27 Small Business and Organizations Receive Ecostar Awards

Tuesday, 22 February 2011 06:43

For the fifth year in a row, Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer will speak at the Montana State Capitol building in Helena, on Feb. 22 as part of the Ecostar Pollution Prevention awards ceremony.

The ceremony will honor 27 recipients representing 15 communities from across the state. The event will run from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the Capitol Rotunda. Also attending the event will be Montana State University President Waded Cruzado, MSU Vice President of External Relations and Director of Extension Douglas Steele and representatives from the offices of Sens. Jon Tester and Max Baucus.

The Ecostar award program, now in its 11th year, recognizes small businesses, institutions and non-profits that are leading efforts in Montana to voluntarily focus on pollution prevention and create a more environmentally sustainable model for business and education. The award focuses on those taking environmentally responsible steps to reduce solid and hazardous waste, maximize efficiencies, conserve energy and water, and improve air quality. This year 27 small businesses, institutions and non-profits from across the state will be honored, including the ASMSU (Associated Students of Montana State University) Sustainability Center and the student-led Belgrade High Renewable Energy Club.

"Again this year we are thrilled to have so many young individuals providing such an inspiring role model for others," said Jenny Grossenbacher, pollution prevention coordinator for MSU Extension and the coordinator of the Ecostar awards.

The award winners are a diverse group including hospitals, restaurants, builders and agricultural-based companies. Communities represented include Helena, Bozeman, Belgrade, Reed Point, Cut Bank, Sidney, Butte, Billings, Great Falls, Huson, Missoula, Whitefish, Kalispell, Livingston and Boulder.