SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITES
Individuals and groups across Wisconsin are calling upon local government to enact policies and take actions that build sustainable communities. Several communities and a county in Wisconsin have recently adopted resolutions stating their intent to follow be sustainable communities or eco-municipalities.
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Natural Step for Communities Study Circle
The Study Circle program provides participants with a general understanding of proven change processes for sustainability. The inspiration for this course came from the experience of Swedish eco-municipalities communities that have successfully offered similar study circles as a tool for beginning education and community conversation related sustainability community topics. The goals of the Natural Step study circle program are to provide information, motivation and support for individuals in a community to become actively involved in efforts to make their community more sustainable. Learn more about creating your own study circle >>> |
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Funding For Community Infrastructure & Environment
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) has designated funding which improve communities’ infrastructure and environment. The Wisconsin Office of Recovery and Reinvestment site allows you to search for energy, transportation and environmental protection opportunities, among other programs.
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Energy Independence Throughout Wisconsin
Recent state and federal initiatives have put energy related improvements in the headlines. Opportunities exist for renewable energy and energy conservation. The Wisconsin Office of Energy Independence has compiled a list of energy independence funding opportunities and incentives. It covers support available through federal, state and utility programs.  Energy Independence Opportunities in Wisconsin (19 pages, 223 KB)
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Central Wisconsin Sustainability Newsletter
The Central Wisconsin Sustainability Newsletter is an electronic publication available through the UW-Extension Center for Land Use Education. The newsletter's primary purpose is to help people learn about events and initiatives related to sustainability in Central Wisconsin. Interested in receiving the newsletter? You can sign up by entering your email address in the green box on the sustainability web page at www.uwsp.edu/cnr/landcenter/sustainability.html
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Sustainable Communities Capacity Center
To address current growing interest, UW-Extension is developing and sharing capacity in the area of community sustainability. While definitions of sustainability vary, there is a broadly shared sense that sustainable development explicitly recognizes the interconnections and relationships between the economy, society, and the environment. The UW-Extension Sustainability Team has established a new website, the Sustainable Communities Capacity Center, to the build capacity of local governments, businesses and the public to engage in sustainable community development. The site's launch focuses on Sustainable Communities and specifically, Eco-Municipalities. |
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GreenLeaf Market—Think Global, Eat Local
Are you a farmer interested in selling directly to local restaurant chefs? Are you a grocery buyer looking to stock the finest foods from Wisconsin’s artisan processors? Greenleafmarket.com is an internet-based tool designed to match farmers and processors with local grocers, restaurants and institutions that want those products. Training session to learn how to use the online tool are available. GreenLeaf Market Flyer (1 page, 584 KB)
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RIDESHARE now available in Central Wisconsin
RIDESHARE is a free service through the Wisconsin Department of Transportation which brings commuters together—regardless of vehicle ownership, and leaves it up to you and your fellow commuters to form a carpool that works for all riders. Your origin and destination are processed to provide a list of possible carpool matches. Computer software maps those locations and then matches them with others. A match report will show individuals with similar commutes and work hours. The RIDESHARE system is now available to match riders in Central Wisconsin >>>
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Northcentral Wisconsin Stormwater Coalition
Stormwater runoff is the rain, melting snow and other water that flows off streets, rooftops, lawns and farmland. Stormwater washes pollutants off streets, parking lots and lawns and into our lakes and streams. Since stormwater crosses borders, municipalities in the area and Marathon County are working cooperatively to manage the quantity and quality of the stormwater reaching local water bodies. Learn more about the Northcentral Wisconsin Stormwater Coalition >>>
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Presentations from the Wisconsin Renewable Energy Summit
Many of the excellent presentations from the Wisconsin Renewable Energy Summit: Green Jobs Growing Wisconsin’s Economy held in Milwaukee in March are accessible via the Wisconsin Renewable Energy Summit website. Even the keynotes are accessible. Learn about everything from solar, wind and biomass to jobs, policy and research. |
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Community Connections Newsletter
Marathon County's Environmental Resources Committee, responsible for coordinating land use policy for county government, has debuted a periodical newsletter. The current issue's topics include: Road Salt Storage, Home Heating Assistance Programs, Avoid Mold This Winter, Rib Falls County Park Moves Forward, Tower Regulations In Marathon County, and more. The Community Connections newsletter is available online >>>
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Solid and Hazardous Waste Education Center Newsletter
The Solid and Hazardous Waste Education Center's (SHWEC) mission is to enhance Wisconsin's environment and economy by providing quality education, information and technical assistance to promote the sustainable use of natural resources. City Brewery Collaborates with Gunderson Lutheran for Waste to Energy Project;
Earth Day 2009: The Green Generation;
Pharmaceutical Waste Update;
Recycling at Special Events;
International Compost Awareness Week;
Get Ready for Electric Vehicles: A Tool for Communities;
LEED v3 to Launch April 27;
Sustainable Building Award Competition; Environmental News Briefs of Interest,
also includes news briefs and an events calendar. The SHWEC newsletter and previous editions are available at the SHEWEC website >>>
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Marathon County Environmental Resources Committee
Many Marathon County municipalities have adopted comprehensive plans which meet the requirements of the recent state planning legislation. The Marathon County Board adopted the County Comprehensive Plan on May 23, 2006. Plan implementation at the county level is led by the county’s Environmental Resources Committee, which is responsible for coordinating all land use policy throughout the county, including Smart Growth, utility policy, and other issues related to transportation, groundwater, demographics. Learn more about the Marathon County Environmental Resources Committee >>> |
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Planning for Sustainability
On February 27, 2007, the City of Marshfield Common Council voted 9-0 to endorse the principles of sustainability developed by the American Planning Association, view the Policy Guide on Planning for Sustainability. The resolution also directs the City to create a Sustainable Marshfield Committee, which would advise the mayor and Common Council on implementation of sustainable practices. The report created by the Sustainable Marshfield Committee and the resolution passed by the Common Council are available on the City of Marshfield official website. |
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Sustainability Toolkit Available for Local Government
Interested in how your local government can learn more about becoming a sustainable community? A publication, Toward a Sustainable Community: a Toolkit for Local Government, was published by UW-Extension and Focus on Energy, to provide ideas and specific actions that government can take to embrace sustainable practices. Toward a Sustainable Community: A Toolkit for Local Government (48 pages, 2.76 MB)
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