Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman are teaming up to support and attract environmentally-sound manufacturing to the area with an initiative called Thinc.Green MSP.
“Thinc.GreenMSP is the result of years of planning and partnership focused on one goal — making our region the center of a burgeoning green economy,” said Coleman. “As we work toward economic recovery and expansion, we all need to work smarter and closer together. Thinc.GreenMSP is a significant step forward in our efforts to market, grow and retain green jobs better than any region in America.”
The economic development initiative is part of a broader program called the Blue Green Alliance, a national partnership between labor unions and environmental organizations dedicated to growing the the number of green jobs.
Back in 2006, the twin city mayors (who met at Kapra Cosmetics, a local green manufacturer) initiated a Green Manufacturing Initiative with the Blue Green Alliance. Thinc.GreenMSP is the evolution of that project through which the two cities will share staff and resources and seek private investment and partnership.
“Our two cities can’t do this work alone, but together with the private sector, we can distinguish our region as an economic innovator and make it the perfect place to create, expand, or relocate green businesses and the good jobs they create,” said Rybak.
With Thinc.GreenMSP, the mayors are looking to boost demand for locally-produced green products and services, as well as for the skilled workers involved in their production.
Thinc.GreenMSP will immediately begin implementing five initiatives to drive demand for locally-produced green products and services, as well as for the highly-skilled workers who make those products and deliver those services. The Initiatives are:
- Buy Green: Local Government Green Purchasing Partnership
- Green Town: Incentives for the Built Environment
- Re:Purpose: Match Existing Industrial Zones with Green Assets
- Early-Stage Financing: Finance Program through Local Investment Bank
- Thinc.Leader: Recognition Program for Local Businesses
For more information, check out www.bluegreenalliance.org/mspgmi.
Photo by Kerry Woo via Wikimedia Commons.