Best Practice Action 15.3
GreenStep City Best Practices: Environmental Management
Sustainable Purchasing No. 15
Adopt environmentally preferable purchasing policies and practices to improve health and environmental outcomes.
Best Practice Action Detail
Best Practice Action 3
Establish a local purchasing preference and, working with a local business association, develop a list of locally-produced products and suppliers for common purchases.
- Local purchasing resources from the MN-based Institute for Local Self-Reliance.
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By practice seek to purchase locally; develop a list of locally-produced products for use by city staff; make the list available to residents and businesses. |
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Achieve 1 Star rating AND require purchase of a set percentage of city government purchases to be from the list. |
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Develop list in conjunction with adjacent communities (cities or counties) to recognize regional economic base and increase diversity of goods and products on the list. |
Who's doing it
Royalton -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2017
Implementation details:
We provide the flier to locally owned businesses for them to share with their customers and encourage city departments to shop local unless the item needed is not available locally.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Keeping our local businesses viable.
Descriptive File: view file
Descriptive links: https://www.royaltonmn.com/vertical/sites/%7BF29AE369-80CF-4CFB-BE87-851B6F04B18E%7D/uploads/Lighting__Ord._51.pdf
For more information contact:
Andrea Lauer (Elected official) | mayor@royaltonmn.com | 320-630-2229
Partners: Local businesses
Apple Valley -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed:
Implementation details:
Kwik Kopy prints our business cards and is an Apple Valley business. Other local businesses the City patronizes include Apple Valley Ford and Collision, Napa Auto Parts, and several other auto parts businesses help maintain our fleet.
The City will create a list and share this information with other local consumers and businesses.
The City will create a list and share this information with other local consumers and businesses.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Charless Grawe (City staff) | CGrawe@ci.apple-valley.mn.us | 952-953-2508
Partners:
Fergus Falls -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed:
Implementation details:
The City of Fergus Falls purchases many of our office supply items from the two local office supply stores in the city. We encourage our staff members to purchase routine supplies from the locally owned businesses whenever possible and we are members of the Chamber of Commerce as well.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Len Taylor (City staff) | len.taylor@ci.fergus-falls.mn.us | 218-332-5418
Partners:
Grand Marais -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2020
Implementation details:
The city of Grand Marais has created a "Sustainable Purchasing Guide" to be referenced by city employees, local business owners, and residents. The guide is intended to be a 'catch-all' source of information regarding sustainable purchasing and will eventually include products, energy, and services. The guide is a living document that includes best practices for purchasing sustainable products as well as a list of local practitioners in the energy efficiency, electrification, and renewable energy fields. This is an ongoing action.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File: view file
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Jason Ludwigson (Contractor) | JDLudwigson@gmail.com | 5073139633
Partners: Economic Development Association
Hastings -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed:
Implementation details:
By practice we at the City of Hastings seek to purchase local.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Melanie Mesko-Lee (City staff) | mmesko_lee@hastingsmn.gov | 651-480-2326
Partners:
Hopkins -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed:
Implementation details:
Hopkins typically buys from local manufacturers whenever possible. A list of locally-produced products and suppliers for common purchases is currently being created. Again, no specific policy is in place but it is something the City is working on.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Amy Domeier (City staff) | Adomeier@hopkinsmn.com | 952-548-6304
Partners:
Isanti -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed:
Implementation details:
The city does not have a specific policy in place about local purchasing, however; Isanti makes every effort to purchase locally as a first choice. We have accounts set up with the following types of locally owned businesses: hardware, grocery, gas, auto repair, signs, and a marketing business that provides everything from embroidered shirts to the City flag. The Economic Development Director maintains a list of all businesses within the City and an inventory of the types of services or products they offer. A list of local businesses is available on the City’s website.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links: http://www.cityofisanti.us/economic-development/business-list
For more information contact:
Sheila Sellman (City staff) | ssellman@cityofisanti.us | 763-444-5512
Partners:
Red Wing -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed:
Implementation details:
The city does not have a specific policy in place about local purchasing, but rather it is implied. The city makes every effort to purchase locally in every instance as a first choice. With Red Wing's geographic location and the fact that it's the largest town within a 25 mile radius, it makes sense financially for the city to purchase locally.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Paul Drotos (City staff) | paul.drotos@ci.red-wing.mn.us | 651-410-6744
Partners:
Saint Anthony -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed:
Implementation details:
The City of St. Anthony supports a farmers market focusing on locally grown produce. Additionally, the City supports the Shop Local Program through the Chamber of Commerce.
The City purchaes supplies and vendor services locally when possible.
The City purchaes supplies and vendor services locally when possible.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Jay Hartman (City staff) | jay.hartman@ci.saint-anthony.mn.us | 612-782-3314
Partners:
Sartell -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2016
Implementation details:
The city takes every effort to purchase products and supplies locally within the St. Cloud area.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Nate Keller (City staff) | nate.keller@sartellmn.com | 320-258-7316
Partners:
Shoreview -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed:
Implementation details:
The City uses recycled paper from Anchor in St. Paul and printing services from River Print also in St. Paul.
City staff use these vendors and would be happy to make the list available to others.
City staff use these vendors and would be happy to make the list available to others.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Ellen Brenna (City staff) | ebrenna@shoreviewmn.gov | 651-490-4665
Partners:
Greenstep Advisor
Melissa Peck, Sustainable Purchasing Specialist, MN Pollution Control Agency: 651/757-2343, melissa.peck@state.mn.us, www.pca.state.mn.us/epp