HELENA -- In an increasingly challenging economic and environmental time, the importance of creating sustainable communities is more pressing than ever. At a Nov. 17 ceremony, Gov. Brian Schweitzer honored 2008 EcoStar award winners from a dozen communities around Montana.
The EcoStar Award recognizes Montanan businesses and organizations that are helping create more environmentally and economically sustainable communities by surpassing state and federal requirements to reduce solid and hazardous waste generation, conserving valuable resources such as water, energy and clean air, and serving as role models by their pollution prevention efforts.
"Montana's first people lived to conserve and sustain their lands for seven generations beyond their own," Schweitzer said. "We are a middle generation faced with an unsustainable energy system and an unsustainable food system. Each and every one of you EcoStar recipients are working to challenge and change those systems. Let's join together to conserve and sustain for generations to come."
EcoStar, now in its ninth year, provides organizations with the EcoStar designation based on the applicant's commitment to waste reduction, environmental benefits they have achieved, amount of waste they prevented and the innovation shown in their waste-reduction activities. The 2008 EcoStar award winners included organizations from Belgrade, Billings, Boulder, Bozeman, Choteau, Columbia Falls, Ennis, Harrison, Kalispell, Livingston, Missoula and Red Lodge. The 25 winners are comprised of a diverse group including everything from hospitals to farmers/ranchers, builders, a ski resort, a pet product company and a liquid herbicide formulator.
"This is an opportunity for us to come together and recognize one another's efforts and provide well-deserved gratitude to Montanans who are leading their communities and working to preserve and protect our environmental resources," said Jenny Grossenbacher, Pollution Prevention and Sustainable Housing Coordinator for Extension at MSU.
To nominate one or more businesses, groups or individuals for the 2009 EcoStar program contact Jenny Grossenbacher at 406-994-4292 or e-mail jenniferg@montana.edu. More information, including past winners and applications, can be found online at: http://www.mtp2.org/ecostar.html.
Businesses recognized on Nov. 17, include:
BILLINGS/RED LODGE area
Cafe Regis - Red Lodge
Contact: Gary Ferguson/Martha Young: ferguson@wildwords.net - 446-1947
Green Directory Montana - Billings
Contact: Serena Silvestrone - info@greendirectorymontana.com
Sage Spa Living - Billings, Bozeman and Whitefish
Contact: Stephanie Bigart: stephanie@sagespaliving.com - 579-1286
St. Vincent Healthcare - Billings
Contact: Kim Rees: kim.rees@svh-mt.org - 237-3575
Transbas, Inc - Billings
Contact: Diana Grassel: diana.grassel@uap.com - 245-4171
Www Industries/Mountain States Environmental - Billings and Ynp
Contact: Brad Fimrite: mses5@bresnan.net - 248-4777
BOZEMAN/BELGRADE/LIVINGSTON/HARRISON/ENNIS/BIG SKY area:
Amaltheia Organic Dairy, LLC - Belgrade
Contact: Sue Brown: mbamaltheia@aol.com; 388-0569
Blanchford Landscape Contractors - Bozeman
Contact: Andy Blanchford: andrew@blanchfordlandscapecontractors.com - 587-3057
Community Food Co-Op - Bozeman
Contact: Alison Grey: alison@bozo.coop - 587-1919 X76
Construction Site Services -Bozeman and Missoula
Contact: Michelle Fisher: info@constructionsiteservices.net - 543-1800
Delaware North Co. Parks and Resorts At Yellowstone-Bozeman and YNP
Contact: Debbie Friedel: dholmstr@dncinc.com - 586-7593
Engineered Solutions, Inc - Belgrade
Contact: Brian Bannister: bbannister@engsolutionsmt.com - 570-0039
Getn'green, LLC - Bozeman
Contact: Alexa and Greg Mcman: alexa@getngreen.com - 556-0120
Moonlight Basin, LP - Ennis
Lee Poole - jfanelli@moonlightbasin.com
Oasis Environmental, Inc - Livingston
Contact: Kristen Wester: k.wester@oasisenviro.com - 222-7600
Penny Lane Home Builders, LLC - Bozeman
Contact: Penny Murray - pennymurray@msn.com - 581-1382
Rocky Mountain Woodright, Inc - Bozeman
Contact: Mike Kelly - montanawood@msn.com - 579-0587
Sabo Family Ranch, LLC - Harrison
Contact: Jenny Sabo: saboranch@gmail.com - 685-3248
Sage Spa Living - Bozeman, Whitefish and Billings
Contact: Stephanie Bigart: stephanie@sagespaliving.com - 579-1286
V2 Design - Bozeman
Contact: Vanessa Van Beusekom - vanessa@vtwodesign.com - 624-6627
West Paw Design - Bozeman
Contact: Kathleen Johnson: kathleen@westpawdesign.com - 585-0505
BUTTE/BOULDER AREA:
Boulder Hot Springs - Boulder
Contact: Kerri Kumasaka: bhs@boulderhotsprings.com - 225-4339
GREAT FALLS area:
Mountain Front Market, LLC - Choteau
Contact: Jill and Russell Owen - mfm@3rivers.net - 466-2684
KALISPELL/WHITEFISH area:
Moss Mountain Inn - Columbia Falls
Contact: Debi and Hunter Moss- mossmtn@montanasky.net - 387-4605
Sage Spa Living -Whitefish, Bozeman And Billings
Contact: Stephanie Bigart: stephanie@sagespaliving.com - 579-1286
MISSOULA area:
Construction Site Services - Missoula And Bozeman
(A divison of Drywall Recycling of Montana, Inc.)
Contact: Michelle Fisher: info@constructionsiteservices.net - 543-1800
Riverworks, Inc - Missoula
Contact: John Freer: john@riverworksinc.com - 728-9065
St. Patrick Hospital And Health Sciences Center - Missoula
Contact: Beth Schenk - bschenk@saintpatrick.org - 329-2730
Contacts: Jenny Grossenbacher, Prevention Pollution and Sustainable Housing Research Associate, MSU Extension Housing and Environmental Health, mvogel@montana.edu, (406) 994-4292
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