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Dear Neighbors and Friends,
Below you'll find expanded and new resources for those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. I'm also excited to highlight progress on the Fremont Avenue Bridge across the Greenway, which is on track for a fall reopening.
As you may know, the county board considered making Juneteenth a paid holiday for county employees. I'm disappointed that this initiative was defeated in a 4-3 vote. Disparity reduction in Hennepin County is woven throughout our work, and we must continue our efforts to center and celebrate the voices in communities of color in our pursuit of race equity.
I voted in favor of making Juneteenth a county holiday because I believe it would highlight the holiday’s importance to our residents and neighboring communities, it would inspire conversations that celebrate Black Americans and Black American history, and it would encourage reflection on continued systemic oppression of Black Americans and communities of color.
Official recognition of Juneteeth would be a small step on the ongoing journey to race equity. I anticipate that the conversation about this holiday is not over, for Hennepin County or our state.
My best,
 The State mask mandate is in effect. To ease the burden on Minnesotans who may be unable to afford a mask or easily obtain one, the State is partnering with community organizations, food banks, area agencies on aging, and affordable housing providers to distribute more than 300,000 reusable, cloth masks.
Learn more and find an organization near you.
Emergency housing assistance
Hennepin County will receive $6.1 million from the state to help residents maintain stable housing during the pandemic.
This is in addition to $16.7 million of CARES Act funding already allocated for emergency housing assistance, for a new total of $22.8 million.
With this new funding, the county will be able to help approximately 11,000 renters and eligibility will be expanded to include households with incomes up to 300% of the Federal Poverty Guideline ($78,600 for a four person household).
The county will work with its existing network of emergency housing assistance partners to administer these funds.
Technology for households impacted by COVID-19
Hennepin County is allocating $1 million of CARES Act funding to distribute low-cost laptops to:
- Youth attending schools that were unable to provide a device for each student
- Youth involved in county programs
- Seniors who need help accessing services, such as tele-health
- People experiencing unemployment who need a device to seek employment, housing, and social supports
- People/youth experiencing housing instability
Additional materials for library e-collection
The board allocated $300,000 of CARES Act funding to purchase e-materials to expand Hennepin County Library’s collection and better serve patrons.
This funding will lower the average wait time and provide resources so communities across Hennepin County can read, graduate, engage, work and learn.
Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing
- Tuesday, September 15, 1:30 p.m.
Provide public comment on the Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing, a comprehensive report to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on metro-wide barriers to fair housing, segregation, affordability, and disparities in housing between racial and ethnic groups. The report provides an in-depth analysis of regional fair housing issues and provides detailed recommendations to mitigate barriers to fair housing.
Minneapolis is offering free COVID-19 testing events Aug. 15 and 25. All are welcomed. The tests are available to people arriving on foot or by car.
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Free COVID-19 testing focused on Latinx community members: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15 Incarnation-Sagrado Corazon Church, 3817 Pleasant Ave. S. Register onsite. Registration forms are available in English and Spanish. Spanish interpreters will be onsite.
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Free COVID-19 testing focused on PICA Head Start families: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 25 McKnight Early Childhood Family Development Center, 4225 Third Ave. S. Hmong, Somali and Spanish interpreters will be onsite.
You can expect to get your test results in about two days. The test is free, and you do not need insurance for the test. If you need medical care but don’t have health insurance, the Minnesota Department of Health offers resources to find low-cost health care or health insurance.
If you are unable to attend one of these testing events, you can use this directory to find a testing location near you.
Fremont Avenue Bridge over the Midtown Greenway
Final Stage of Construction Begins
Bridge deck construction complete
The Fremont Avenue Bridge reconstruction project reached another major milestone when crews finished constructing the bridge deck.
After crews got beams into place, they went to work on taking all the steps needed to complete the bridge deck – building structures, getting rebar into place and pouring the deck.
The concrete is now curing in order to reach its full strength.
 Last month, crews used a large crane to set bridge beams for the new bridge. Each beam was manually guided into place.
 Following the beam setting, crews began constructing temporary scaffolding and laying out rebar (shown above) in preparation for the deck pour.
 In late July, crews poured concrete onto the bridge deck that will support the new travel lanes and sidewalks. The concrete cures for three to four weeks.
Final construction phase underway
Now crews are working on the final construction phase, which includes work on sidewalks, approaches, curbs and gutters and all finishing touches.
Sidewalk and railing work among first activities
Last week, crews poured the new sidewalks on the Fremont Avenue Bridge. The sidewalks will be 10 feet wide to provide more room than the previous bridge provided for people walking and rolling. Crews followed up to pour new railings on the bridge.
While the concrete cures, crews will work on the roadway approaches at both ends of the bridge.
 Crews poured the sidewalks on the new Fremont Avenue Bridge.
Additional concrete work to follow
Following the sidewalk and paving work, crews will construct the remaining concrete structures needed at the ends of the bridge and along the roadways approaching the bridge. Work will include forming and pouring curbs and gutters, accessible pedestrian ramps and sidewalks approaching the bridge.
Weather permitting, these activities will take three weeks to complete.
Anticipating a September opening
Crews will then need to complete all the finishing touches and begin removal of equipment on site. If all goes well and we continue to have favorable weather for construction, the new bridge may be open to traffic by September.
Short-term Midtown Greenway closure
Once the bridge deck is at its full concrete strength, crews will remove the temporary scaffolding surrounding the bridge. This will require a closure of the trail for up to three days. To limit additional short-term closures, crews will also work on placing permanent striping on the trail and route electrical wiring for the new bridge lighting.
Based on current schedules, crews anticipate closing the Greenway through the project area on Wednesday, August 19.
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.
There will be one additional short-term trail closure to install paneling underneath the bridge. We will provide updates once the date is finalized.
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.
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Contact us
Marion Greene
Commissioner, 3rd District
612-348-7883
Elie Farhat
Principal Aide
612-348-7125
Laura Hoffman
District Aide
612-348-0863
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