The city of Minneapolis, feting another group of small businesses for investing in reducing pollution, said 74 businesses over the last five years have invested $6 for every $1 in matching city funds to reduce air pollution that affects human health and contributes to regional smog.
This year's winners are Elite Cleaners, Dinsmore Cleaners, Prospect Foundry, Longfellow Market, Allied Parking, Taqueria La Hacienda and Mercado Central.
The Minneapolis "green building program" offers financial incentives to businesses such as dry cleaners that move to "perc-free" options, low-pollution paint booths for manufacturers and heating-cooling system upgrades.
The program, funded by pollution-control fees, is part of the Clean Air Minnesota public-private initiative that is administered by the nonprofit Environmental Initiative and which involves businesses throughout the state.
The 74 Minneapolis businesses participants have cut 116,253 pounds of health-affecting pollutants and 16.4 million pounds of carbon dioxide since 2012, which scientists say is the leading source of climate change.
This is the equivalent of taking 1,568 cars off the road, a city spokeswoman said.
Advocates say cutting pollution saves energy, dollars and improves public health by removing pollutants that directly affect health and contribute to regional air pollution.
