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Greetings! We hope our newsletter serves as a resource for
staying connected to Hennepin County activities and staying updated on county
news and services.
As always, please reach out with questions, comments, or to
learn more about how to get involved.
We thank our staff for the many ways their work helped improve the lives of everyone who calls Hennepin County home. Here’s a look at some of what was accomplished in 2021.
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Worked with partners to help over 930 people transition from homelessness to permanent housing.
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Worked with partners to cut application times for cash, food and child care assistance from an hour down to 13 minutes.
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Distributed $70M in small business relief funds, with more than 40% going to businesses owned by Black, Indigenous and people of color.
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Committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 45% from 2010 levels by 2030 and achieving “net zero” emissions by 2050.
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Administered 64,000+ COVID-19 vaccinations and distributed 650,000+ masks to community organizations.
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Hosted 9 healing circles for African American, African immigrant, American Indian, Asian American, Latino/Latinx, young adults and allies, with the intention to create a welcoming, safe space to support healing from trauma experienced in the past year.
Our snowplow operators have been working hard this winter season to help keep our county roads safe.
Please do your part by slowing down and giving our crews plenty of room to work.
Hennepin County is seeking organizations, churches, and other sites to join our warming options list. These spaces are critical for providing people relief from dangerously cold winter temperatures.
Please email erin.wixsten@hennepin.us to learn more. hennepin.us/staywarm
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Plastics are problematic for many reasons. They create waste and litter, contribute to climate change, pollute our water, harm wildlife, and have largely unknown health impacts for us.
Be part of the solution by joining the Hennepin County Plastic-Free Challenge and committing to actions that help create a plastic-free world. Together, our actions help to reduce waste, protect water and wildlife, address climate change, and look after the health of ourselves and future generations.
The Plastic-Free Challenge is a month-long effort starting February 1 to reduce plastic consumption, especially single-use plastics, in ways that fit best in your lifestyle and are most impactful to reducing your footprint. You can also create a team to take the challenge along with your family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues. Or encourage an organization, business, or community group you are a part of to become a Hennepin County Plastic-Free Challenge Partner.
Learn more, sign up, and get ready to go plastic-free at hennepinplasticfree.ecochallenge.org
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COVID UPDATES
Get your COVID-19 vaccine
Hennepin County is offering first and second COVID-19 vaccine doses to people 5 and up and booster doses for people 12 and up.
Find vaccine events and clinics and register for an appointment at hennepin.us/vaccineregistration. You can also register for an appointment at 612-348-8900. Help is available in English, Spanish, Somali, and Hmong.
New isolation and quarantine guidance
The CDC recently updated their recommendations for isolation and quarantine when you are sick or exposed to COVID-19. Find updated guidance:
Help staying in isolation
Hennepin County residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 and need help remaining in isolation can contact the county for support:
Hennepin County has a grant program to fund projects that prevent waste in the business sector. Areas of focus include replacing disposables with reusables, food waste prevention and innovative projects around research and development (to prevent waste). This year $300,000 is available for business waste prevention grants.
Applicants may apply for up to $50,000 toward a project, with a minimum of $5,000. Grants over $10,000 require a 25% match. Review the 2022 waste prevention grant guidelines (PDF) and the grant flyer (PDF) for details on this grant program.
Application timeline
Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until Monday, November 14, 2022, or until the annual program budget is exhausted, whichever occurs first.
Learn more
Visit the business recycling web page to learn more and apply.
The county is providing free resources and assistance for small businesses and nonprofit organizations to start or improve recycling and organics recycling.
Applicants may select up to $3,000 worth of containers and compostable bags from the county's product list.
Review the 2022 Business recycling bin and compostable bag grant guidelines (PDF) and grant flyer (PDF) for details on container and bag options.
Application timeline
Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until Monday, November 14, 2022, or until the annual program budget is exhausted, whichever occurs first.
Learn more
Visit the business recycling web page to learn more and apply.
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 Black History Month celebration
Midtown Global Market invites you to kick off Black History Month on Saturday, February 5, from 12-3pm.
Highlights include:
• Storyteller Auntie Beverly at 12:00. She will engage attendees of all ages, while sharing her love for the oral tradition through an engaging, affirming and supportive cultural story and live tradition.
• Heart and Soul Drum academy will perform and share their approach to building bridges across communities through the art of drumming.
• DJ DIME will spin records and share her passion for music with custom built tracks.
• Enjoy pop up vendors from our very own business owners. Baked brand candles, New Start Fashion, The Kitchen by Baked Brand, Simba Craftware, The Art Shoppe and more...
• Free Kids Craft- "I have a dream". Create your own cloud and attachment personal messages of hopes and dreams.
Masks are required per the City of Minneapolis.
Street and ramp parking are available.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2022 AT 6 PM – 9 PM
Oh yeah! Let's cross the river to Minneapolis for our February BtB! It's our first time at Eastlake; they have great beers, a fun space, and lots of food options inside the building to choose from. Let's do this!
So wait, this is a singles event, right? Or a professional networking thing?
Nope. Break the Bubble is for making friends, pure and simple. You can leave the pick-up lines and elevator speeches at home. Refreshing, isn't it?
What's the format?
1. Show up
2. Put on a name tag
3. Introduce yourself to someone new
It's just that easy! See you soon!
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Contact us
Angela Conley
Commissioner, 4th District
Binta Kanteh
Policy Director
612-348-5204
Shanese Reed
District Outreach and Scheduler
612-348-3204
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