Minnesota GreenStep Cities

04/15/2026

MN GreenStep Newsletter: Water Challenge, Waste Reduction Support, and other News & Opportunities https://mailchi.mp/2c52d73b707a/greenstep-fall24-13888825

04/03/2026

Congratulations to Climate Smart St. James for joining the Gold Leaf Program and receiving gold leaves for their climate actions! Climate Smart St James is a community-driven organization created to empower individuals and communities to take action on climate change through education, outreach, and advocacy. https://www.climatesmartstj.com/

Did you know that any type of community can join the Gold Leaf Program and get acknowledged for the work they're doing? https://greenstep.pca.state.mn.us/page/gold-leaf-challenge

Photo of the Climate Smart St James steering committee: (left to right) Paul Harris, Sue Harris, Luisa Trapero, Pat Branstad, Jim Branstad.

04/01/2026

We are announcing a rebranding today! GreenStep is now Minnesota BlueStep! 💙🩵 We think that a refresh will bring new excitement to the program. Blue was picked to align with "Babe, the Blue Ox" and we are excited to have a program mascot, rolling out soon!

03/17/2026

🌿 Join the Next GreenStep Cities' Lakeside Chat
💻 Opportunities to Reuse Waste and Protect Water
📅 March 26 | 10:00 - 11:00 AM
🌐 Virtual

Waste doesn't just disappear –it impacts our water, too! Join the GreenStep Cities Lakeside Chat to explore how communities can rethink waste, recover valuable resources, and take action to protect water systems.

• Melissa Wenzel – MPCA Built Environment Sustainability Administrator

• Sandy Gunderson – MPCA Community Sustainability Consultant and Retired Environmental Technical Assistance Program (RETAP)

👉 Register here: 8454afc3-6401-483e-b6aa-29817c708882@eb14b046-24c4-4519-8f26-b89c2159828c" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/8454afc3-6401-483e-b6aa-29817c708882@eb14b046-24c4-4519-8f26-b89c2159828c

03/11/2026

🌿 Join the Next GreenStep Cities’ Lakeside Chat
💻 Opportunities to Reuse Waste and Protect Water
📅 March 26 | 10:00 - 11:00 AM
🌐 Virtual

Waste and water are more connected than you’d expect! Join GreenStep Cities’ Lakeside Chat to explore strategies communities can use to reduce waste, recover materials, and support water-friendly practices. Learn from:

• Melissa Wenzel – MPCA Built Environment Sustainability Administrator

• Sandy Gunderson – MPCA Community Sustainability Consultant and Retired Environmental Technical Assistance Program (RETAP)

👉 Register here: 8454afc3-6401-483e-b6aa-29817c708882@eb14b046-24c4-4519-8f26-b89c2159828c" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/8454afc3-6401-483e-b6aa-29817c708882@eb14b046-24c4-4519-8f26-b89c2159828c

03/04/2026

On Tuesday, March 3, the City of Lake Elmo was awarded the Gold Leaf Award by Kristin Mroz, GreenStep Cities & Gold Leaf Co-Director, for achieving two action goals in the Gold Leaf Challenge.

The Gold Leaf Challenge is a sister program to the Minnesota GreenStep Cities program, which the City has been participating in since 2012.

02/13/2026

Congratulations to the newest GreenStep City: City of Champlin!

We are delighted to have you join as the 156th GreenStep Community and are excited to see what you do as part of the program!

02/10/2026

💫 Are you a Blazing Star!?

Conservation Minnesota's 2026 Blazing Star Award celebrates local governments for exciting projects that advance conservation, climate resilience, environmental protection, or outdoor recreation opportunities. Apply by March 18.

Communities across Minnesota are finding innovative ways to protect the environment and solve complex conservation problems. You’ll find examples— such as restoring prairies in the south and safeguarding our northernmost forests—in every corner of the state. Minnesotans care about the conserva...

02/06/2026

🌿 Join GreenStep Cities for the next Lakeside Chat
💻 Data Centers & Local Considerations
📅 February 26 | 10:00 - 11:00 AM
🌐 Virtual

This Lakeside Chat is focused on practical considerations for evaluating data center proposals in your community. Speakers include:

Catherine Neuschler, Environmental Quality Board Director

James Kramvik, City of Brainerd Community Development Director

Elise Harrington, University of Minnesota Humphrey School Assistant Professor

👉 Register here: https://greenstep.pca.state.mn.us/node/116401

01/30/2026

💧 Impact 26 is all about progress, not perfection. Communities can choose any of GreenStep’s 22 water-focused best practices –from stormwater management and groundwater protection to water efficiency and education –and complete them within a year. Every action counts toward protecting Minnesota’s water and earning recognition along the way.

📋 Explore the water-focused best practices and find your next step: https://bit.ly/GSImpact26

🤔 Which GreenStep water best practice could your community complete in 2026?

01/26/2026

❄️ It’s Winter Salt Week (January 26-30) –a national effort to highlight how smarter salt use protects water, infrastructure, and wildlife. Learn more at www.wintersaltweek.org

💧 Many GreenStep water best practices focus on reducing pollution, improving winter maintenance, and educating residents –all key parts of smart salting. Through the Impact 26: Water Challenge, these actions help communities protect water while advancing to the next GreenStep step.

📈 Explore smart salting and other water-focused best practices: https://bit.ly/GSImpact26

🤔 What smart winter salt or water-protection practices is your community trying this winter?

Read stories of private contractors and municipalities that have successfully reduced salt usage while maintaining safe conditions for their customers and residents.