On Thursday, Oct. 16, The Clean Air Campaign® will honor the region’s outstanding workplaces for commuters at the 2008 PACE Awards luncheon.  PACE Awards are given to employers, property management companies and individuals who have shown commitment, innovation and leadership in promoting commute options programs that reduce traffic and improve air quality.  

Tickets are now on sale for this annual event, which is presented by The Clean Air Campaign – a Georgia nonprofit – in cooperation with the region’s nine transportation management associations (TMAs) and RideSmart, the regional rideshare service.  Nearly 600 business, government and community leaders are expected to attend the luncheon.

“The high cost of commuting this year inspired many employers to improve their existing commute options programs or implement new ones,” said Kevin Green , executive director of The Clean Air Campaign. “The PACE Awards offers the opportunity to recognize the workplaces contributing real solutions that reduce air pollution, traffic congestion and money commuters spend on gas.  We are looking forward to celebrating the accomplishments of our award finalists and winners.”

PACE Awards recognize outstanding employer-sponsored commute options programs such as teleworking programs, transit pass programs, carpooling programs, vanpooling programs and flextime policies.  These programs have been shown to offer substantial benefits to employers, including stronger recruitment and increased retention, higher employee productivity, and reduced parking and office space costs.

The PACE Awards for overall employer programs are presented in five sub-categories: small, medium and large business, public sector and property management company. Specific awards to be presented are:

·         The PACE Innovator Award is presented to an employer or property management company that has developed an innovative solution to an air quality/traffic-related problem.

·         The PACE Starter Award recognizes an outstanding commute options program that is less than 18 months old.

·         The PACE Spotlight Award recognizes an applicant that has excelled in a single program element.

·         The GDOT Commissioner’s Award is specifically presented to community leaders, corporate executives and other individuals who have used their influence and shown exemplary commitment to the improvement of air quality and the reduction of traffic congestion.

·         The PACE Setter Award is presented to an individual who has taken a leadership role in traffic congestion mitigation and air quality improvement.

·         The Commuter Champion Award is presented to an individual who does not have an official responsibility to develop or execute commute options programs, but who has made significant contributions in reducing traffic congestion and improving air quality by promoting commute options to his/her peers. 

The 2008 PACE Awards are being sponsored by the Atlanta Business Chronicle and WABE 90.1 FM.  The Oct. 17 edition of the Atlanta Business Chronicle will include a special section featuring the winners and how they’ve become the best workplaces for commuters. 

The 2008 PACE Awards luncheon will be held on Thursday, Oct. 16 at The Georgia Aquarium.  Tickets can be purchased for $35 per person or $350 for a table of 10.  Interested parties can call 1-877-CLEANAIR or visit CleanAirCampaign.com to order tickets. 
 

About The Clean Air Campaign

The Clean Air Campaign is a not-for-profit organization that works with Georgia’s employers, commuters and schools to encourage actions that result in less traffic congestion and better air quality. To accomplish this goal, The Clean Air Campaign, along with its associate organizations, works with more than 1,400 employers to create custom commute options programs; and annually helps thousands of commuters find commute alternatives that work for them, providing financial incentives to get them started. The Clean Air Campaign also protects public health by issuing Smog Alerts and empowers students, parents and teachers to play a positive role in reducing traffic and cleaning the air through a multi-faceted education program reaching elementary, middle and high schools. 

Each day, these programs reduce 1.2 million miles of vehicle travel and keep 600 tons of pollution out of the air we breathe. For more information, call 1-877-CLEANAIR (1-877-253-2624) or visit CleanAirCampaign.com.