Ideas at work

Local plans and initiatives

1000 Friends of Minnesota
Promotes development that creates healthy communities while conserving natural areas, family farms, woodlands, and water.
Alliance for Metropolitan Stability
Promotes equitable economic development, affordable housing, public accountability in urban planning, and environmentally responsible growth patterns.
Conservation Minnesota
Formerly the League of Minnesota Conservation Voters. Informs voters on issues related to conservation of land and water, provides tools to work with elected officials on conservation issues.
Center for Energy and Environment
A nonprofit organization that works to promote public interest through the responsible and efficient use of natural and economic resources.
Eureka Recycling
One of the largest nonprofit recycles in the U.S. and a leader in demonstrating the best waste reduction and recycling practices not only for the Twin Cities metro area, but for the nation.
Minnesota Food Association
Works to build a more sustainable food system by growing and distributing food, bringing new farmers into farming, and networking, partnering and sharing with many diverse community-based organizations.
Trust for Public Land
A national, nonprofit, land conservation organization that conserves land for people to enjoy as parks, community gardens, historic sites, rural lands, and other natural places, ensuring livable communities for generations to come.
Windustry
Promotes progressive renewable energy solutions and empowers communities to develop wind energy as an environmentally sustainable, community-owned asset.

Research-based strategies

Listed below are proven, effective strategies linked to reports that provide data and information about how the strategies were implemented.

Conservation efforts (1)
- The Economic benefits of land conservation
  The Trust for Public Land, January 2007, 54 pp.
  Five essays present current studies, new original research and topics for further study on the economic benefits of land conservation. Select essays address: the way parks and open space generate increased property tax revenue and yield a better return on investment than development; the economic value of urban trees; and the role of parks and open space in attracting businesses and retirees.
Toxics reduction (3)
- ERP states produce results: States' experience implementing the Environmental Results Program
  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, December 2007, 36 pp.
  Describes the Environmental Results Program and the results and benefits state projects are generating. ERP is an integrated approach to addressing environmental problems associated with various business sectors having large numbers of small facilities. Completed ERP projects have yielded improvements in sectors such as auto shops and dry cleaners.
- Nutrient concentrations in the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes nearly returned to presettlement conditions
  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, September 2005, 2 pp.
  Fact sheet describing the practices used to make measurable progress toward achieving water quality goals. State-by-state success stories are featured on the Environmental Protection Agency's Section 319 Success Stories website at http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/Success319/index.htm#pdf.
- Our health and the health of the environment: How are they connected? What can we do to improve both?
  The Collaborative on Health and the Environment, September 2004, 19 pp.
  Explains the links between chronic illness, toxic chemicals, and other environmental contaminants. Provides examples of legislative and corporate policies aimed at improving our health and the health of the environment.