Minnesota GreenStep Cities website

Came across this website, which provides support for the sustainability efforts of local governments across the State of Minnesota.

-- Minnesota GreenStep Cities

From the homepage:

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.

The website is focused on cities/government agencies as the prime actors. The 29 best practices are organized according to five categories:

-- Buildings & Lighting
-- Land Use
-- Transportation
-- Environmental Management
-- Economic and Community Development

The participating cities are organized into three tranches, based on the level of sustainability achieved.