Questions about GreenStep and/or Gold Leaf? Stop in!
Welcome to GreenStep Cities & Tribal Nations
Minnesota GreenStep Cities & Tribal Nations is a voluntary challenge, assistance and recognition program to help communities achieve their sustainability and quality-of-life goals. This free continuous improvement program, managed by a public-private partnership, is based upon a menu of 29 optional best practices. Each best practice can be implemented, as decided by elected officials, staff and community members, by completing one or more actions at a 1, 2 or 3-star level, from a list of over 180 actions. These voluntary actions are tailored to Minnesota, focus on cost savings and energy use reduction, and encourage civic innovation. [More]
Recognition Steps 1-5
Learn about the benefits of program participation, and then
 |
Build community interest; have program staff visit your community; join GreenStep by adopting a city or Tribal resolution |
 |
Post brief info on this website about what you've already done; be recognized for implementing between 4 & 8 best practices |
 |
Implement at your own pace an additional 4 – 8 best practices; complete a handful of high-impact best practice actions (ask us for help) |
 |
Measure and report on between 7 & 15 performance metrics |
 |
Show improvement in performance metrics |
Latest Cities & Tribal Nations to Join
News
- DNR $ for removing, replanting, replacing, and planting diverse community trees on public or residential land
- Join Green Cities Accord to celebrate urban trees and learn about Urban Forest Fund and Urban Tree Carbon Offset Program
- MN Dept. of Commerce $ for purchasing new/repurposing electric schools busses and installing charging infrastructure
- CERTs $ for community energy efficiency and renewable energy projects across MN
Buildings and Lighting
Land Use
Transportation
Environmental Management
Resilient Economic and Community Development
Minnesota GreenStep Cities grew out of a report to the 2009 Legislature. Governed by a public-private partnership of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and several partner organizations, the program is led by the MPCA. [Read more].
