For the second consecutive year, the City of Elk River was recognized for achieving Step 5 status in the GreenStep program, at the recent League of Minnesota Cities annual conference. Minnesota GreenStep is a voluntary program that helps cities achieve sustainability and quality of life goals, by guiding municipalities through 29 best practices focusing on cost savings, energy use reduction, resource conservation, and civic innovation. Amanda Bednar (pictured), Environmental Coordinator with the City of Elk River, is proud of the great strides Elk River has already made toward becoming a more energy and resource conservative city. Some examples include the addition of the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-In Hybrid Vehicle (PHEV) to the city’s fleet, starting a curbside organics recycling program, and adding more than 1,000 native plant seedlings last year alone to Elk River parks.
Elk River is one of 122 cities and tribal nations statewide, who’ve chosen to use GreenStep as a continuous improvement pathway to “go green,” which not only helps secure Minnesota’s natural beauty for generations to come, but also drives economic and social success.