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Feldman To Step Down After Leading Bethesda Green’s Sustainability Push

By WTOP Staff

Dave Feldman, executive director of Bethesda Green, is stepping down later this yearEight years ago, explaining the idea of a sustainability nonprofit (and what exactly such an organization did) was a task in and of itself for Bethesda Green Executive Director Dave Feldman.

This year, after building Bethesda Green into a business incubator of 15 companies, partnering with local restaurant owners to reduce energy usage and leading a number of other “green” projects around town, Feldman will step down to start creating Bethesda Green-like groups across the country.

“Green and sustainability in this country were quite young,” said Feldman, who started Bethesda Green with a $25,000 county grant championed by Councilmember George Leventhal.

“It’s much more of a common discussion right now. You see it in the county’s schools, the county offers a green certification and you hear it in a lot of the businesses that are now making their operations green,” Feldman said. “The movement has definitely come a long way. We had to build it so people could see what it looked like.”

What Bethesda Green looks like, eight years later, is part economic development engine, part environmental nonprofit, part facilitator of partnerships between businesses and county government.

Leventhal and Honest Tea co-founder Seth Goldman helped Feldman found the nonprofit and remain influential in its operation and activities.

Feldman, who comes from an economic development background, said one of the main catalysts for the organization was then-Chevy Chase Bank, which graciously gave Bethesda Green the office space it uses today above its now Capital One Bank branch at Cordell and Woodmont Avenues.

Debbie Kaufmann makes a pitch at the 2012 Startup Maryland event, hosted by nonprofit Bethesda Green (file photo)That physical space allowed Feldman and crew to put the theory of Bethesda Green to action through the Bethesda Green Business Incubator. It’s carried as many as 17 green companies, including one that analyzes hidden energy costs of home appliances, a gasoline-saving landscaper, homemade sauce-selling duo and bathtub salt and soap maker.

“Everybody has contributed in different ways to the incubator,” Feldman said. “I visualized it. I had no idea how it would unfold. I had no idea Chevy Chase Bank would give us $4,000 square feet in downtown Bethesda. You can’t expect these types of things.”

The other purpose of Bethesda Green is to serve as a facilitator, or a platform for collaboration between business and government. The offices include an education center. Bethesda Green has hosted pitch sessions to help start-ups refine their message for seed investors. It’s also brought the concept of sustainability to local business owners.

Take for instance, GRAB (the Green Restaurant Association of Bethesda). Chef Tony Marciante of Chef Tony’s fame and the owner of Yamas on Rugby Avenue recently started an informal group of restaurant owners to talk tax breaks, incentives, biofuel, waste oil and smart purchasing methods for restaurants to be more green and cut costs.

Feldman said Bethesda Green will likely put up a green roof on a prominent Bethesda building soon, though the details haven’t been finalized. It’s behind the recycling bins seen throughout downtown Bethesda, a seemingly small but concrete effort Feldman said resonates with residents and business owners.

Feldman will stick around until the organization finds its new executive director and he’ll remain as an advisor. His main focus will shift to his consulting firm, The Livability Project, which will seek to bring Bethesda Green-like nonprofits to other communities around the country. Look for one in Prince George’s County soon.

It’s also possible Bethesda Green could be the hub of a future region-wide “sustainability cluster,” something Feldman hopes to pursue on a national level.

Today, Bethesda Green has six part-time employees and revenue of $325,000. Feldman said a green, sustainability nonprofit can work anywhere. But it helped that his first major effort at the concept came here.

“Part of it is because Bethesda has an engaged group of residents. There was a need and an opportunity. You also have the right leadership here,” Feldman said. “It didn’t happen in other towns. It happened in Bethesda.”

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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