The kickoff celebration was held at the Pine River Pantry & Quilters' Parlour with guest speaker Dan Frank, community development program manager, with the non-profit Initiative Foundation based in Little Falls.

The Initiative Foundation provides a $10,000 initial grant for HCP participants - like the Pine River community - as well as training, technical assistance and resource referral.

Community organizers hope to combine the Initiative Foundation's HCP program with the state's blossoming green community initiatives to move the Pine River community towards economically-feasible sustainability.

Organizers hope to get Pine River ahead of the curve by laying groundwork to develop a green community before a statewide initiative is created to do so.

A Green Jobs Task Force, co-chaired by Sen. Ellen Anderson, DFL-St. Paul, and Rep. Jeremy Kalin, DFL-North Branch, is already tasked with advising the legislature about green jobs in the state.

"I think we'll be in a position, as opportunities come up; we'll be ahead of everyone else," Frank said, in regards to possible future state funding tied to green initiatives.

Frank added that the HCP program is designed to help local citizens accomplish things in their communities.

In this case: a focus of communitywide efforts on sustainable living, energy conservation, renewable energy and green jobs.

"How can we put people to work doing energy conservation?" was a question Frank posed.

A core leadership HCP team of around 15 community volunteers has been formed. That team will attend daylong HCP training in Little Falls on March 24 and April 16.

Following those trainings a community-wide visioning session will be held, likely in July.

Plans also include a community visit to Pine River by representatives of the Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERT), a public-private partnership focused on energy efficiency and clean energy processes.

During the HCP process, three strategic goals will be identified and addressed by taskforces this fall.

An example of a strategic goal for a green community could be: "How do we cut energy consumption by 10 percent community wide?"

Pine River's success in the HCP program "(is) really going to depend on the willingness of local people to step up and get it done," Frank said.

The other communities accepted into the HCP program this time are: Delano, Long Prairie and Royalton.

At the Monday-night celebration Frank asked the approximately 35 people in attendance to throw out ideas of things they'd like to see in the Pine River community.

Ideas included: a water turbine to create electricity at the Pine River dam; establishment of a food co-op; formation of a farmer's market; creation of a bike path through town; establishment of a ride-sharing group; alternatives to Styrofoam available at area restaurants; and curbside recycling.

Frank said that the size of Pine River is an asset to getting things done. "One advantage is that we know our neighbors; as a community we work together to make things work," said Bob McLean, core Leadership Team member.