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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Carolyn
Marinan, Communications, 612-348-5969
CARES Act funding
COVID-19 saliva testing events
The board is designating funding to expand COVID-19 testing events at long-term care facilities, large residential settings, and community centers to reach neighborhoods and communities most disproportionately impacted.
Hennepin County is on track to conduct more than 13,000 tests by the end of 2020 and is expanding to provide saliva testing.
The board allocated $1.9 million to purchase saliva test kits from Vault Health and Hennepin Healthcare and $425,000 to Hennepin Healthcare to increase testing.
Supporting bars and restaurants impacted by COVID-19
The board allocated $8 million of economic support to local restaurants, bars and food service establishments suffering business interruptions due to COVID-19.
Hennepin County is offering this support as COVID-19 infections continue to rise and public health measures are likely to further impact bars and restaurants.
Grants up to $15,000 will be available to businesses that are locally owned and operated; have a physical establishment in Hennepin County; have 100 or fewer employees; and have $6 million in annual revenues or less.
Since June, Hennepin County has given out more than $22 million in Small Business Relief grants in response to the economic impacts of COVID-19.
Supporting food security
The board allocated $1 million to support food security for Hennepin County residents impacted by COVID-19.
Hennepin County has already approved $2 million of CARES Act funding grants to 68 organizations, including churches, non-profits, food pantries, food shelves and community organizations that serve people of color, immigrant communities, and seniors.
$2.1 M for development projects that enhance transit use
Hennepin County is allocating $2.1 million to eight transit-oriented development (TOD) projects located within walking distance of major transit routes.
This new investment will help create 1,123 new housing units, build 60,000 square feet of commercial and community space, and create or retain nearly 130 jobs. Learn more at hennepin.us/TOD.
Projects approved for funding
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Baldwin Square, Minneapolis, $320,000: Office, retail and restaurant space served by local and high-frequency bus routes and the future D-Line bus rapid transit
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Border Avenue Extension, Minneapolis, $350,000: Located adjacent to the METRO Green Line Extension Royalston Station
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Commercial Land Trust Initiative, Minneapolis, $150,000: Office/retail space located near several local and high-frequency bus routes
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Malcolm Yards Affordable Housing, Minneapolis, $250,000: Located near the METRO Green Line Prospect Park Station
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Village Creek, Brooklyn Park, $350,000: Affordable and market rate housing and commercial space served by high-frequency and express bus routes
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Vista 44, Hopkins, $150,000: Located near the METRO Green Line Extension Downtown Hopkins Station
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Satori Boutique Apartments, Minneapolis, $370,000: Affordable and market rate housing and commercial space served by local and high-frequency bus routes and the future D-Line bus rapid transit
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West Lake Quarter, Minneapolis, $200,000: Affordable and market rate housing located near the METRO Green Line Extension West Lake Station
Special levies for water quality improvement projects
The board approved four special levies for watershed management commissions that do not have the ability to levy taxes on their own. Levies will fund projects that improve water quality, stream habitat, flood control and pollinator habitat.
Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission, $1.5 million
- Olivet Stream Restoration Project, Plymouth
- Parkers Lake Drainage Improvement Project, Plymouth
- Enhanced Street Sweeper Cost-Share Project, Plymouth
- Dredging Accumulated Sediment in the Main Stem Bassett Creek Project, Minneapolis
- Bryn Mawr Meadows Water Quality Improvement Project, Minneapolis
- Sweeney Lake Water Quality Improvement, Golden Valley
Shingle Creek Watershed Management Commission, $1.4 million
- Projects providing infiltration and water quality treatment for cities, partners, businesses, and residents
- Connections II Stream Restoration Project, Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center
- Enhanced Street Sweeper Cost-Share Project, Plymouth
- Meadow Lake Management Plan, New Hope
- Bass Creek Restoration Project, Brooklyn Park
West Mississippi Watershed Management Commission, $287,660
- Cost-share providing funding to cities for infiltration and water quality treatment
- Mississippi Crossings Phase B Infiltration Vault, Champlin
- River Park Stormwater Improvements Project, Brooklyn Park
Elm Creek Watershed Management Commission, $137,562
- Cost-share to private landowners for projects that reduce sediment, nutrients, and bacterial loads in Rush Creek
- Enhanced Street Sweeper Cost-Share Project, Plymouth
Funding to divert people from jail to behavioral health services
A new social worker embedded at the Hennepin County Jail will help connect people with services at the Behavioral Health Center at 1800 Chicago in Minneapolis.
The board accepted a state grant, which will also fund a nurse practitioner and other contracted staff at the Behavioral Health Center.
Services target residents with mental illness who cycle between detention, psychiatric hospital services, and homelessness. The goal is to divert residents to community-based mental health services.
November observances
The board recognized the following observances:
Current and archival board meetings, agendas and minutes are available at hennepin.us/boardmeetings.
Look for more news on the Hennepin County website at hennepin.us/news.
Discover how we're making a difference in our communities at hennepin.us/stories.
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