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Environment

Ames, Iowa, Earns Six Certificates at Resilient Iowa Communities Awards

The City of Ames, Iowa, a public power community, received six gold status certificates from the University of Northern Iowa’s Center for Energy and Environment Education as part of the first annual Resilient Iowa Communities Award.

The awards recognized communities of all sizes engaging in activities during 2024 to achieve bronze, silver, or gold status under six best practice categories: buildings and energy, land use, transportation, environmental management, economics and community development, and environmental equity and inclusion. The City of Ames was the only community recognized with gold status across all six categories.

Representing Ames at the ceremony were Mayor John Haila, Councilmember Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen, Director of Electric Services Donald Kom, and Sustainability Coordinator Nolan Sagan.

“The City of Ames has been working hard in its sustainability and resilience efforts,” said Sagan. “It’s a culmination of several City projects within many departments that earned us this recognition, including our community-wide Climate Action Plan, the Ames Pollinator-Friendly Community Plan, Ames Walk Bike Roll, and others.”

Resilient Iowa Communities is a voluntary program facilitated by the University of Northern Iowa’s Center for Energy and Environmental Education. The program is aimed at helping communities in Iowa of all sizes achieve sustainability, resiliency, and quality of life goals.

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