Thursday, June 25th, 2009
A developer with more than 41,300 acres in Osceola County in Central Florida (just south of Orlando) is envisioning the first eco-sustainable city in the United States and will be called Destiny, FL.
Destiny has been recognized by The Clinton Climate Initiative as one of 16 large-scale urban projects demonstrating that cities can grow while reducing carbon emissions to near zero.
Destiny’s developers are currently considering a solar plant that would produce power at about 40 cents per kilowatt. Intuitively, it would also need to incorporate green technology, eco-friendly companies, a gray water irrigation system, environmental research groups, and “green collar” jobs. It is slated to break ground in 2011 and will eventually include approximately 100,000 residential units and 30 million SF of non-commercial space to support a population of 200,000 to 250,000 residents. This is in step with President Obama’s focus on alternate energy. The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) includes $20 billion in tax cuts for alternative energy including a multiyear extension of the production tax credit for wind, geothermal, hydro power and bio-energy. Additionally, President Obama has pledged to invest $150 billion over 10 years to develop alternative energy, which he says will create 5 million jobs.
Tags: alternative energy, American Reinvestment and Recovery, ARRA, bio-energy, carbon emissions, Central Florida, Destiny, Destiny FL, developer, eco-friendly, eco-sustainable city, employment, Florida, geothermal, gray water irrigation, Green, green technology, hydro power, jobs, Orlando, Osceola County, President Obama, solar plant, tax credit, The Clinton Climate Initiative, United States, urban project, wind
Posted in Healthcare | No Comments »
Wednesday, June 24th, 2009
Now is the time for healthcare providers to take a proactive approach to the well-being of their respective communities and target markets. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), signed into law by President Obama on February 17, contains $1 billion for the new Prevention and Wellness Fund. This Fund will make available resources for funding immunization programs; infection prevention programs; and the prevention of 
chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease. Based on statistics provided by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 70 million people in the United States (approximately 25 percent of our total population) live with cardiovascular disease. Wellness programs have a direct impact on the prevention of these diseases and will be an important components of any preventative program.
Healthcare providers have historically been hesitant to invest in wellness and fitness centers due to the capital resource requirement and uncertain return on investment. With careful planning and strategic development, these facilities can bring a substantial new revenue stream into the organization. Skeptics may point to the Medical Fitness Association, which reports that in 2008 there were approximately 950 medically based wellness and fitness centers in the United States, with one-third reporting operating losses.
While such risks do exist, investing in wellness facilities and programs that directly address the prevention of chronic disease have the potential for more than satisfactory financial results. If managed with a clear direction, thought and competence, these facilities can provide a financial return far more attractive than the equities market has offered in the recent past. The resources allocated to fight chronic disease will come back tenfold in cost reductions over the long term.
Now is the time to invest in the well-being of our future. We should not wait for another opportunity like the one Congress and President Obama have provided. We need to take advantage of this now.
Tags: American Recovery and Reinvestment, ARRA, capital, cardiovascular disease, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, chronic diseases, Congress, diabetes, equities market, financial return, fitness centers, Healthcare, healthcare providers, heart disease, high blood pressure, immunization programs, infection prevention programs, law, Medical Fitness Association, President Obama, prevention, prevention program, revenue, strategic development, target markets, United States, US, wellness programs
Posted in Healthcare, Healthcare Village, Wellness Centers | No Comments »
