The Franklin County Coalition was formed in 1998 after several meetings held by leaders of nine non-profit community organizations. It was felt that a local organization rather than a national one could focus more effectively on local matters. A copy of the full declaration of principles issued by the Coalition founders is available by request.

Sustainable Communities:
Communities that integrate a healthy environment, a vibrant economy, and a high quality of life without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

	The Franklin County Coalition supports our local recycling programs, responsible waste management, energy conservation, farmland and open space protection, and pollution reduction.
	We support the purchase of environmentally friendly products and services, especially from locally owned businesses.
	We support the establishment of citizens advisory groups to consider local environmental matters and to make appropriate recommendations.
	We believe that open spaces, wetlands, and forests are vital for wildlife habitat protection as well as our own well being.
	We seek ways to avoid or reduce unnecessary urban and suburban sprawl, which have been identified as Pennsylvania's most urgent problem.
	We assist in providing training and staffing for testing water quality of Franklin County streams.
	We organize volunteers to conduct periodic cleanups in Michaux State Forest.
	We urge everyone's careful observance of those regulations that protect our Franklin County environment, historic places, and the health of the public.
	We consider respect for diversity and our rich cultural heritage essential for the hate-free environment in which we and our children want to live.
	We plan to promote that use of electricity from low- or nonpolluting sources and solar energy for heating buildings.
	Our website offers information on Franklin County's recycling locations, township & borough offices, our endorsers and environmental-friendly products and services.

Our parent group, the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (CELDF) is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. Its funding is derived mainly from grants provided by non-profit foundations. Contributions are tax deductible. We hope that citizens and organizations in Franklin County will eventually provide the needed local support for the Coalition.

If you have a local business or know of a local group that might want to endorse the Coalition's principles, a form is available for that purpose. Please call (717) 530-0764. To be listed on our website, there is no monetary or other obligation except moral support. To see a list of current endorsers, visit our website or contact us at the above number.

Visit the website of the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund, which includes a section for the Franklin County Coalition: http://www.celdf.org

Volunteers are needed for a number of ongoing and future projects. Just a few hours at your convenience can make a real difference in whether a worthwhile project gets started or finished. Some tasks can be done at home, by phone, e-mail, or mail, with little time expenditure. To offer your services or to get a list of projects needing help, please call Tom Linzey at 709-0457 or James P. Smith at 352-0154.

Assistance is being provided to individuals or groups in other counties wishing to start an organization patterned after the Franklin County Coalition. Several such efforts are already underway, and we encourage interested parties to inquire.

The extremely rapid rate at which Franklin County farmland and other open spaces are being lost to sprawl development has become a cause of concern to many citizens and officials. In response to this problem, an exciting new project has been created--The Franklin County Forest and Farmland Conservancy, Inc. The purpose of this non-profit land trust is to preserve open spaces, forestlands, farmlands and wetlands which would otherwise be in danger of development.

It is intended that the development rights acquired by the Conservancy will be held in perpetuity.

The Conservancy will accept gifts of land development rights as well as monetary donations to purchase such rights. Estate bequests are encouraged, and legal assistance can be provided for that purpose. Please call Thomas Linzey, Esq., at (717) 709-0457 to discuss these options.

The Franklin County Coalition is a project of the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund, 675 Mower Road, Chambersburg, PA 17201.