 For release: May 6, 2014
Contact: Carolyn Marinan, Public Affairs, 612-348-5969
News Release
Scholarships for early childhood education
The board approved $1 million to be added to the 2014 Human
Services and Public Health department budget to support placement of
county-involved children birth to 5 in quality child care and education
programs. The funding will supplement a
statewide early learning scholarship program that was created in 2013.
Scholarships will be used to send children to high quality early care and
education programs. These programs, evaluated by the Parent Aware Quality
Rating System, help to ensure increased school readiness for low-income young
children. The scholarships will benefit young children at developmental risk,
including those in foster care, who have reunified with their parents, who have
open Child Protection cases, who have teen mothers attending school, and who
are children of a disabled parent who has an open case. It is anticipated that
this program will serve up to 125 children each year.
Public Hearing for
Bassett Creek Watershed Management Plan
The board set a public hearing
before the Public Works, Energy and Environment Committee on Tuesday, May 13,
2014, at 1:30 p.m. to receive comments on a major plan amendment proposed by the
Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission. The proposed amendment adds the
2015 Bassett Creek Main Stem Restoration project to the commissioners’ capital
improvement program. The project will restore approximately 1.8 miles of
Bassett Creek by removing problem trees, repairing eroded stream banks, installing
a variety of stream stabilization measures and flow diversion methods to
address erosion, repairing storm sewer outlets and other failing infrastructure
along the creek, and planting native trees and shrubs along the creek. The
preliminary estimated cost for the project ranges from $1,319,000 to
$1,659,000. The hearing will be held in the Board Room, 24th Floor of the
Administration Tower, Government Center, 300 South Sixth Street, Minneapolis,
Minnesota.
Grant funding for
Workforce Investment Act
The board approved an agreement with the Minnesota Department
of Employment and Economic Development for workforce development services for adults and youth. The grant is projected
to serve 967 adults and 565 youth.
Adult and dislocated worker programs provide assessment,
case management and referral to training programs to help residents return to
the workforce. The adult programs serve those who have been out of the
workforce for a substantial period of time and may need significant skill upgrades,
and those who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own (layoff or
downsizing) and have current job skills that may need refreshing to return to the
workforce. Youth programs provide work experience, employment, and training to
economically-disadvantage youth and disabled youth.
School recycling grants awarded
The board voted to grant 18 schools a total of $118,753 in
recycling grants, engaging over 20,000 students in waste reduction and recycling
activities.
The schools are:
- Athlos Leadership Academy,
Brooklyn Park, MN ($10,865)
- Bancroft Elementary School, Minneapolis,
MN ($2,645)
- Blake School, Hopkins, MN ($8,500)
- Broadway High School, Minneapolis,
MN ($2,053)
- Cedar Riverside Community School,
Minneapolis, MN ($2,871)
- Hennepin Elementary School,
Minneapolis, MN ($11,250)
- Hope Academy, Minneapolis, MN ($2,500)
- KIPP Stand Academy, Minneapolis,
MN ($4,580)
- Lionsgate Academy, Crystal, MN ($9,787)
- New City Charter School,
Minneapolis, MN ($1,480)
- Orono Schools, Long Lake, MN ($8,500)
- Prairie Seeds Academy, Brooklyn
Park, MN ($8,095)
- St. John the Baptist Catholic
School, Excelsior, MN ($5,670)
- Venture Academy, Minneapolis, MN ($8,113)
- Wayzata Public Schools, Plymouth,
MN ($14,678)
- West Education Center, Minnetonka,
MN ($11,438)
- Yinghua Academy, Minneapolis, MN ($4,728)
Grants will be used to implement new or improve existing
recycling and organics recycling programs. Some projects will expand collection
of recyclables to the school grounds and athletic events. Other projects will reduce waste by
purchasing reusable materials for the cafeteria, including bulk milk equipment,
reusable trays, utensils and dishware.
Workforce Leadership Council
The board approved funding for a $200,000 Workforce Leadership Council. This leadership council, with membership from Hennepin County, educational institutions and local employers, will recruit public and private sector partners, support educational and training partnerships and seek funding for these programs.
Planning for
Southeast Library
The board approved an agreement with the University of
Minnesota, Humphrey School of Public Affairs, for research and community
engagement services to plan library services for the Southeast Library project.
The goal is to identify the learning, library, and information needs of the
residents of Como, Marcy-Holmes, Prospect Park, and Cedar-Riverside
neighborhoods of Minneapolis for use by Hennepin County and Hennepin County Library
as future library services in Southeast and Cedar-Riverside communities are
planned.
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Look for more news on the Hennepin County website at www.hennepin.us/news.
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