Hennepin County News and COVID-19 Update - June 27

Hennepin County, Minnesota sent this bulletin at 06/27/2020 09:39 AM CDT

June 27, 2020

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

A lot is cooking in our community, and at Hennepin County! This makes for full days, but it also makes for hope and optimism. With so much going on I want to share a few highlights of my last week of work on your behalf: I've spent the majority of my time working with colleagues and other elected leaders to address the crisis of unsheltered homelessness in Minneapolis. Additionally, I’ve been putting plans together and reviewing the best steps for federal and state aid dollars for residents and businesses. Last but not least, stay tuned for more information, I’ve been working with colleagues, county staff and community collaborators to create a trust that will mitigate a land sell-off on commercial corridors to high bidding developers, and prevent displacement.

This all requires compassion, creativity, internal and external support, and a commitment to residents' health and wellbeing. I'm encouraged by the plans coming together, and I thank everyone for reaching out to me with comments, suggestions, and questions.

Hennepin County and the District 3 office are here if you need to engage with one of our many services or supports. We want to hear from you whether it be comments, opinions, ideas, or if you need assistance. The most efficient way to be in touch is by emailing my district aide, Laura Hoffman, at laura.hoffman@hennepin.us.

Be well,

Bridge Beams to be Set on Monday

Temporary reroute map for Midtown Greenway users.

Work will require Midtown Greenway closure for two days

On Monday, June 29, crews are scheduled to set the bridge beams at Fremont Avenue. We anticipate the beam installation will take two days to complete.

We will need to close the Greenway trail while the beams are put into place and secured. Crews will be using a large crane to secure long beams that span the entire length of the bridge.

During the closure, Greenway users should use the temporary reroute to get around the closure.

Girard Avenue
28th Street
Bryant Avenue

Signs will be on the Greenway to notify users of the upcoming reroute.

Bridge deck construction to follow

After setting the bridge beams, crews will construct the bridge deck. This involves building temporary scaffolding around the bridge to protect the trail users below during deck construction. Bridge deck work will take up to three weeks to complete, as the concrete needs time to cure or set. The Greenway trail will reopen during this work.

Final phase of construction coming up

Following the bridge deck construction, crews will begin the final phase of construction. Crews will complete the remaining concrete work, including sidewalks, railings, pedestrian ramps and paneling. They also will pave the bridge roadway and place permanent striping on the bridge and trail below.

Weather permitting, we expect to reopen the Fremont Avenue Bridge by late summer.

Expect short-term closures

People should anticipate some short-term closures during the final phase of construction. These activities will require the use of the temporary reroute on 28th Street. We will let people know about these closures on our project website, through these updates and with signage on site.

For more information

To learn more about the project, visit hennepin.us/greenwaybridges.

For questions, please contact the project at greenwaybridges@hennepin.us or call 612-543-4275.

Minneapolis Seeking Disaster Declaration for Areas Impacted by Civil Unrest

The City of Minneapolis, in partnership with Hennepin County and the State of Minnesota, is seeking a disaster declaration from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for the areas impacted by the recent civil unrest in Minneapolis. A disaster declaration would make low-interest property damage and economic injury loans available through the SBA.

The City is seeking additional information from businesses owners and property owners who sustained building damage, e.g. fire damage, or business loss, e.g. damaged inventory, and do not expect losses to be fully covered by insurance (40% or more uninsured loss).

If this describes your situation, please complete this survey no later than Thursday, July 2 to provide data on your losses. Your response is optional and will not impact in any way your eligibility for relief funds should they become available. You will not be more likely or less likely to receive relief funds. Instead you are providing information that will help our community apply for a disaster declaration and if declared, provide access to these loans to all eligible business and property owners in our community.

For questions or assistance completing the survey, contact the City of Minneapolis Small Business Team at 612-673-2499 or SmallBusiness@minneapolismn.gov. Assistance in Spanish, Somali and Hmong is available.

Food Assistance for Minneapolis Youth

Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) recently adjusted its summer schedule for food box pick-up – including opening new sites and closing sites located near others – and continues to offer Minneapolis families a free food box each week for each child age 18 and younger. Boxes include fresh produce and items for seven breakfasts and seven lunches that meet the district’s nutrition guidelines. All children, not just MPS students, are eligible for free boxes. Find more information on the program, including the latest pick-up locations and schedule details, here.

In addition, families with children who received free or reduced-price school meals in the 2019-2020 school year are eligible for a one-time $325 payment to help offset food costs through the Pandemic Emergency Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program. Families who were receiving assistance through the state’s SNAP and/or MFIP programs should have received this payment in late May, but families who were not already receiving SNAP or MFIP benefits as of March 18 must complete this application by next Tuesday, June 30. Children may continue to receive prepacked food boxes from MPS and food from other community locations even if they receive P-EBT benefits.

State Seeking Input on Distance Learning

The Minnesota Department of Education wants to hear from families about their distance learning experience this spring to help state officials plan for the 2020-21 school year. You can share your input and suggestions through this survey. The Department of Education continues to partner with the Minnesota Department of Health to address the COVID-19 pandemic and determine how to keep students, families, and staff healthy. So far, state agencies have imagined three possible scenarios for school this fall: in-person learning for all students, hybrid learning with strict social distancing and capacity limits, and distance learning only. Learn more about the state’s ongoing work here. State officials expect to announce a decision on how schools can operate in the coming school year by the week of July 27. This is not a City decision. To stay in the loop, you can sign up for email updates related to schools and the state’s COVID-19 response.

Minnesota Small Business Relief Loans

The application window for Minnesota Small Business Relief Loans opened on June 23 and will close July 2.

Learn more here.

MN Dept. of Public Safety Driver and Vehicle Services Division Update

On May 19, the Department of Public Safety Driver and Vehicle Services division (DPS-DVS) resumed driver’s license road and knowledge testing. We anticipate that between June 1 and Oct. 31, DPS-DVS examiners will need to administer more than 81,000 road tests. This includes rescheduling tests for nearly 19,000 Minnesotans who had a Class D road test canceled due to COVID-19.

DVS exam stations currently open and providing road tests:

Arden Hills
Anoka
Eagan
Plymouth
Rochester
Mankato
Fairmont
Marshall
Willmar
Detroit Lakes
St. Cloud
Duluth
Grand Rapids
Bemidji

The DVS Town Square office in St. Paul is open for knowledge tests.

Highlighting the Work of BIPOC Organizations in the Twin Cities

Take a look at the work and/or support the following black, indigenous, and people of color organizations across the Twin Cities.

African Career, Education, and Resource (ACER) - A nonprofit organization that engages African immigrants living in the north and northwest suburbs of Minneapolis.
Al Maa'uun - Al Maa'uun is a nonprofit with deep roots in North Minneapolis, serving thousands of households each year with food and critical supplies.
Black Immigrant Collective - The Black Immigrant Collective amplifies and makes visible the voices of Black immigrants in Minnesota.
Black Women Speak - Gathering Black Women in Minnesota to share our experiences in order to heal, find joy and move toward liberation on our own terms!
Centro de Trabajadores Unidos en Lucha - CTUL is a worker-led organization where workers organize, educate and empower each other to fight for a voice in their workplaces and in their communities.
Cities Care Collective - South-Minneapolis based rad worker-owned childcare co-op working to provide easy access childcare by and for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) and queer organizers and families.
Division of Indian Work - Division of Indian Work’s mission is to support and strengthen urban American Indian people through culturally-based education, traditional healing approaches, and leadership development. We provide many services to the community but the most relevant one right now is our food shelf.
Du Nord Riot Recovery Fund - Du Nord Craft Spirits is a Black-owned distillery with a building that was damaged. They’ve “received a tidal wave of love and support from across the nation and many have asked how they can help… Therefore, Du Nord is establishing this fund to support black and brown companies affected by the riots.”
Isuroon - Isuroon is a grassroots nonprofit organization working to promote the well-being and empowerment of Somali women in Minnesota and beyond.
Joyce Preschool - emergency fund for families who had to evacuate their homes near Lake Street last week, and who are now coming back to a devastated neighborhood with no grocery stores within walking distance.
Latino Community on Lake Street - fundraiser for Latinx owned businesses on Lake Street.
Little Earth Residents Association - Food and safety needs for residents of Little Earth of United Tribes.
Migizi Communications - MIGIZI Communications advances a message of success, well-being and justice for the American Indian community. Support them rebuilding after fire.
Minnesota Healing Justice Network - We provide a supportive professional community and mutual aid network for wellness and healing justice practitioners who also identify as IBPOC (indigenous, black, or people of color).
New Mindsets, New Media, New Leaders, and Narratives (N4) - youth-led organization that applies community mobilization to heal and transform society. We combat social stigmas related to race, gender, culture, intelligence, and health utilizing artistry and activism.
Northside business support - support businesses on Minneapolis’s Northside that have been impacted by recent demonstrations.
Pimento Relief Fund - We’re partnering with Pimento to provide black business without insurance relief after white supremacists set them on fire during the protests.
Powwow Grounds - send via paypal to angelswann2021@gmail.com - Native-run cafe, currently providing meals to elders, protectors and community, purchasing medical supplies, fire supplies, cooking supplies.
PPNA - Renters Support Fund - operated by the Minneapolis Renters' Coalition, a group of residents, community organizations, and neighborhood organizations committed to supporting renters in our community.
Southside Harm Reduction- Southside Harm Reduction Services works within a harm reduction framework to promote the human rights to health, safety, autonomy, and agency among people who use substances.
Spiral Collective - A volunteer full-spectrum reproductive options and support group comprised of doulas, birth-workers, and passionate reproductive justice advocates. based in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota, occupied Dakhóta territories.
Unicorn Riot - A decentralized media organization that has been live-streaming uprisings
Until We Are All Free - Non-profit organization working towards the liberation of incarcerated men and women and help them fulfill their roles as human beings in society, contributors to art, financial liberation, community development, culture ambassadors, mothers.
West Broadway Business and Area Coalition - WBC in partnership with Northside Funders Group will direct all donations to support Northside businesses that have been impacted by COVID-19 and the recent uprising.

Renew Driver's Licenses and ID Cards Online

In Minnesota you can now renew your standard driver’s license or ID card online (if there is no change to your name, address, signature, or license number).

Vote By Mail Began Yesterday 6/26

Request Your Absentee Ballot

All eligible voters in Minnesota can choose to vote by mail via absentee ballot.

To complete the application for an absentee ballot online you must:

Be eligible to register and vote in Minnesota
Provide an email address
Provide your identification number: MN-issued driver's license, Minnesota ID card or last 4 digits of Social Security Number

Complete your absentee ballot request here.

Up-to-Date Resources

Hennepin County Services

Up-to-date information about how to access Hennepin County services.

Hennepin County local resource site for information on food, health, safety, and housing resources.

Hennepin County Library Curbside Pickup FAQ

The Domestic Abuse Service Center is currently operating remotely. All services can be accessed by calling (612) 348-5073.

Health Resources

Find COVID-19 testing locations

State of Minnesota Dedicated COVID-19 Hotlines:

Community (schools, child care, business) questions: 651-297-1304 or 1-800-657-3504 (7:00 am – 7:00 pm)
Health questions: 651-201-3920 or 1-800-657-3903 (7:00 am – 7:00 pm)

Ways to create your own non-medical grade mask.

Contact Standpoint advocacy services at 612-743-7397 if you are experience domestic abuse/violence.

Housing Resources

Call 612-348-5553 to speak with Healthcare for the Homeless staff about accessing quarantine and isolation space.

Homes for All COVID-19 Housing and Homelessness Resources

Additional resources for those experiencing housing instability.

Apply for Minnesota’s Energy Assistance Program

Food Resources

Minneapolis Public Schools meal pickup information

Saint Louis Park public school meal distribution information

'Free Meals for Kids' Mobile App

Designate someone to use your EBT card on your behalf.