Sustainable Sandhills is celebrating its 20th year of service on Sunday, Sept. 7.

Their mission is to empower communities to create resilient environmental, economic and social resources through education, demonstration and collaboration.

Sustainable Sandhills was established as the regional partner for Sustainable Fort Bragg. When leaders established the installation’s sustainability program in the early 2000s, they realized the need for a collaborative approach that would support their conservation and resiliency initiatives beyond the fence line. 

Vice-Chairwoman of the Sustainable Sandhills Board of Directors and Strategic Sustainability Planner for the United States Army Reserve’s Sustainment and Resiliency Division Heather Brown shared some background on the organization in a press release stating: 

“Sustainable Sandhills was born from Fort Bragg’s holistic consideration of the Army’s Triple Bottom Line of mission, environment and community,” explained Brown, "Beginning with the end in mind - to ensure the protection of natural resources for future generations -Sustainable Sandhills engaged Fort Bragg and the NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources with passionate conservationists, nature enthusiasts and forward-thinking businesses and civic leaders to address our greatest environmental challenges. As they say, the rest is exceptional history.”

Sustainable Sandhills now serves 11 counties in central and southeast North Carolina, including Cumberland, Harnett, Hoke, Moore, Robeson, Bladen (through partnerships), and Sampson (through partnerships) counties. 

Their impact areas  include energy resilience, air and water quality, waste management, climate related public health and natural resources conservation. The organization collaborates with state, regional and local entities such as Fayetteville Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, North Carolina State University and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Sustainable Sandhills facilitates

the regional air quality program, serves as the mid-Cape Fear River Basin point of contact for multiple water quality initiatives, hosts litter sweeps and provides heat related illness mitigation support to vulnerable populations — to name only a few of their projects.

“We’re proud that Sustainable Sandhills has served our region for 20 years,” said Jonelle Kimbrough, Executive Director of Sustainable Sandhills in a press release. “We have evolved as our communities have evolved, and we’re excited for the continued evolution of our organization. With the support of our residents, we will strive for natural resources that are accessible, viable, dependable and affordable for everyone — today, tomorrow and forever.”