Serving communities for a greener tomorrow
The Minnesota GreenCorps program, coordinated by the MPCA, aims to preserve and protect Minnesota’s environment while training a new generation of environmental professionals.
Each year, the program places AmeriCorps members with host site organizations around the state to build community resilience by:
- reducing air pollutants and improving air quality
- reducing water runoff and improving water and land quality
- preventing waste and increasing recycling
- encouraging eco-friendly behavior
Minnesota GreenCorps members serve full-time at their host site for 11 months, from October 2025 to September 2026. Members implement environmental projects to build community resilience in one of four topic areas: community readiness and outreach, energy conservation and green transportation, stormwater and forestry, waste reduction and recycling. Sample projects include activities such as coordinating multi-modal transportation events, educating community members and youth, removing invasive species, installing rain gardens, benchmarking energy, conducting waste sorts, and more.
Minnesota GreenCorps members
Serve a community, address critical environmental issues, and develop green job skills as a Minnesota GreenCorps member! Members receive training from the MPCA, develop green job skills, gain professional experience, network with environmental professionals, and are paired with a mentor who provides ongoing guidance. Members earn a living allowance, health insurance, mental health services with counseling, student loan forbearance on eligible loans, and an education award for education expenses or qualified student loans.
Apply now: The member application is open! We are hiring for up to 58 member positions at sites located throughout Minnesota. Applicants may indicate geographic and project area preferences on the application.
Host sites
As a host site, your organization can harness a member's energy and enthusiasm to move your environmental projects forward. Member projects must align with one of four topic areas: community readiness and outreach, energy conservation and green transportation, stormwater and forestry, or waste reduction and recycling. Host sites don't pay a fee to participate in the program but are expected to provide supervision, office space, internet and phone service, training, and any resources necessary for members to accomplish their projects. The MPCA manages the recruitment, application, and selection process for Minnesota GreenCorps members.
The MPCA is not currently accepting host site applications. We anticipate accepting applications from February through mid-March each year, with the program starting in mid-September. Sign up to be notified when the next application period opens.
Program impact
Members address critical environmental issues through projects such as retrofitting public buildings to save energy, improving public lands, educating community members, preventing waste, and recycling or composting. In addition, Minnesota GreenCorps members engage volunteers in hands-on projects to help communities build their capacity for environmental stewardship.
Follow us!
Follow Minnesota GreenCorps on social media to get updates on the program. See members in action and learn more about the impacts the program has on communities throughout Minnesota.
Partners and funding
Minnesota GreenCorps is an AmeriCorps program. Funding is provided through a grant from ServeMinnesota, AmeriCorps, and the MPCA. Participating host site organizations also provide in-kind resources.
- AmeriCorps is a federal agency that engages Americans in service to meet critical needs in education, the environment, public safety, health, veterans’ services, and economic opportunity. The mission of AmeriCorps is to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering.
- ServeMinnesota is the state commission for all AmeriCorps programs in Minnesota, including Minnesota GreenCorps.
The number of new members for the 2025-2026 program year and length of their service will depend on continuing federal funding. While federal funding has been allocated for the program year 2025-2026, federal funding has been fluid since January 2025 and additional actions at the federal level could impact this program. There is a chance that funding will be removed during the program year, and that could impact the number of members and length of service.

