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Disability Mentoring.... continued Main contentTallahassee CommuniTy College In the News November 14, 2009 - January 15, 2010 November 14, 2009 - January 15, 2010 Tallahassee CommuniTy College In the News Print Media • Florida Capital News 1 • St Petersburg Times 1 • Florida Trend 1 • Tallahassee Democrat 18 • FSUnews 1 • Tampa Bay Tribune 1 • FSView 1 • TCPalm 1 • Gadsden County Times 8 • The FAMUan 1 • Lincoln Log 1 • WCTV 16 • Northwest Florida Daily News 1 • Wolf Prints 1 • Panama City News Herald 1 • Wukulla News 1 • SACOBU eLedger 1 Electronic Media • November 17 WCTV TCC hosts Veterans Open House • December 2 WCTV/WTXL TCC President Bill Law a candidate at SPC • December 4 WTXL FPSI students’ check presentation • December 16 WTXL TCC plays role in weatherization project • January 12 WTXL TCC hosts MLK breakfast SACUBO eLedger- Fall 2009 1 E-Ledger Page 2 Community College Lowers Utility Costs, Addresses Sustainability Issues Tallahassee Community Col- number of students attend Environmental lege (TCC), founded in 1966, two-year Florida community serves more than 14,000 colleges, then complete their and Infrastructure students in three northern academic requirements at Florida counties. Although a four-year state university. Improvements college facility staff had The Tallahassee campus alone TCC selected Johnson Con- worked has 15 buildings, with some trols using to reduce utility costs, a rate 900,000 square feet of class- a Florida Department of Man- increase meant they needed to room and office space. agement find other means to pay A capital building program in Services Term Contract for for the increased utility costs. the early 2000‘s helped the Energy Additionally, student popula- campus address space needs, Services. After a thorough tion growth meant it was time but older buildings desper- audit, to update the aging campus ately needed upgrades. TCC Johnson Controls developed a infrastructure – and campus had done all it could do on its performance contract de- leaders wanted to show their own to reduce utilities and signed commitment to the environ- was already operating well to save nearly $380,000 per ment through a sustainable below the State Community year Campus approach. College utility average of through a series of upgrades A performance contract with $2.06/sq ft. After the local to its Happenings Johnson Controls that guaran- utility company increased control system, lighting sys- tees an 18 percent energy rates in tem and Featuring reduction is helping fund 2006 and with declining util- water system, as well as up- $2.6M of campus renovations. ity rebate funds, the college dating Tallahassee Early returns are even better knew it needed a broader plan its IT network computer than expected, with a 21 per- to fund infrastructure needs. power Community cent lower overall utility cost ―As an institution of higher management. after the first year. learning, we have three pri- A performance contract is a mary responsibilities to up- means College Facing Growing hold - by which higher education Challenges a fiduciary responsibility to institutions the taxpayers in our commu- make environmental, infra- TCC has experienced tremen- nity, a responsibility to be as structure, dous expansion as a growing resourceful as possible, and a energy and operational im- responsibil- provements, ity to con- using guaranteed financial tinuously savings provide our to cover project costs. The students College with financed the energy savings the high contract level of and used funds from Capital quality edu- Outlay cation they and Debt Service Funds to deserve,‖ repay said Presi- the loan. dent Bill All the renovations were fin- Law. ished within a year with as minimal disruption as possible to the campus. 2 SACUBO eLedger... continued E-Ledger Page 3 Tallahassee Community College (Cont.) The project costs will be paid use 40% over the old chiller on back The improvements made un- through savings on energy der the bills for 10 performance contract are years. After the costs are re- guaranteed paid, TCC to reduce costs 18 percent, can continue to use the sav- from the ings for 2006 utility benchmark of other projects. $1.41 per square foot to approximately 21 Percent Sav- $1.15 ings in per square foot for 2009, making TCC One Year utility expenses the lowest in At the end of the first year, a Florida, required based on state community Johnson Controls to provide annual reconciliation report college comfortable building tem- indicated benchmarks and current util- peratures the performance contract had ity rates. while curtailing energy costs. saved The Campus TCC $392,077, 21 percent Students Benefit Fortune 58 company has be- over the Students on campus are dem- come a previous year‘s utility costs. onstrating valuable partner in achieving Happenings The figures their own commitment, in- these are especially impressive as spired by the objectives for both new con- Featuring TCC campus greening project. struction facilities have increased in Members of and renovation projects. Talahassee size with the the Engineering Club are de- addition of the new parking veloping Community garage and ways to use solar energy to power a new online learning center. College TCC improvements include: campus • Plumbing and irrigation ret- vehicles. And the college‘s rofits, Ecotourism and Green Guide which reduce water and sewer classes use are filled with students eager Note from Editor: • Building and parking lot to learn lighting how green collar jobs are retrofits, which improve light helping the Let us know what exciting things levels environment while providing while reducing energy use skills for are going on with your campus. • An IT network computer workers. Send all articles to power Strong Partner- management program–UPS [email protected] System ship • Continuous re- commissioning of with Johnson Deadline for Next Issue is March 1, 2010 TCC‘s building controls sys- Controls tem For more than 40 years, Talla- • New chiller at TCC‘s Flor- hassee ida Public Community College has re- Safety Institute that reduces lied energy Panama City News Herald, Northwest Florida Daily News - November 14, 2009 3 Does Florida’s Great Northwest fall under Sunshine Law? By MATT DIXON News Herald writer Its members include state lawmakers, economic But a state attorney investigation recently found a development officials, and industry leaders – all of whom similar non-profit group in Santa Rosa County has been praise its efforts unintentionally violating the Sunshine Law The taxpayers pay for the majority of its more than $4 And experts on the Sunshine Law said non-profit million in annual funding organizations such as Florida’s Great Northwest fall into a gray area But because it is a private, non-profit organization, its leaders believe it does not fall under Florida’s Sunshine Barbara Petersen, an attorney and executive director of Law As a result, many decisions are made behind closed Florida’s First Amendment Foundation, said the key is doors whether Florida’s Great Northwest is acting on behalf of other government agencies to promote business Since its 2000 inception, Florida’s Great Northwest has been active in economic development across the region “If the answer is yes, then Florida’s Great Northwest is subject to both the Sunshine Law and the (state) public The group has championed development of a toll road records law,” Petersen said from Montgomery to Panama City More recently, it helped convince Southwest Airlines to offer flights to and Public financing from Bay County’s new airport Since taking over leadership in 2004, Florida’s Great County economic development agencies rely on Florida’s Northwest President Al Wenstrand has expanded the Great Northwest for various economic recruitment reach of the non-profit organization into economic activities The organization also controls the strings to development, with one of its aims being to create millions of dollars in federal training grants an economy in Northwest Florida that can support companies that bring high-paying jobs Headquartered in Destin, its members include nearly every taxpayer-funded economic development agency To do that, the group has given more than $2 5 million to in Northwest Florida, as well as numerous private 22 regional organizations involved with various industries businesses Members say Florida’s Great Northwest since 2007 In addition, Florida’s Great Northwest has is an indispensible partner in the region’s economic awarded, but not yet obligated, $1 6 million in additional development efforts grants in 2009, according to financial documents and press releases “What (Florida’s Great Northwest has) done is pull the region in under their umbrella,” said Ted Everett, That money comes primarily from a $15 million “WIRED” executive director of the Washington County Chamber Of grant the organization received from the U S Department Commerce/EDC of Labor The group’s other funding sources include dues from a mix of private/public membership organizations, What is Florida’s Great Northwest and contributions from businesses The organization doesn’t consider itself subject to the In 2007, the group received more than $2 5 million in same public scrutiny many of its members are required by public money, or nearly 57 percent of all revenue it law to face brought in, according to filings with the IRS “Florida’s Great Northwest is a private, not-for-profit Those dollars go to private companies, colleges, school corporation established to grow a vibrant and sustainable

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