Jacksonville is one of only 10 cities worldwide to earn the highest sustainability certification available, the city announced Wednesday, Sept. 2.

The city achieved LEED for Cities Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, or USGBC, after nearly two years of cross-departmental work funded by a Bank of America grant and coordinated by the city's Office of Sustainability. LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is the USGBC's rating system for green building and city performance. The Cities version measures an entire jurisdiction across categories including water, energy, transportation, land use and quality of life.

"What makes this recognition especially meaningful is that it reflects how we serve our community every day … from the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department and critical infrastructure to solid waste, water testing, health initiatives, resilience planning and environmental stewardship programs," Mayor Donna Deegan said in the city's announcement.

Deegan said the certification will lead to more business investment in Jacksonville.

Mandarin among neighborhoods touched by cited programs

Several of the programs cited in the certification touch Mandarin directly. City water testing, solid waste collection and resilience planning serve every neighborhood in Duval County, and the Emerald Trail development is expanding the city's trail and greenway network. Other highlighted programs include the Elderly Food Insecurity Initiative, Keep Jacksonville Beautiful, the Art in Public Places Program and the Lights Out Northeast Florida partnership.

What it took to reach Platinum status

To earn Platinum, Jacksonville had to demonstrate measurable results across natural systems and ecology, transportation and land use, energy, water, materials and resources, quality of life, innovation and regional priorities. The certification provides data that businesses, investors and rating agencies use to evaluate a city's long-term planning, risk reduction and infrastructure management.

Ashantae Green, sustainability manager for the city, said the designation gives Jacksonville a framework for future decisions. Green said LEED Platinum is a competitive advantage, providing measurable data to identify efficiencies and strengthen funding opportunities.

Peter Templeton, president and CEO of the USGBC, said Jacksonville's certification reflects its leadership on sustainability.

City marks milestone with City Hall ceremony

The city held a recognition ceremony at City Hall with Deegan, USGBC Vice President of State and Local Government Hilari Varnadore and employees from the departments that contributed. A permanent LEED for Cities Platinum plaque is displayed in City Hall, and a commemorative sign stands at Riverfront Plaza.