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Greetings,
I hope you are enjoying my electronic newsletters, and find them interesting and informative about county activities. In addition to my monthly newsletter, the county sends various newsletters and notifications available by email or text message. To explore the many opportunities to subscribe or to change your preferences, visit the subscription webpage.
Please feel free to send me your comments through my feedback form on issues that concern you or you would like covered. I value your opinions.
Warm regards,
Jan Callison
May 9, 2017
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.
Read more about this action.
$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:
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Aeon Prospect Park, Minneapolis:
$250,000 to construct 70 units of mixed-income rental housing
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CLCLT Homebuyer Initiated Program, Minneapolis:
$100,000 to restore four single-family homes
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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
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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
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The Mariner, Minnetonka:
$200,000 to construct 236 units of mixed-income rental housing including
55 affordable rental units
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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.
Read more about funding awards.
Read more about the Affordable Housing Incentive Fund.
May 23, 2017
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
Read more about the funding awards.
Read more about the Business District Initiative program.
Team aims to reduce crime in Minneapolis
The board approved an agreement aiming to reduce violent crime
in Minneapolis. The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office is working with the
Minneapolis Police Department and other law enforcement agencies to increase
law enforcement presence in the city. The agreement will provide Joint
Enforcement Team patrol between May and September in neighborhoods most
impacted by gun violence.
Read more about the Joint Enforcement Team.
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
beat out two other companies that responded to the November bidding process.
Diversion Solutions received the highest rank while coming in with the lowest
bid of the three companies. The new contract will save the county thousands of
dollars annually and make better use of existing county services.
Read more about the contract.
May 4, 2017
Crime lab update
This
briefing focused on the results of the recently completed Shared Regional Crime
Lab Feasibility Study which analyzed opportunities for the Hennepin County
Crime Lab and the Minneapolis Crime Lab to work together. Key findings of the Study were: “1. Forensic approach throughout the region
is fragmented, 2. Potential exists for expansion in the application of forensic
services, 3. Sharing the capital facility and equipment budgets can be
beneficial and 4. Existing facilities do not provide a suitable or flexible
framework for the level of expansion required to support the services.” Next step would be to form a regional
forensic science committee to explore opportunities.
May 18, 2017
Technology update
The purpose of this briefing was to discuss current and future technology trends so that we can identify technology capabilities to support Hennepin County's strategic direction. Staff recommended four focus areas for the county: 1. Cybersecurity, 2. Data management, 3. Risk management, and 4. Collaboration.
Human services systems
This briefing focused on the systems modernization direction for human services. Human service programs in Minnesota are created and controlled at the state level but implemented on the county level. In this service delivery model, the counties have to work within an IT system that is developed and maintained by the state. Hennepin County now has a seat at the table to help influence the state of Minnesota in modernizing its IT and legacy systems to better serve the residents who use our services and support the staff who operate within it. Our next steps are to advocate for state funding of new technology work, advocate for program simplification at the state, and support continued county investment in technology for human services.
June 2, 2017
Public hearing on sale of land in Brooklyn Center
The board is hosting a public hearing on the proposed sale of a
.06 acre parcel of tax-forfeited land to Mound Cemetery in Brooklyn Center.
Public hearing details
- Tuesday, June 6, 1:30 p.m.
- Hennepin County Government
Center Board Room (A-2400)
- 300 South Sixth Street, Minneapolis
Read more about the public hearing.
June 5, 2017
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
Job-seekers are encouraged to dress professionally and bring
copies of their resumes.
This location is served by several bus routes. Visit www.metrotransit.org or or call 612-373-3333
for more details.
Participating employers
All participating businesses are aiming to fill multiple
openings. Recruiters from the following organizations will attend the
career fair:
- ACR Homes
- Atlas Staffing
- Caribou Coffee
- CobornsDelivers
- Comcast
- Delta Global Services
- Doherty Staffing Solutions
- Domino’s
- Endeavor Air
- Family Dollar
- First Student
- Frito Lay
- Goodwill-Easter Seals
- Hennepin County
- HMSHost
- Indrotec
- Jerry’s Enterprises
- Living Well Disability Services
- Mains’l Services
- Mall of America
- Mary T. Inc.
- Minneapolis Marriott Southwest
- O’Reilly Auto Parts
Distribution Center
- Pinnacle Services
- SUPERVALU Distribution Center
- United States Postal Service
- WIS International
- Wells Fargo
Find out more about Hennepin County employment services.
June 6, 2017
Public hearing for new transportation and transit sales tax
The purpose of this public hearing is 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 public hearing will be held before the Public Works Committee on
- Tuesday, June 6, at 1:30 p.m.
- Hennepin County
Government Center Board Room (A-2400)
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300 South Sixth Street, Minneapolis.
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.
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.
June 6, 2017
Dementia Friends Training
This program takes place at the Minnetonka Community Center.
Learn what dementia is, how it affects people, and how we can make a difference
in the lives of people living with dementia, including helpful ways to
communicate, interact and help with everyday tasks.
- Tuesday, June 6, 12 to 1 p.m.
- Minnetonka Community Center, 14600 Minnetonka Boulevard, Minnetonka
Learn
more and register for this event
June 6, 2017
Visit the Health and Safety Fair
The public is invited to visit more than 25 exhibitors who will share a wealth of resources, demonstrations and activities at the Health and Safety Fair.
- Tuesday, June 6, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
- Hennepin County Government Center, skyway level
Join us for a fun and informative way to learn about opportunities for improving health and safety for yourself and for your loved ones from CenterPoint Energy, NiceRide, Minnesota Safety Council, Three Rivers Park District, Minneapolis 911 and many other organizations.
The event is hosted by Hennepin County’s Workplace Safety and HealthWorks.
June 29, 2017
Act Out for Teens: Acting Games for Beginners
Learn the tricks of the trade from an
experienced Guthrie teaching artist. For those entering grades 6-9.
- Thursday, June 29, 2 to 3:30 p.m.
- Hopkins Library, 22 11th Avenue North
Learn
more about Act Out for Teens: Acting Games for Beginners
Kids Jr. Book Club
For those entering grades 2-3 join other kids to talk about a great
book! Participate in activities and games, and discover other books to read.
Copies of the book will be available for checkout at the information desk
starting three weeks prior to the meeting.
- June 20, 11 to 11:45 a.m. - The Locker Ate Lucy by Jack Chabert
- July 18, 11 to 11:45 a.m. - Dare the Wind by Tracey E. Fern
- Aug. 8, 11 to 11:45 a.m. - Book Uncle and Me by Uma Krishnaswami
- Westonka Library, 2079 Commerce Boulevard, Mound
Learn
more and register for this event
Go Outside with Hennepin County
Bring
your family, friends and a lawn chair and enjoy an evening watching a movie
under the stars and downtown skyline at Target Field Station. The crisp-quality
digital screen allows movies to be shown before dark, making these events ideal
for all ages.
Movie showtimes
All
movies begin Thursdays at 7 p.m.
- June 1: “The Sandlot”
- June 8: “Footloose” (1984)
- June 29: “The Parent Trap” (1961)
- July 13: “Inside Out’
- August 10: “Finding Dory”
- August 24: “Free Willy”
Getting to Target Field Station
Go Outside with Hennepin County
Hennepin
County is hosting these events in partnership with the mpls downtown council
and the Minnesota Twins. Movie nights are part of Go Outside with Hennepin
County, a series of free, family-friendly events. Share your experiences at Go
Outside events. Interact on social media using the hashtag #GoOutside.
See this year's full
schedule of Go Outside with Hennepin County events.
Volunteers sought for Riley-Purgatory-Bluff Creek Watershed District Board
The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners is accepting applications for two vacancies on the Riley-Purgatory-Bluff Creek Watershed District Board. The terms for current members Mary Bisek and John Forster are expiring.
This board coordinates the management of water and related land resources in the watershed that drains into Riley, Purgatory and Bluff creeks in Hennepin and Carver counties. Because of the nature of the board, it is helpful for members to have a background in water conservation, development, law, engineering, environment or public administration.
A watershed district board member may not be a public officer of the county, state or federal government and must be a resident of the district. The Cities of Bloomington, Chanhassen, Eden Prairie, Minnetonka, Deephaven and Shorewood lie within the district. Members serve three-year terms.
The application deadline is July 6. The county board will hold interviews at the following board committee meeting, July 11.
Apply online at www.hennepin.us/advisoryboards.
Read more about the watershed district.
100 day youth housing challenge
Hennepin County is one of five communities launching 100-Day challenges to end youth homelessness this summer. Baltimore, MD; Columbus, OH; Louisville, KY and Palm Beach County, FL are also taking on this important challenge. This challenge partners with A Way Home America, the Rapid Results Institute and HomeBase, with the support of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Visit http://www.awayhomeamerica.org/ for more information.
 The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners consists of one commissioner from each of seven districts. I am proud to represent Deephaven, north Eden Prairie, Edina, Excelsior, Greenwood, Hopkins, Long Lake, Minnetonka, Minnetonka Beach, northern Mound, Orono, Shorewood, Spring Park, Tonka Bay, Wayzata and Woodland.
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Jan Callison
Commissioner
6th District
612-348-7886
Allyson Sellwood
Policy Aide
612-348-6885
Christine Hoyles
Administrative Assistant
612-348-3168
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