Columbia Heights Welcomes Minnesota GreenCorps Member to Advance Sustainability Goals

Columbia Heights Welcomes Minnesota GreenCorps Member to Advance Sustainability Goals

By MinneapoliMedia Staff | June 20, 2025

COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MN — The City of Columbia Heights has been officially approved as a host site for a Minnesota GreenCorps member for the upcoming 2025-2026 program year, signaling the city's ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability. The announcement follows the city's successful application to the highly competitive AmeriCorps program, coordinated by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA).

The Minnesota GreenCorps program places motivated individuals with local governments, non-profit organizations, and educational institutions across the state for 11 months, from mid-September to mid-August, to address critical environmental issues. Columbia Heights was selected from a pool of applicants and will benefit from a dedicated member focusing on key environmental initiatives.

While the specific project scope for the Columbia Heights GreenCorps member will be finalized in collaboration with the MPCA, the city has a strong foundation of recent sustainability efforts that the new member will likely support and expand upon. In January 2025, the Columbia Heights City Council voted to approve a Complete Streets Policy, following a positive recommendation from its Sustainability Commission. This policy provides a framework for designing roadways to accommodate all users – pedestrians, bicyclists, vehicles, and transit – regardless of age or ability, aligning with the city's 2040 Comprehensive Plan.

Additionally, in November 2024, the City Council initiated the SolSmart Designation process, aiming to implement national best practices to expand solar energy use within the jurisdiction. The city also established a Sustainability Commission in 2023 to raise awareness and promote sustainable practices, playing a crucial role in advising the council on environmental matters.

"We are thrilled to welcome a Minnesota GreenCorps member to Columbia Heights," said City Manager Joe Griebe. "This partnership provides an invaluable opportunity to accelerate our sustainability initiatives, engage our community, and build capacity within our city staff to further our environmental goals. It reflects our commitment to creating a healthier, more resilient future for all residents."

The GreenCorps member will work closely with city staff, including members of the Community Development and Public Works Departments, and the Sustainability Commission. Their work is expected to involve a range of activities, such as community outreach and education, assisting with waste reduction and recycling programs, exploring energy conservation and green transportation options, or contributing to stormwater management and urban forestry projects.

Mayor Amáda Márquez Simula and the City Council, including Councilmembers Connie Buesgens and Justice Spriggs, have consistently expressed their support for environmental progress in Columbia Heights. The addition of a GreenCorps member is anticipated to bolster these efforts significantly.

The Minnesota GreenCorps program, which anticipates placing up to 58 members statewide for the 2025-2026 program year, provides its members with a living allowance, health insurance, and an education award upon successful completion of their service. The program aims to train a new generation of environmental professionals while making tangible impacts on communities across Minnesota.

The new GreenCorps member is expected to begin their service in Columbia Heights in mid-September 2025.

MinneapoliMedia