We hope our newsletter serves as a resource for connecting to Hennepin County activities and staying updated on county news and services. Visit our website to find more ways to connect with the county.

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News

Additional Public Hearing Set for New Transportation and Transit Sales Tax

The board approved an additional public hearing to obtain public comment on the imposition of a new sales tax of up to one-half cent and the potential uses of that revenue for transportation and transit projects. This tax would replace the current sales tax of one-quarter cent imposed by Hennepin County for the Counties Transit Improvement Board (CTIB).
The board held a previous public hearing on the sales tax on Tuesday, March 21, continued that hearing on Tuesday, March 28, and laid the matter over to the call of the chair.

The public hearing will be held before the Public Works Committee on

Tuesday, June 6, at 1:30 p.m.
Board Room (A-2400) of the Hennepin County Government Center
300 South Sixth Street, Minneapolis.

All are welcome.

Read more about the action.

See the sales and use transportation tax implementation plan.

Learn more about how Hennepin County is connecting people to places.

Join us at the Health and Safety Fair on June 6

Discover great ways to improve your health, stay safe, and help your loved ones do the same. More than 25 exhibitors will share a wealth of resources, demonstrations and activities at this year’s Health and Safety Fair, on Tuesday, June 6, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. on the skyway level of the Hennepin County Government Center.

The free event brings together CenterPoint Energy, NiceRide, Minnesota Safety Council, Hennepin County Sheriff’s Department, Three Rivers Park District, Minneapolis 911 and many other organizations and is hosted by Hennepin County’s Workplace Safety and HealthWorks teams.

Health and Safety Fair

Tuesday June 6, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Hennepin County Government Center, skyway level
300 South Sixth Street, Minneapolis

Free Career Fair Will Connect Job-Seekers With Recruiting Employers

Job-seekers can connect with actively-recruiting companies at a career fair next week sponsored by the Hennepin County Work and Economic Resource Center. The event is free and open to the public.

Event details

Monday, June 5
9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Hennepin County Library - Brookdale
6125 Shingle Creek Parkway, Brooklyn Center

Job-seekers are encouraged to dress professionally and bring copies of their resumes. All participating businesses are aiming to fill multiple openings. Click here to view the organizations that will be in attendance.

Board Meeting Highlights

May 9th

$2.7 Million Awarded For Affordable Housing

Voting May 2 as the Housing and Redevelopment Authority, the board awarded 2017 Affordable Housing Incentive Fund grants to help develop and preserve 657 affordable housing units.

Hennepin County awarded funding to the following projects:

Aeon Prospect Park, Minneapolis: $250,000 to construct 70 units of mixed-income rental housing
CLCLT Homebuyer Initiated Program, Minneapolis: $100,000 to restore four single-family homes
Knox & American, Bloomington: $300,000 to construct 284 units of mixed-income rental housing including 50 affordable rental units
Minnehaha Commons, Minneapolis: $250,000 to construct 43 rental units for seniors experiencing homelessness
Minnehaha Townhomes, Minneapolis: $500,000 to construct 16 rental units for families experiencing homeless
PLACE St. Louis Park: $300,000 to construct 299 units of mixed-income rental housing including 200 affordable rental units
Reprise: Brooklyn Park: $200,000 to refinance and rehabilitate 110 senior apartment units and 60 family townhome rental units
Sabanthi Senior Housing, Minneapolis: $400,000 to construct 50 affordable rental units for seniors next to the Sabanthi Community Center
The Mariner, Minnetonka: $200,000 to construct 236 units of mixed-income rental housing including 55 affordable rental units
WHAHLT Homes Within Reach, suburban Hennepin County: $200,000 to restore six single-family homes

Since 2000, the program has committed $59.9 million and leveraged more than $1.3 billion in additional investment to create and maintain more than 7,200 affordable housing units.

$2.2 Million Awarded For Development Along Transit Lines

Voting May 2 as the Housing and Redevelopment Authority, the board awarded funding for seven projects that will create housing, commercial space, jobs and improved connections to transit. Hennepin County funding for these projects will support bicycle infrastructure, landscaping, sidewalks, trails, wayfinding, streetscaping, lighting and more near transit stations.

Hennepin County awarded funding to the following projects:

38th Street Station, Minneapolis, $400,000: Located near the 38th Street Station on the METRO Blue Line, the project will construct a new mixed-use development with housing, retail and office space.
East Town Apartments, Minneapolis, $330,000: The project, located within walking distance of the U.S. Bank Station on the METRO Blue and Green Lines, will support development of 169 affordable housing units.
Green on 4th, Minneapolis, $400,000: The project includes 243 mixed-income units located near the Prospect Park Station on the METRO Green Line.
Knox & American, Bloomington, $400,000: Located along the future Orange Line Bus Rapid Transit corridor, the project will include 248 mixed-income apartments, a 125-room hotel and restaurant.
Penn Avenue Union, Minneapolis, $200,000: The project, adjacent to the future Penn & Golden Valley Station on the C-Line, will create 64 units of mixed-income housing and commercial space.
Southwest Station Apartments, Eden Prairie, $300,000: Located next to the existing Southwest Station and future Green Line Extension Station, the project will add 222 mixed-income units and retail space.
Youth Link-Downtown View Apartments, Minneapolis, $170,000: The project will consist of 47 new affordable housing units for homeless youth and the expansion of a youth service center.

Program Will Continue Connecting Chronically Homeless with Housing

The board approved $351,875 of U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development grant funding to help chronically homeless families attain stable housing. Funding will allow six full-time caseworkers to continue serving hard-to-reach families coping with physical, emotional or behavioral disabilities. Between June 2015 and June 2016, 99 percent of all 51 families participating in the program secured or maintained permanent housing.

May 9th

Grants Will Support Livelihood of Small Business Districts

The board awarded two grants totaling $80,000 to support economic vitality of small business districts in suburban Hennepin County. Business District Initiative grants will leverage about $84,000 in matching investments and benefit as many as 80 small businesses.

Funding awards

City of Hopkins: $30,000 for placemaking projects to drive traffic to small businesses in downtown Hopkins
City of Richfield: $50,000 for storefront improvements and marketing for the Penn Avenue business district

County Awards Contract for Criminal Justice Diversion Program

The board approved a $325,686 contract to divert first-time nonviolent adult offenders from the criminal justice system. The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office awarded the contract to Diversion Solutions, which received the highest rank while coming in with the lowest bid of the three companies. The new contract will make better use of existing county services.

Schedule of Free Outdoor Movies at Target Field Station Announced

Hennepin County is hosting free movie nights this summer at Target Field Station in partnership with the mpls downtown council and the Minnesota Twins.

Residents can bring a lawn chair or blanket, find a spot on the grass outside the ballpark and watch movies on the video board. The digital screen at Target Field Station allows for movies to be shown in crisp quality and before dusk, making the events ideal for all ages.

See the full selections and times here.

Board Briefings

You're invited. In addition to our regularly scheduled board meetings, the County Board often meets for updates on Thursday mornings. These are informal opportunities to discuss emerging issues. No decisions are made, and topics are subject to change. Board briefings occur in the board room on the 24th floor of the Hennepin County Government Center and are open to the public. Call my office to confirm briefing time and location.

Thursday, June 1:

10:30am -11:30am: Library Preservation

Thursday, June 15:

9:30am -11:30am: Legislative Update

District 3 Profile

To share more about the work of Hennepin County, we profile a county employee who lives in District 3. Each month spotlights a person from varying departments.

Patron Experience Supervisor, Hennepin County Library-Augsburg Park, Greg Gidden

Click here to see how Greg makes Hennepin County tick.

County Calendar

6/1/2017

Health Insurance Counseling for Seniors

Walker Library, 2880 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis
Thursdays, June 1, July 6, August 3, 10 to 11:30 a.m.

Learn more about Health insurance Counseling for Seniors

6/10/2017

Live Show: The Reptile and Amphibian Discovery Zoo

The Reptile & Amphibian Discovery Zoo will showcase frogs, lizards, snakes and turtles.
Linden Hills Library, 2900 West 43rd Street, Minneapolis 5540; 10 to 11:30am

Learn more about The Reptile & Amphibian Discovery Zoo

6/10/2017

Master Gardener: Heart of Herbs

Take the mystery out of growing, using and storing herbs for landscaping, food and drink use, pollination, decorating and more.
Linden Hills Library, 2900 West 43rd Street, Minneapolis; 10 to 11:30am

Learn more and register for the Heart of Herbs

6/19/2017

TransFabulous: Art as Resistance

Join artist grey doolin in exploring the creative process as a form of resistance and activism in this four-week workshop. The use of different media will be encouraged, including collage, drawing and writing.
Walker Library, 2880 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis; 5:30 to 7:30pm

Learn more about TransFabulous: Art as Resistance

6/21/2017

TimeToTalk.MN Book Club

TimeToTalk.MN is a monthly book club that focuses on diversity and social justice, planting the seeds of empathy and peace, one story at a time.

June 21: A Good Time for the Truth: Race in Minnesota by Sun Yung Shin
July 19: White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide by Carol Anderson
Aug. 16: Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Walker Library, 2880 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis; 6:15 to 7:45 p.m.

Learn more about TimeToTalk.MN Book Club

6/25/2017

Creative Monologues

How do actors get hired? Typically, the first step and sometimes the last is through a monologue audition. Learn from an experienced Guthrie teaching artist how to make a monologue compelling through creative choices based in conflict and subtext. No experience necessary!
St. Louis Park Library, 3240 Library Lane; 1 to 2:30pm

Learn more and register Creative Monologues and other Act Out! programs

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