Grand Rapids earns gold for sustainability efforts

Published on October 08, 2018

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The City of Grand Rapids has received the Michigan Green Communities Network’s highest honor – gold certification – for taking on a wide range of environmental sustainability projects in the Michigan Green Communities Challenge. The projects include everything from renewable energy to an urban tree canopy.

The awards acknowledge clean energy and environmental leadership. The Michigan Green Communities Network, or MGC, aims to connect community leaders through training, education and communications. It is a partnership of the Michigan Municipal League, Michigan Association of Counties and Michigan Townships Association.

Highlights from Grand Rapids’ application include:

• Implementation of a Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing program to support community energy efficiency and renewable energy projects
• Establishment of a community sustainability team to coordinate sustainability initiatives
• Adoption of a community sustainability plan
• Adoption of a community forestry plan and urban tree canopy goal
• Adoption of a policy or ordinance that encourages green infrastructure
• Adoption of a non-motorized transportation plan
• Achieving green building certification for a local government building

“We appreciate the Michigan Green Communities Network valuing the importance of green initiatives as it relates to the health and economic well-being of communities throughout the state,” said Alison Waske Sutter, the City’s sustainability manager. “Grand Rapids has set the standard for these practices,  and we are committed to advancing the goals of the Green Challenge’s environmentally conscious goals.”

In addition to honoring Grand Rapids, the Michigan Green Communities Awards recognized 29 other communities Sept. 20 at its annual workshop, which took place in Grand Rapids.