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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Carolyn
Marinan, Communications, 612-348-5969
County board actions
Votes Tuesday approved funding for projects along the Southwest Light Rail Transit corridor and awarded grant funding for clean up of contaminated sites, environmental education and natural resources projects.
 Funding
approved for fiber network along Southwest Light Trail Transit corridor
The board approved funding for improvements related to the
Southwest Light Rail Transit project, including $2.2 million for installation
of fiber optic infrastructure along the entire transit corridor. Laying the
fiber optic infrastructure will lower county operating costs and support
Hennepin County’s growing need for a high-speed, reliable broadband network.
Hennepin County will also provide $1.7 million to construct a
trail and $400,000 to reconstruct traffic control systems at two intersections along Flying
Cloud Drive (County Road 61) in Eden Prairie.
Read more about the improvements planned for the light rail
corridor.
Read more
about the Southwest Light Rail Transit project.
The board awarded $1.3 million for nine projects to assess and
clean up contaminated sites where added environmental costs hinder site
improvements or redevelopment. The Environmental Response Fund grants will fund
asbestos and lead paint removal, contaminated groundwater monitoring and
contaminated soil clean up.
Hennepin County awarded grants to the following organizations:
- Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission,
Minneapolis: $150,300 for disposal of contaminated soil along the streambank to
help improve water quality and habitat along Bassett Creek
- City of St. Louis Park: $166,000 for cleanup
of contaminated soil associated with development of new stormwater management
structures and planned park improvements
- City of Lakes Community Land Trust,
Minneapolis: $230,000 for asbestos and lead paint removal associated with the
renovation of 10 houses
- Ebenezer Park Apartments, Minneapolis:
$142,654 for lead paint and asbestos removal at a 200-unit complex for
low-income seniors and people with disabilities
- City of Minneapolis: $71,994 for contaminated
soil cleanup associated with building 118 units of affordable housing at the
Hook and Ladder Apartments development site
- Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board:
$142,000 for contaminated soil disposal during construction of the Sheridan
Memorial Park in northeast Minneapolis
- Minnesota Brownfields, countywide: $250,000 to
continue the Brownfields Gap Financing Program, which provides small
environmental assessment grants to government entities and nonprofit
organizations
- City of Minneapolis: $41,769 for contaminated
soil clean-up associated with development of affordable and market rate housing,
a restaurant and office space at the Penn Avenue Union development site
- City of St. Louis Park Economic Development
Authority: $92,230 for demolition and contamination cleanup in preparation for
a multi-use development that will include 300 affordable and market rate
apartments, a 110-room hotel, coffee house, bike shop and microbusiness space
at the PLACE development site
Read more about the Environmental Response Fund program and
grantees.
The board awarded $147,600 of Green Partners Environmental
Education grants for projects than engage and empower residents to protect and
improve the environment. Groups will engage 2,700 residents to protect the environment by reducing waste, recycling, composting
organics, conserving energy, improving air and water quality and protecting
pollinators.
Hennepin County awarded grants to the following organizations:
- Black Storytellers Alliance, Minneapolis:
$12,000
- Boys and Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities, Mound
and Minneapolis: $15,000
- Center School, Minneapolis: $14,500
- Clean Water Fund, Eden Prairie, Plymouth,
Robbinsdale, St. Anthony and Wayzata: $8,000
- Cycles for Change, Minneapolis: $15,000
- Greater Mount Vernon Missionary Baptist Church,
Minneapolis: $12,000
- Kids for Conservation, Minneapolis: $5,100
- Metro Blooms, Minneapolis: $15,000
- Minneapolis Toy Library, Minneapolis: $15,000
- Minnesota African Women's Association, Brooklyn
Center: $15,000
- Nokomis East Neighborhood Association,
Minneapolis: $8,000
- Pollinate Minnesota, Minneapolis: $8,000
- Wayzata Community Sailing Center, Wayzata:
$5,000
Read more about the grants and award recipients.
The board approved a total of $284,015 in grant funding for projects to protect natural resources and water quality throughout the county.
Hennepin County awarded $225,000 of Natural Resources Opportunity
grants to the following organizations:
- City of Greenfield: $25,000 to capture and
filter stormwater onsite at the city’s Central Park
- Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission,
Plymouth: $50,000 to stabilize and restore streambanks along both sides of
Plymouth Creek
- Metro Blooms, Minneapolis: $50,000 to work
with property owners in the Harrison Neighborhood to install stormwater best
management practices
- Mississippi Watershed Management Organization,
Minneapolis: $50,000 to install stormwater best management practices for
commercial properties along targeted corridors
- Riley-Purgatory-Bluff Creek Watershed
District, Minnetonka: $50,000 to remove invasive plants and restore seven acres
of forest at the Scenic Heights School
The county also awarded $59,015 for six Good Steward grants for
smaller projects.
Read more about Hennepin County’s natural resources grants and
grantees.
Acting as the Hennepin County Housing and Redevelopment Authority
(HRA) on January 10, the board elected District 2 Commissioner Linda Higgins as
chair and District 5 Commissioner Debbie Goettel as vice chair of the
authority.
Read more about HRA organization.
The board is accepting applications for two
vacancies on the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District Board, which coordinates the management of water and related land
resources in the watershed that drains into Lake Minnetonka and Minnehaha
Creek. For more information, visit www.hennepin.us/advisoryboards.
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Look for more news on
the Hennepin County website at www.hennepin.us/news.
Discover how we're making a difference in our communities at www.hennepin.us/stories.
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