Wilmington City Council on Thursday finished planting a seed which, hopefully, will sprout jobs and new business activity in our local economy. On its third and final reading, legislation establishing a Green Enterprise Zone in the city limits was approved by council. Wilmington can now lay claim to the first Green Enterprise Zone in our nation which, through President Obama’s leadership, is becoming increasingly focused on developing alternative energy and green technologies, and creating the jobs that will make that possible.

This new economic development tool comes not a moment too soon. The community was hit again this week by the news of another 1,034 scheduled layoffs at ABX Air. The specter of more job losses at the Wilmington Air Park continues to loom with the upcoming completion of DHL’s move to Covington, Ky. The Clinton County community needed some good news. Wilmington City Council delivered by establishing the Green Enterprise Zone, which is intended to aid economic development by fostering new jobs related to alternative energy.

Mark Rembert and Taylor Stuckert, co-founders of Energize Clinton County, are to be congratulated for forming that non-profit organization and providing the impetus to make this enterprise zone a reality. They have been assisted in the enterprise zone initiative by Clinton County Regional Planning Commission Director Chris Schock, Wilmington city government officials, and Pure Blue Energy, a North Carolina company. Schock believes that by establishing the enterprise zone, Wilmington is showing that it wants to be progressive and is taking positive steps to help revive the struggling local economy. We could not agree more.

In order to stir economic activity through the Green Enterprise Zone, the city of Wilmington will create a pool of funds which will be an investment in our future. These funds will provide incentive for existing businesses to expand and new businesses to locate in Wilmington. Jobs are created in either instance. New and existing businesses can apply for the Green Enterprise Zone funds, which can be invested in such initiatives as workforce programs, the companies’ properties and energy efficiencies.

While certainly not the end-all answer to the economic problems Wilmington faces, establishment of the Green Enterprise Zone is a step in the right direction. We commend city officials for working with Energize Clinton County to make the initiative a reality.