The League of Minnesota Cities recognized 49 member cities and one tribal community at an awards ceremony held June 15 in St. Paul for completing at least one of four participation steps in the GreenStep Cities initiative.
Grand Marais was one of those honored for completing Step 2 of the program.
GreenStep Cities is a free and voluntary program designed to help Minnesota cities achieve their environmental sustainability goals through implementation of 29 best practices.
A total of 106 cities and two tribal nations in Minnesota have completed one or more participation steps since the program began in 2010.
Each of the GreenStep Cities program’s 29 best practices can be implemented by completing one or more specific actions from a list of four to eight actions in the areas of transportation, buildings and lighting, environmental management, land use, and economic and community development. The actions are tailored to all types of Minnesota cities, and they focus on cost savings, energy use reduction, and encouraging innovation.
Cities achieve Step 1 recognition by passing a resolution to become a GreenStep City. Step 2-designated cities have implemented up to eight of the program’s best practices, and Step 3-designated cities have implemented up to 16 of the best practices. Some cities have completed more than one of the three steps within a single year.
To reach Step Four, cities track and submit metrics from a selection of categories, such as energy and water use, vehicle fleet efficiency, community and economic development, and more. A total of six cities achieved this distinction in 2015-2016.
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