Zero Waste Alliance
• Design ~ Build ~ Live
• Disaster Information Services 
• ecoGrun 
• Earth Sheltered Homes
• Envision Central Texas
• FEMA Mitigation 
• The Industrial Country Market 
• Keep Bastrop County Beautiful Green EXPO 
• LiveAir Networks 
• Lost Pines Habitat Conservation Plan 
• Modern Woodmen, Fraternal Financial 
• Restaurant Recyclers
• Revolt Windpower
• Small Business Association: Disaster Loans 
• Smithville Area Chamber of Commerce 
• Smithville Community Gardens (on Facebook)
• Smithville Junior High and High School Students
• Smithville Public Library 
• Smithville Safe Routes to School (on Facebook)
• Smithville Texas Veterans Memorial Park 
• Technology for All
• Texas Parks and Wildlife 
• Texas Water Development Board
• Texas Department of Insurance 
• Tree Folks 
• USGBC Central Texas Chapter

Many Thanks to our Sponsors:
City of Smithville; Bedrock Construction; Brookshire Brothers; Design ~ Build ~ Live; Disaster Information Services; ecoGrun; Friends of the Library, Smithville, TX; Kay’s Café; KBCB Green Expo; LiveAir Network;Restaurant Recyclers; Revolt Windpower; Smithville Area Chamber of Commerce; Smithville Community Gardens; Smithville Independent School District; Technology For All; Tree Folks; USGBC Central Texas-Balcones Chapter; Caroline Noya; Judy Bergeron and Javier Garza; and anonymous individuals

"Summit Smithville," a component of the 2011 Smithville Comprehensive Plan, seeks to identify innovative economic development and educational / training opportunities related to alternative energy and sustainability, and to promote the possibility of an entirely self-sustaining small rural town. We hope to become a model for Rural America, and a leader in the State of Texas.

The Summit Smithville program seeks to identify innovative economic development and educational / training opportunities related to alternative energy and sustainability, and to promote the possibility of an entirely self-sustaining small rural town.

Our objectives for this effort are to:
1) Inform and educate, as well as receive input and feedback about our energy needs and options.
2) Examine the alternative energy field as a means of economic development, including a training program for the unemployed and underemployed workforce and students in the City of Smithville and surrounding Bastrop County.
3) Create a long-term “Sustainable Smithville Plan” and “Feasibility Study” to provide direction for the continuing efforts to enhance alternative energy and training capabilities, emphasizing the opportunities for economic development (including eco-tourism) and training associated with the installation, maintenance, and development of this technology.
4) Seek partnerships with educators to establish a strong training program in Smithville.
5) Develop a Case Study Manual.
Our mission is to identify two or three key attainable initiatives that we could work on over the next several years, and to document our processes as described above.

First Summit Meeting
Where: City Hall, 317 Main Street
When: Saturday June 18, 9AM to Noon
Purpose: To set the preliminary agenda for the year (which will serve as a living document that will change as public involvement efforts bring new information and requests to light), and to establish a group to help coordinate workshops whereby industry leaders would be invited to speak about a wide variety of alternative and innovative solutions and training opportunities for Smithville high school students and interested adults.

Light refreshments will be provided.
Subsequent workshops will be scheduled and additional task force meetings may be called by the members of the group as a result of this initial meeting. A final report will be incorporated into the 2011 Comprehensive Plan.
Your input is invaluable!

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Sustainable Smithville Summit SECO Deliverables

At the end of the year, the Summit Process will deliver a “Sustainable Smithville Plan,” a “Feasibility Study,” a “Training Program Plan” and a Case Study.”

The Sustainable Smithville Plan will:
1. Establish the commitment of city leaders and community members to a Sustainable Smithville in various aspects of renewable energy, reduction in energy needs, and other issues in sustainability.
2. Discuss the potential for bringing in solar, biomass thermal, and other renewable energy sources into the city.
3. Outline the future of energy production in Smithville.
4. Examine training and economic development opportunities (such as eco-tourism to show others how Smithville was able to become the “most sustainable little town in Texas”).

The Feasibility Study will help show how this Plan can become a reality. It will:
1. Identify at least five renewable energy and sustainability projects.
2. Provide details on implementation and budget for these projects.
3. Identify potential funding sources and partnerships, and other resources needed to bring the projects to fruition.

The Training Plan will:
1. Establish partnerships in educational institutions and city facilities (such as the Library and the Recreation Center) needed to make training possible.
2. Identify the groups in need of training, such as the unemployed and underemployed, as well as students first entering the workforce.
3. Develop initial ideas for training curricula, and seek resources that may already have outlined curricula in various fields.
4. Develop strategies to reach out to potential students.
5. Work to establish a training schedule to begin at the culmination of the year.

The Case Study Manual will:
1. Collect papers and procedures, as well as public input related to the process and any procedures that go into the success of the above documents.
2. Organize these into a case study manual of how Smithville was able to accomplish its goals.
3. This case study would be available on the internet, and will provide a useful tool for other communities and neighborhoods wishing to use Smithville as a model in sustainability.