Two days, two big stories in the local paper.

Green Project founding partner Millennium Recycling will soon begin operating a new glass processing facility in Sioux Falls that will prepare recycled glass to be used in new products in some local manufacturing facilities. An exciting announcement about the use of that processed glass in a new local product is coming soon. Read today’s Argus Leader story about Millennium’s new facility here.

Tuesday’s Cultivating Young Gardeners story described the urban gardening program that started at Lowell Elementary School. The Green Project is a partner in forming a new organization to nurture community hope and change through urban gardening, with “A Growing Place Garden” at Lowell being the pilot project. We’re also beginning discussions with another local school for a project for the 2010-2011 school year. Read Tuesday’s Argus Leader story here.

Mayor Dave Munson announced the winners of the first annual Mayoral Beautification Awards, as nominated by Sioux Falls Beautiful, at the City Council meeting on April 19th at 7:00pm.

Green Project founding board member Jeff Scherschligt of Howalt+McDowell Insurance was one of three honorees. Congratulations to all the winners!

Jeff Scherschligt – Business and/or Public Space

In recognition for the passion and leadership he displays towards nature conservation and our environment. His involvement in “greening” a commercial building led him to focus on the beautification of a former industrial site and bring a bit of our natural prairie landscape to downtown. He is proud to serve on the boards of the Mary Jo Wegner Arboretum and The South Dakota Game Fish & Parks. Thank you Jeff Scherschligt for making Sioux Falls beautiful.

Marianne Larsen – Homes and Yards

In recognition of her knowledge and practice as a gardener, in taking great care for the soil, water, and using site appropriate plants. The beauty that results from her efforts is a bonus. Gardening connects people, and one can tell a lot about a community by looking at both the public and private gardens. Thank you Marianne Larsen for making Sioux Falls beautiful.

Bruce Eide – Community Leadership

In recognition of his great idea and the financial contribution to make it a reality, he was instrumental in transforming an empty space at the Louise Avenue–I-229 interchange into an attractive entrance to our city. The planting of native trees and complementary landscaping have enhanced this natural area into a pleasing space we hope to emulate throughout our city’s corridors. Thank you Bruce Eide for making Sioux Falls beautiful.

Sioux Falls Beautiful is a non profit group who seeks to beautify and improve the outdoor environment in all areas of the community, and works to enhance the landscape of the city through the creation of attractive new and existing public sites and spaces, the liberal use of color and light in public places, and the encouragement of attractive plantings and green areas.

It’s official! The Green Project recently received word from the Internal Revenue Service that we have been approved as a 501 (c)(3) non profit organization. The Green Project idea was hatched on Earth Day 2008, and formed as a non-profit in early 2009. This 501 (c)(3) status is a big milestone for us because it means we will be able to apply for important grant dollars–dollars we hope to use to fund local projects that educate and inspire the Sioux Falls community as we build a sustainable future together. Many thanks to our friends at Woods, Fuller, Shultz and Smith lawyers for their donated help in the application process.

Our approval by the IRS also means your donations to the Green Project are 100% tax deductible. If you love the environment, and want to help us build that greener future for Sioux Falls, please make a donation of whatever amount works for you today. You can make your donation online here, mail a check to 300 Cherapa Place, Suite 601, Sioux Falls, SD 57103, or contact us to make some other arrangement.

Thank you for supporting the Green Project!

Green Project intern Jamie Horter is on a plane today on her way to Copenhagen, Denmark. She’ll be spending the next two-plus weeks at the United Nations Climate Change Conference working as part of a team of 10 Midwest youth delegates sponsored by the Will Steger Foundation. The group will join other leaders from around the world, where they will join in negotiations to create a new world climate treaty. They will share their experiences online during the conference, and in public gatherings when they return home.

Jamie believes South Dakota and the rest of the Midwest can play a key role in driving national climate policy and the renewable energy revolution.

You can follow along with Jamie on her blog at http://jamiehorter.blogspot.com.

With our greenest transportation pal The MinusCar Project, we’re hosting a special community screening of the documentary film No Impact Man, right here in Sioux Falls, on December 8. It’s free, and we hope you’ll join us for a movie and discussion about  getting more of what matters out of this holiday season.

You can RSVP on our Facebook page, or by scrolling down to “Sioux Falls” here.

What is No Impact Man? It’s a documentary that tells the story of Colin Beavan’s decision to completely eliminate his personal impact on the environment for a full year. It means eating vegetarian, buying only local food, and turning off the refrigerator. It also means no elevators, no television, no cars, busses, or airplanes, no toxic cleaning products, no electricity, no material consumption, and no garbage. No problem – at least for Colin – but he and his family live in Manhattan. So when his espresso-guzzling, retail-worshipping wife Michelle and their two-year-old daughter are dragged into the fray, the No Impact Project has an unforeseen impact of its own.

Watch the No Impact Man movie trailer.