Welcome to the Work Zone: Minnesota’s largest city conference! 2024 LMC Annual Conference
Join hundreds of city officials from across the state as we work together to build a solid foundation for thriving cities. Check out the GreenStep Cities opportunities and additional sustainability related sessions below!
Wednesday, June 26
- 1:00-2:00 pm - Minnesota GreenStep Cities Attendee Meetup
- Stop in to meet with other GreenStep City participants or learn more about the program
- 3:30-6:30 pm - Exhibit Hall
- Find the GreenStep table in the lobby to learn more about the program, how to get involved, and celebrate your city's success!
- Get a photo of you/your team and the City's GreenStep award
Thursday, June 27
- 10:15-11:15 am - Educational Session 1: Sprouting a Clean and Green Economy & Jobs
- Cities are crucial hubs for economic activity, innovation, job creation, and financial growth. Meanwhile, we are faced with environmental pressures such as shortages in natural resources, a lack of affordable housing and transportation options, and a changing climate. Discover how your city can support economic development and growth while also achieving environmental and social benefits through a clean and green economy and jobs. (Hosted by GreenStep Cities)
- 1:15-2:15 pm - Educational Session 2: Partners in Energy Program: Community-Powered, Utility-Facilitated
- For 10 years, Xcel Energy has collaborated with select communities to help them develop and implement their energy plan goals. Whether goals include energy efficiency, utilizing renewables, facilitating electric vehicle use, or building electrification, the process brings community voices into the conversation. The Partners in Energy Program leverages the community’s local wisdom along with energy data and expertise to write a plan and then helps the community execute it. Join us as we share program goals and hear case studies from participating local community leaders.
- 1:15-2:15 pm - Educational Session 2: Funding Climate & Energy Projects - Federal and State Resources for Cities
- The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the 2023 legislative session brought unprecedented investments in infrastructure in many forms – including climate and energy. These funds are available to cities across the State looking to make infrastructure improvements or those looking to transition away from costly fossil fuels and into cleaner energy for facilities and fleets. Join officials from the State of Minnesota to learn about the variety of current and upcoming funding, strategies for a successful application and ways to put these dollars to use.
Thursday, June 27
- 3:30-4:30 pm - Educational Session 3: Building Community , Fostering Belonging
- When residents feel a sense of belonging, it can have many positive effects on a city. Belonging helps build relationships and trust that can inform a city’s decision-making, projects, and initiatives. But how do cities create a sense of belonging? How can we measure a feeling? This session will focus on how three cities are approaching this topic and the impact on their communities. The variety of roles on this panel will provide unique perspectives in what belonging means and why it is important.
- 3:30-4:30 pm - Educational Session 3: Five Easy Steps to Environmental Protection & Enhancement
- Environmental protection and enhancement does not need to be a massive undertaking. Communities can start small and still have major impact. In this session, you will learn five easy ways to promote environmental enhancement in your community that result in a more resilient future — with minimal budget impacts.
- 4:30-5:15 pm - Awards Reception
- Find the GreenStep table in the lobby to learn more about the program, how to get involved, and celebrate your city's success!
- 5:30-7:00 pm - Awards Show and Dinner
- Celebrate new GreenStep Cities and step advancements!
- Learn about the Sustainable City Award winner
Friday, June 28
- 9:00-10:00 am - Educational Session 4: Partnering to Advance Transportation Projects
- The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and state-funded programs have created opportunities to take the vision of needed transportation improvements and make them reality. At times, these projects are within the jurisdictional authority of a county or the state, but in order to get the project done, cities have to step up and take on a lead role. This session will focus on how to ensure your community’s transportation needs are documented, identify potential funding sources, and deliver the project utilizing state and federal funds. The presentation will include case studies of the City of Coon Rapids TH 610 & East River Road project and the TH 65 (97th Avenue to 119th Avenue) project.