We are so proud that our home town of Reno, Nevada, “The Biggest Little City in the World”, is poised to become the next Bee City USA affiliate!  On April 27, 2022, Reno City Council will vote to join the nationwide network of 153 Bee City USA affiliates, by ratifying our proposed Resolution that commits the City to improve pollinator habitat, reduce the use of pesticides and promote public education.

What is a “Bee City USA”?

Bee City USA along with Bee Campus USA are nationwide initiatives driven by the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.  To become a Bee City, the City Council must pass a Resolution that commits the city to the development of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Plan, hold public awareness events and promote public education furthering pollinator health, among other requirements.  For a complete list of Bee City USA commitments, see https://beecityusa.org/bee-city-usa-commitments/.  In 2017, Carson City became the first Bee City USA in Nevada. To become a Bee Campus USA affiliate, the college or university president must approve the required commitments, similar to those for a Bee City USA.  Importantly, their requirements include adding instructional content and activities that lead to CEU’s.  Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC) became the first Bee Campus USA affiliate in Nevada last month!

Biggest Little Bee City

Biggest Little Bee City USA was formed in 2020 to support the City of Reno.  Our website is to become a portal connecting the 288 Bee City and Bee Campus USA to the activities, events and solutions promoting pollinator health in the Reno, Nevada area. https://biggestlittlebeecityusa.org.   Our committee is comprised of board members from Help Save the Bees Foundation, organizers from the TMCC Bee Campus USA, Reno community leaders, activists and nonprofits committed to pollinator health.  We are in the process of planning events and activities in the Reno area to promote pollinator health. 

How You Can Help

We will be asking our Reno friends to make their voices heard in support of our bid to become the next Bee City USA.  When the agenda item number for our Resolution vote is published (around April 21) we will send out another announcement containing that Agenda Item Number, with a request to submit a 30-second online Public Comment form.  That form will ask for your Ward Number.  There are 6 Wards in Reno, to find out which one you reside in please visit: https://www.reno.gov/government/city-council/ward-map.  Then, when we have the Agenda Item Number, we send a link to the Public Comment Form so you can voice your support for Bee City USA.   If you’d like to join our group of Reno community activists,  please send an email to [email protected] and let us know who you are.  For our friends outside of the Reno area, check if your own home town is one of the other 152 Bee City USA affiliates: https://beecityusa.org/current-bee-city-usa-affiliates/THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!