BLOOMINGTON– The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) named Bloomington the latest Clean Community. Bloomington Stormwater Education Specialist Kriste Lindberg accepted Clean Community Program signs and a commemorative flag from IDEM during the 2024 Clean Community Program Annual Meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 30.
“We are thrilled to welcome Bloomington to the Clean Community Program,” said IDEM Commissioner Brian Rockensuess. “Being a ‘Clean Community’ tells residents and visitors that their city values environmental stewardship. I congratulate Bloomington on their work in earning this recognition.”
“The City of Bloomington is delighted to join IDEM’s Clean Community Program! This timely endeavor provides ample opportunity to strengthen relationships between the public and private sectors for a win-win. We look forward to working with all to benefit our environment,” said Lindberg, an employee of Bloomington’s Utilities Department.
Municipalities in the Clean Community Program can progress through three levels: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. All municipalities start as Bronze-level communities. The City of Bloomington has created a Clean Team of local stakeholders and is working on developing sustainability projects that will allow it to progress to the Silver level.
Bloomington is Indiana’s tenth municipality to earn the Clean Community designation. Other Clean Communities include Richmond, Merrillville, Zionsville, Fishers, Brown County, Beech Grove, Fortville, New Chicago, and Evansville.
Established by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) in the early 2000s, the Clean Community Program (previously called the Clean Community Challenge) recognizes Indiana counties, cities, and towns that take a proactive, positive approach towards ensuring a better quality of life for all Hoosiers and a healthy economy by working to address community and social issues through sustainable environmental and wellness projects.
IDEM invites municipalities and community partners interested in participating in the new Indiana Clean Community Program to learn more at on.IN.gov/cleancommunity.
