Governor Dayton has proclaimed this week, May 20-26, to be Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week in Minnesota. Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is an invasive species of insect that has killed millions of ash trees in North America. It is not native to the U.S., but was discovered in Michigan in 2002; in 2009, the first Minnesota case of EAB was found in Ramsey County. It has since been found in the counties of Houston, Hennepin, and Winona.

The biggest risk of spreading EAB comes from people moving firewood or other ash tree products with EAB or EAB larvae inside. In order to help prevent the spread of EAB throughout Minnesota and beyond, you should try to use only local firewood, and you should avoid transporting firewood if possible. In order to prevent the spread of this destructive species, the Department of Agriculture has prohibited the movement of ash trees, ash limbs and branches, ash logs or untreated ash lumber with bark attached, firewood from hardwood trees, and uncomposted wood chips and ash bark chips greater than one inch in two of three dimensions from the affected counties. More tips on preventing the spread of EAB can be found at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture website.

You should also watch for signs that ash trees on your property are infested: heavy woodpecker activity, S-shaped tunnels under the bark, dead branches in the top canopy of the tree, and D-shaped exit holes approximately 1/8 inch in diameter are all signs of EAB presence in a tree. If you suspect a tree is infested, you can follow procedures for seeking treatment or removal of the tree from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources website. 

Are you a recent college graduate with an interest in improving your community and state? Do you have a passion for the environment and sustainability? Do you want to gain valuable work experience and earn money to put toward your education? Minnesota GreenCorps wants you!

GreenCorps, an AmeriCorps program coordinated by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, is accepting applications now through May 30 for an 11-month service period during 2012-2013. 

Up to 28 GreenCorps members will be stationed at sites across the state, where they will have the chance to work on cutting-edge projects dealing with energy conservation, waste prevention and recycling, living green (including local food and complete streets), and green infrastructure (including forestry and stormwater). Member responsibilities can include but are not limited to field work, data analysis, volunteer mobilization, and community engagement and outreach.

The Governor's Fishing Opener will be held this weekend, May 11 -12, on Lake Waconia, popular for fishing, sailing and other water recreation. The town of Waconia sits right along the southern shore of Lake Waconia, the second largest lake in the Twin Cities area. This is the first time Waconia, a community of about 10,000 residents along the western edge of the Twin Cities metropolitan area, will host this event.

A pair of accomplished anglers from Waconia will host Governor Mark Dayton and Lt. Governor Yvonne Prettner Solon on Lake Waconia. Travis Frank will fish with Governor Dayton, and Matt Peters will fish with Lt. Governor Prettner Solon. Travis Frank is a professional angler, founder of Trophy Encounters Professional Guide Service, and a producer for Ron Schara Productions. Matt Peters grew up on Lake Waconia. Like Travis Frank, Peters has fished since he was old enough to hold a rod and reel, and he too started his first guide service at the age of 16.

In a recent Pioneer Press editorial, Commissioner of Revenue Myron Frans writes that "The primary concern for state policy makers and business leaders should be our state's overall business climate and economic prosperity.”

Minnesota ranks among the top places to do business in several studies, including:

• The greater Minneapolis-St. Paul region is the 12th-best market in the U.S. for small business creation and growth, in a study by the Business Journal (2011).

• Health care start-ups in Minnesota raised $88.3 million in investment during the first half of 2011 - more than any other state - according to a study by BioEnterprise.

• Minnesota ranks 4th in the Midwest in venture capital funding for life-sciences start-ups, according a 2010 survey by BioEnterprise.

• Minnesota ranks 5th in the The Beacon Hill Institute's most recent State Competitiveness Report (2010).

• Minnesota places 7th in CNBC's annual ranking of the Top Places To Do Business.
  

In addition, Minnesota has been ranked among the top five states nationwide in the 2010 Camelot Index, according to the State Policy Reports, based on our economy, health, education, crime, society and government. Minnesota has a strong economic foundation, and a quality of life that makes it an attractive place to live and do business.

The prosperity of America has always depended on the ambition and work ethic of our labor force. Over our nation's history, American workers have built cities, manufactured innovative products, and built an economy that remains one of the strongest in the world. Though we've made great strides as a society in improving worker safety, we still have more work to do to ensure health and well-being in the workplace. In order to recognize the work ahead and to honor those who have lost their lives on the job, Governor Mark Dayton declared April 28, 2012, as Workers' Memorial Day.

In the last few decades, we've come a long way. In the past, workers had to brave dangerous working conditions without protective equipment or the right to a safe workplace. Through consistent and dedicated advocacy, we secured that basic right over 40 years ago, helping protect Americans in the workplace. Committed Minnesotans before us worked to ensure that no worker ever has to choose between life and livelihood.

On Thursday morning Lt. Governor Yvonne Prettner Solon bought her fishing license at Marine General in Duluth. The Minnesota Fishing Opener is about two weeks away, and the Lt. Governor will be one of the half-million people on the waters on that day.

The Governor’s Fishing Opener is a tradition in Minnesota since 1948. The event was organized to promote the development of Minnesota’s recreation industry, and now it serves as a kick-off celebration to the state’s summer tourism season. Fishing accounts for a large part of the state’s tourism economy. The sport brings in $11.3 billion every year or about $31 million each day.

Senior citizens are among the most vulnerable to fraud and financial abuse. Consumers over the age of 65 control 70 percent of the nation’s wealth, and crooks know it. In fact, each year con artists scam older Americans out of $2.5 billion.

To kick off Seniors Week of Financial Literacy Month, the Minnesota Department of Commerce, the Minnesota AARP, and the Office of the Lt. Governor are joining forces to raise awareness of fraud targeting older consumers and provide Minnesota seniors the information they need to protect their finances from the threat of financial abuse.

Over the course of the last several years, the Metropolitan Council has transformed itself into a leaner, greener government agency. Metro Transit’s “Go Greener” campaign has been the most visible facet of the Council’s transformation, but Metro Transit’s efforts are only a few of the agency’s award winning green initiatives. 

The Metropolitan Council’s Environmental Services Division, responsible for handling waste water in the Metro area, is leading the way in making the Metropolitan Council a greener agency. The division has reduced its energy consumption by cleaning equipment more regularly, replacing old equipment with new, energy efficient equipment, and exploring ways to use the heat released during the treatment process for energy. In addition, Xcel Energy has recognized the Environmental Services Division with a Gold Award for achieving the highest electrical savings of all the utility’s large commercial and industrial customers in Minnesota between January 2010 and June 2011.

Located on 53,000 acres of forest and grassland in Central Minnesota, Camp Ripley is more than just the primary training facility for the Minnesota National Guard. With over 125 different bird species, 600 plant species, and a thriving deer population, Camp Ripley is also an important nature reserve. The National Guard has won numerous awards for its environmental preservation at Camp Ripley, including a new environmental award. To celebrate this award and highlight its most important initiatives, Camp Ripley held an Earth Day celebration on Friday.

Though Camp Ripley is primarily a training facility for Minnesota’s National Guard, environmental preservation has been a complementary function for decades. Camp Ripley incorporates their environmental mission into military training exercises; for example, exercises that track deer populations, locate tracked animals, and identify land in need of rehabilitation allow trainees to develop essential skills while promoting effective land preservation. Camp Ripley selectively harvests timber both to create space for military vehicle maneuvers and to maintain a healthy ecosystem.  These trees then go on to provide a source of wood fiber for alternative fuel research.

More than one billion people now participate in Earth Day activities each year, making it the largest civic observance in the world. Before this year’s Earth Day on April 22, check out these tips from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to participate and live a healthier and less expensive lifestyle all year round:

• Try composting. You can convert organic wastes — yard trimmings, leaves and kitchen scraps — into a dark, crumbly mixture that you can use to improve your garden soil and reduce your use of fertilizer and water. Learn how to start composting today!

• Recycling is not just for cans and bottles anymore. Did you know you can recycle mattresses? Holiday lights? Carpet? To learn how you can recycle unusual materials, keep them out of landfills, and benefit Minnesota's economy and environment at the same time, go to http://www.recyclemoreminnesota.org.

• Challenge yourself to carry a reusable bag on your next five shopping trips. Over 12 billion barrels of oil are used each year just to make plastic bags. 
  

• Help keep Minnesota’s waterways clean and safe. Never dump oils, fertilizers, or other hazardousfluids down the drain or outside. Instead, find a nearby hazardous waste facility. Many will dispose of your hazardous wastes free of charge.

Taking small steps to be green can really add up. If every Minnesotan adopts just a couple of green strategies it will go a long way to keeping our environment green and clean for generations to come.