GREENSTEP CITIES PROGRAM: 2016
Recognizing Leaders in Minnesota’s Green City Movement
The League of Minnesota Cities is proud to recognize the 107 cities and two Tribal Nations which are participating in the Minnesota GreenStep Cities program. Currently, 41 percent of the state’s population resides in a GreenStep participating city.
GreenStep Cities is a free, voluntary challenge, assistance, and recognition program to assist Minnesota cities in implementing sustainability best practices that best fit their city. The League is working with the Preservation Alliance of MN, Clean Energy Resource Teams, Great Plains Institute, Izaak Walton League–MN Division, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Minnesota Department of Commerce-Division of Energy Resources, and Urban Land Institute-MN to promote this program as a pathway to sustainability that is cost-effective, pragmatic and achievable for all cities. Learn from these innovative cities by viewing their accomplishments at www.MnGreenStep.org
This program benefits cities in multiple ways:
· Lower costs to government, business, educational institutions and citizens
· More local, green jobs
· Green buildings that are cheaper to operate
· Green infrastructure, low-impact development and cleaner water
· Transportation options that connect jobs and housing; walkable/bikeable communities
· Local food production
· Local renewable energy production and cleaner air
Please join the League in congratulating all 109 cities and Tribal nations for leading the way toward greener communities. There are 26 cities new to the program this year at Step 1, 17 new cities at Step 2, eight at Step 3, and six at Step 4. Cities achieving multiple steps this year are in bold:
NEW STEP ONE CITIES
Aitkin
Albert Lea
Arden Hills
Barnum
Belle Plaine
Big Lake
Cologne
Faribault
Fergus Falls
Golden Valley
Hastings
Hewitt
Inver Grove Heights
Isanti
Jordan
La Crescent
Lexington
Mayer
Mounds View
New Brighton
New Germany
Red Lake Band of Chippewa
South St. Paul
Stacy
Sunfish Lake
Winthrop
NEW STEP TWO CITIES
Arlington
Delano
Elko New Market
Ely
Fergus Falls
Grand Marais
Hastings
Isanti
Lauderdale
Lexington
Marine on St. Croix
Mountain Iron
New Brighton
Richfield
St. Louis Park
Richfield
St. Louis Park
St. Paul Park
Sartell
NEW STEP THREE CITIES
Arlington
Austin
Hutchinson
Isanti
Marshall
New Hope
North St. Paul
St. Paul
NEW STEP FOUR CITIES
Burnsville
Eden Prairie
Elk River
Hutchinson
Maplewood
St. Anthony
Stop by the GreenStep Cities display in the exhibit hall or visit www.MnGreenStep.org to learn more about this program and how you can implement proven sustainability best practices in your city!