The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) invites people who want to spend a year making a difference in their communities by working on environmental issues to apply for the 2025-2026 Minnesota GreenCorps program. From helping communities like yours address air quality issues to preventing food waste, Minnesota GreenCorps assignments offer valuable real-world experience at sites in Greater Minnesota and the Twin Cities metro area.
This AmeriCorps program, coordinated by the MPCA, will match up to 58 Minnesota GreenCorps members to host sites for the upcoming 2025-2026 program year, where they will address an environmental need, such as:
- reducing air pollutants and improving air quality
- assisting community members in taking eco-friendly actions
- reducing water runoff and improving water and land quality
- preventing waste and increasing recycling
Members serve at their host sites for 11 months, from fall 2025 through summer 2026. They receive a stipend to cover expenses during their service term and an education award that can be used to pay qualified student loans or future tuition payments. Applicants must have a minimum of two years of post-secondary education, or equivalent experience, to be considered.
The number of new members for the 2025-2026 program year and length of their service will depend on continued 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.
Apply by August 6
Serve a community, address critical environmental issues, and develop green job skills as a Minnesota GreenCorps member. Statewide, 58 positions are available with non-profits, educational institutions, and city, county, and Tribal governments.
Project overviews
Among the sites selected is the National Loon Center. Serving in the Community Readiness and Outreach topic area, the member will support advancing community engagement in freshwater stewardship programs through environmental summits, workshops, and educational communications. The National Loon Center recently broke ground on a new non-profit center that will further the mission to protect Minnesota’s state bird and allow for expansion of these outreach efforts.
Maddi Nistler previously served with the National Loon Center and said “Serving at a host site in Greater Minnesota has elevated my experience as a GreenCorps member by furthering bonds with my community, and by allowing my relationship with the state’s natural resources to grow. Throughout my service in Crosslake, I have created a sense of connectivity through networks of resources across the small lake towns of rural northern Minnesota. I have also been able to take advantage of the forests and lakes that remind me of what I am working to protect through GreenCorps.”
New host sites in this topic area include city of Columbia Heights, city of Vadnais Heights, and Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.
Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) is a first-time host site in the Waste Reduction and Recycling topic area. Their inaugural Minnesota GreenCorps member will increase and monitor waste diversion efforts throughout the community through newly implemented reuse activities and expanded recycling and composting. SMSC built a new composting facility in 2024, creating an exciting opportunity for the member to directly support and expand the organization’s composting initiatives. Two new member positions also in this topic area include Free Geek Twin Cities and Lyndale Neighborhood Association.
In the Stormwater and Forestry topic area, projects with the University of Minnesota Water Resources Center and MPCA include community-focused outreach and education on chloride reduction and will contribute to stormwater research and improving best management practices. Projects at the city of Maple Grove, city of New Brighton, Hartley Nature Center in Duluth, Cass Soil and Water Conservation District in Walker, and Minnesota Landscape Arboretum focus on invasive species removal, forestry management best practices, and tree inventory.
Opportunities in the Energy Conservation and Green Transportation topic area include promoting energy efficiency, reducing vehicle miles traveled, Safe Routes to School planning in Fergus Falls and St. Paul, and encouraging active transportation. Sites include the Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota, city of Belle Plaine, city of Edina, city of Minneapolis, St. Louis County, Great Plains Institute, Headwaters Regional Development Commission in Bemidji, Hennepin County, Minneapolis Public Schools, and the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
Since the start of the program in 2009, more than 600 Minnesota GreenCorps members have served more than 275 organizations, supporting communities across the state.
Review the full list of project positions including ones in your area and learn more about Minnesota GreenCorps.