Engaging Green Businesses in Your Community

In this webinar, presented live on December 15, 2021, we learned how cities can promote, support, and engage the green businesses in their community. 

Agenda: 

9:00 am - Welcome

9:15 - Olivia Dorow Hovland, Sustainability Planner - Coon Rapids

• Community Sustainability Partnership

9:35 - Wendy Gorski, Sustainable Stillwater

• Stillwater Area Green Business Directory & Awards

9:55 - Annie Pottorff, Sustainability Specialist - St. Louis Park 

• Climate Champions 

10:15 - Patrick Hanlon, Director of Environmental Programs - Minneapolis 

• Green Cost Share Program

10:35 - Gabrielle Martin, Associate Engineer - MnTAP 

11:00 Conclude

View the workshop recording: 

View the slides and additional materials:

 

Resources: 

• Coon Rapids Community Sustainability Partnership
• Stillwater Area Green Business Directory and Awards
• St. Louis Park Climate Champions 
• Minneapolis Green Cost Share Program
• Minneapolis Green Cost Share program increases clean energy support (CERTs, 2021)
• MnTAP - The Minnesota Technical Assistance Program Strengthens Minnesota businesses by improving efficiency while saving money through energy, water, and waste reduction.
• RETAP - The Minnesota Retiree Environmental Technical Assistance Program (RETAP) employs skilled, retired professionals to provide facility assessments and community sustainability assistance to small businesses, institutions, and communities in Minnesota.
• Waste Wise - MN Chamber of Commerce program to help educate and train your company, and find ways to control waste costs and connect with grants to fund recycling program improvements.
• Energy Smart - MN Chamber of Commerce program to guide your business to find energy and cost saving opportunities.
• Clean Energy Resource Teams
• MPCA - small business assistance

Best Practice Actions related to this topic: 

• 2.4 Describe energy/water efficiency outcomes and other green building practices at businesses and not-for-profit organizations located within/nearby the city.
• 25.1 Grow new/emerging green businesses and green jobs through targeted assistance and new workforce development.
• 25.2 Create or participate in a marketing/outreach program to connect businesses with assistance providers, including utilities, who provide personalized energy, waste or sustainability audits and assistance.
• 25.6 Promote green businesses that are recognized under a local, regional or national program.
• 25.7 Conduct or participate in a buy local campaign for community members and local businesses.

Register for upcoming GreenStep Cities and Tribal Nations workshops here. You do not need to be a GreenStep community to attend.

 Visit the GreenStep Cities and Tribal Nations program website at www.mngreenstep.org.