ARVIN -- City leaders and business owners are forging a partnership to help the city become a model for other cities when it comes to going green.

At a workshop Monday night, business owners heard from several organizations working with the city to help businesses become more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly.

It's about "making the area livable and reducing emissions and what we can do to reduce our energy usage so that it cleans up the entire valley and not just our area," Mike Kunz, a city development associate, said.

Arvin has also partnered with the San Joaquin Valley Clean Energy Organization, which helped them earn a $46,000 grant to develop clean energy policies and projects.

"We're looking at what businesses can do to reduce their energy and waste," said Paul Johnson, the organization's executive director, adding that they have helped install solar panels at Bear Mountain Pizza.

Much of the city's plan includes ways to fight the consistently poor air quality, much of which is not locally produced.

Considering the difficulties the city encounters, it is encouraging that the city is taking a leadership role in fighting climate change, Tom Jordan, of the San Joaquin Air Quality District, said.

Many of the city's south-facing businesses on Bear Mountain Boulevard are already installing energy-efficient windows and doors, Kunz said.

Leaders also discussed making low and moderate-income housing more energy-efficient.