Minnesota GreenStep Cities is a voluntary challenge, assistance and recognition program to help cities achieve their sustainability and quality-of-life goals. This free continuous improvement program, managed by a public-private partnership, is based upon 29 best practices. Each best practice can be implemented by completing one or more actions at a 1, 2 or 3-star level, from a list of four to eight actions. These actions are tailored to all Minnesota cities, 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 city; join GreenStep by adopting a city resolution
	Post brief info on this web site 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 city performance metrics
	Show improvement in city performance metrics
[ Read more: Steps ]

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recent media coverage
Oct 4 GS Workshop / Webinar: Organics & Commercial Recycling -- free, 9-11 am, at LMC offices: http://tinyurl.com/GSC-WS-Oct-4 GreenStep Cities Opportunities -- This page lists current opportunities for resources, funding, and technical assistance to help cities go deeper with the best practices. This page will be updated as new offerings become available. http://www.betterenergy.org/GreenStepCity-Opportunities Apply for a Local Government Innovation Award -- applications due October 6; see http://lgia.umn.edu Seed Grant Funding for MN Clean Energy Projects -- Applications are due Friday, 10/20. Award announcements will be made in early 2018. Learn more and apply today at http://mncerts.org/rfp.

Is your city a greenstep city?

LATEST CITIES TO JOIN THE GREENSTEP PROGRAM (and date joined)

Saint Francis	(9/5/17)
Bloomington	(8/7/17)
Moorhead	(7/24/17)
West Saint Paul	(5/22/17)
Saint James	(2/28/17)
Winona	(2/21/17)
Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa	(2/9/17)
Granite Falls	(11/7/16)
Morris	(7/12/16)
New Germany	(6/7/16)
Sunfish Lake	(5/3/16)
Albert Lea	(4/25/16)
Arden Hills	(4/25/16)
Golden Valley	(4/19/16)
Hastings	(4/18/16)

Who can help?

Talk to best practice advisors.

Show all 116 cities

See city step level and which cities have implemented which best practices.

See city building energy performance for all GreenStep cities

See city-wide performance metrics for select GreenStep cities

GreenStep’s Best Practices

[ Read more: See all 29 Best Practices ]
Buildings and Lighting Efficient Existing Public Buildings Efficient Existing Private Buildings New Green Buildings Efficient Outdoor Lighting and Signals Building Redevelopment	Land Use Comprehensive Plans Resilient City Growth Mixed Uses Efficient Highway- and Auto-Oriented Development Natural Resource Conservation Design	Transportation Living Streets Mobility Options Efficient City Fleets Demand-Side Travel Planning	Environmental Management Sustainable Purchasing Urban Forests & Soils Stormwater Management Parks and Trails Surface Water Efficient Water and Wastewater Systems Septic Systems Solid Waste Reduction Local Air Quality	Economic and Community Development Benchmarks & Community Engagement Green Business Development Renewable Energy Local Food Business Synergies Climate Adaptation and Community Resilience

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 ].

Recognition Steps 1-5

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Who can help?

Show all 116 cities

GreenStep’s Best Practices