History of PSWCC

2007: During a community summit on sustainability attendees concluded there was a need to more consistently coordinate sustainability efforts across Washington County.

2008: The summit attendees signed an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) to create PSWCC.

2009: PSWCC hired a full-time Coordinator.

2012: A simpler organizational structure replaced the one suggested by the 2008 IGA. Instead, membership fees were implemented, based on the size and type of each member, to help offset some of the cost of a part-time Coordinator. Washington County agreed to house this staff member and subsidizes the employee’s remaining costs. PSWCC now uses a Membership Agreement which is renewed through the payment of the annual dues. Member organizations participate in the Operations Team which meets several times a year. An Executive Sponsor Team, composed of upper managers from member organization, meets annually to provide strategic guidance.

2015: PSWCC updated its mission, vision, and goals to provide more focus to the group. The organization shifted from hosting regular public education events to providing training, networking and opportunities for collaboration for member organizations.

2016: Members developed the first version of the Organizational Assessment for Sustainability Tool (OATS) tool. OATS is an open-source, maturity-model based tool that can help inform organizational sustainability practices and goals. The V.01 is primarily focused on environmental sustainability. 

2018: A working group initiated the development of a social sustainability component for the OATS tool.

2020: Meetings shifted from in-person to online, and the completion of the OATS’ social component was paused due to COVID-19.

2022: PSWCC members voted to allow new members to join without paying dues for the first year—seeking to extend PSWCC’s reach to new and growing areas of the county. 

2023: PSWCC updated the group’s mission, vision and goals with an increased focus on equity, climate justice and resiliency.