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Welcome to the District 5 September newsletter!
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Despite facing many challenges over the last several years, I can't help but feel we have so much to look forward to on the horizon. One sign that things are bouncing back... we almost set a new attendance record for the first day of the Minnesota State Fair!
I don't know about you, but I made my way to the fairgrounds, got my yearly corndog, sat in the cab of a MnDOT snowplow, and fully enjoyed this late summer tradition as we await Minnesota fall color change and colder months ahead.
There are other loud bellwethers that things may be turning around. In Hennepin County, we are funding strategic investments and intentional programming that are helping local communities and our BIPOC neighbors (those hardest hit by the pandemic) bounce back resiliently. Reducing the long standing disparities in policing, transportation, education, housing, and environmental action are key to our shared success as we move into a "post pandemic" world. See some newsworthy moments, and things to keep our eyes on below:
I hope you are able to attend the Great Minnesota Get-Together, eat your fried state fair "fare" of choice, and bask in the beautiful warm weather as we near closer to the fall season.
Sincerely,
Early data show that county investments are going a long ways to increase public safety in Eden Prairie. A pilot program that embeds a full-time social worker within the Eden Prairie Police Department is designed to connect a mental health specialist directly with those experiencing crisis, working in the long-term to help reduce the call load to Eden Prairie PD, and establish stronger relationships and trust within communities. Many municipalities across Hennepin County are seeing success with this type of approach, one that offers more compassionate and specific care, outreach, and follow-up with those individuals and families impacted by mental health and substance abuse issues.
As we move into the Hennepin County budget season for 2023, the county continues to evaluate this and other programs to identify how to best sustain investments that connect individuals directly with mental health resources, while simultaneously reducing the mental health crisis call load borne by peace officers.
"“It’s a wild success. Absolutely a success,” said Goettel, a former Richfield mayor, though she acknowledges there are still barriers to connecting residents with mental health or substance abuse care, including limited openings in programs and a shortage of healthcare workers."
On August 9th, the Libraries and Budget Committee authorized the City of Bloomington to receive $400,000 to support 6,600 square feet of commercial space, 15 businesses, and 2 full time jobs through Hennepin County's Community Investment Initiative (CII).
The Bloomington Business Incubator was one of 13 proposals to receive funding from Hennepin County, that in total will provide over 330,000 square feet of affordable commercial space supporting approximately 550 small businesses, over 760 total new or retained jobs, and a total investment value of approximately $206 million across the county.
The overarching goals of CII are to stimulate prosperous and equitable growth, strengthen local communities, accelerate economic recovery, and address disparities that were laid bare and exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
See all financial recipients here.
Read more at the Star Tribune.
On August 11, Hennepin County staff provided a briefing laying out encouraging results from recent investments to reduce educational disparities and stabilize students, improve school readiness and early childhood education, reduce homelessness, and streamline county services across our schools and library system. There is still a huge opportunity to improve student outcomes in Hennepin County and Minnesota as a whole.
Programing highlights:
Stable Homes, Stable Schools-
- Multi sector partnership stabilizing school-age students and families at risk of becoming homeless with referral, financial assistance, and programming
- 1,171 families, 3,342 children served before March 31, 2022
- Largely single parent and BIPOC households served
- Goals: grow our housing stability and homelessness prevention work within Hennepin County
Be@School-
- Provides referral/case management services for at-risk students
- Reduces punitive outcomes in our schools
- Protecst and stabilize students where they are at
- Reduces outcomes in our criminal justice system
- Goals: support early childhood development/maternal health outcomes to lessen disparities in developmental delay and school readiness
LEAP/PLUS-
- Integrates and streamlines county services for 7-12 graders across partner schools sites
- Improves attendance and stabilize placement
- Increases graduation rates
- 86% of students served are BIPOC
Hennepin County Library System-
- Continue to foster early literacy
- Grow culturally relevant programming
- Provide Homework Help
- Expansion of tutoring, enrichment and opportunities
The county recently awarded 26 Green Partners environmental education grants totaling $470,100 to community organizations to engage their audiences in learning about and taking action to protect the environment. Together, these projects will engage more than 6,000 residents in taking action and reach more than 122,000 residents with environmental messages.
One of the recipients is Richfield Foundation, which was awarded $20,000 to engage 200 homeowners in Richfield and Bloomington in replacing existing lawns with native plants to support pollinators, reduce the urban heat island, and install rain barrels to redirect stormwater for use in native gardens.
The program prioritizes environmental education and engagement with youth, Black, Indigenous, communities of color and other underserved and historically marginalized communities to reduce health and education disparities and advance environmental justice. Of the organizations receiving grants, 20 will work primarily with Black, Indigenous, and communities of color.
The program includes two types of grants – 13 of the organizations will work primarily with adult audiences to motivate environmental actions, and 13 organizations will work primarily with youth on learning about the environment and becoming environmental stewards.
Grant projects focus on a variety of topics, including protecting natural resources, reducing waste and recycling, and taking action on climate change. Grantees will engage audiences in 14 cities throughout the county.
Learn about the organizations receiving grants and their projects.
For more information, contact Patience Caso at patience.caso@hennepin.us.
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Election Day is November 8, but you don't have to wait to cast your ballot.
What to do before you vote
Now is the best time to take a few steps to make your voting experience as smooth as possible.
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Register to vote at mnvotes.org.
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Find out which candidates and questions you'll be voting on by viewing your sample ballot.
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Choose how you want to vote.
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Fill out your ballot from the comfort of your home with an absentee ballot by mail. You can do so by filling out an application on mnvotes.org.
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If you'd rather vote early in-person, you have a few options:
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Hennepin County Government Center (skyway level)
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Your local elections office (check with your city clerk for location and hours)
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Minneapolis Early Voting Center (Minneapolis residents)
Curious about the 65th Street Project? Residents are encouraged to attend bi-weekly “on the corner” meetings to get face to face updates on the state of the 65th St. Reconstruction Project from City Staff and the Contractor. At the meeting residents are encouraged to ask questions about the project, voice any concerns, and learn about anticipated work schedule and impacts in the coming weeks. These meetings will be held every other Thursday while construction is occurring.
- West end of Project: September 1st, 2022 @ 4:00 PM at the North end of Pizza Lucé parking lot.
- East end of project: September 8th, 2022 @ 4:00 PM at Blaisdell Cul-de-sac.
- West end of Project: September 15th, 2022 @ 4:00 PM at the North end of Pizza Lucé parking lot.
County Resources
The county’s transportation activities map is interactive resource that allows you to zoom in and narrow down to a specific type of construction or maintenance activity and click on a project to learn more.
Public hearing set for Sept. 7; comment period ends Sept. 18
The Minnesota Department of Transportation invites the public to review and comment on the 2022-2041 Statewide Multimodal Transportation Plan.
Updated every five years, the SMTP is the highest policy plan for transportation in Minnesota. It outlines objectives, performance measures, strategies and actions to help advance MnDOT’s vision of a multimodal transportation system that maximizes the health of people, the environment and our economy over the next 20 years.
Minnesotans can review the draft plan and submit comments online at MinnesotaGO.org or through the project email at stateplans.dot@state.mn.us.
Public Hearing
A public hearing will be held Sep. 7, 2022, from 4-6 p.m., in Room G15 at MnDOT’s Central Office (395 John Ireland Blvd., St. Paul).
To request an ASL or foreign language interpreter or other reasonable accommodation for the public hearing, email requests to adarequest.dot@state.mn.us. Please request at least one week in advance by Aug. 31.
Written comments will be accepted through Sept. 18, 2022 online at MinnesotaGO.org, via email at stateplans.dot@state.mn.us or sent to:
Hally Turner
Minnesota Department of Transportation
395 John Ireland Blvd, Mail Stop 440
St. Paul, MN 55155
Visit MinnesotaGO.org to learn more about the 2022 SMTP and MnDOT’s other statewide planning efforts.
Use MnDOT's online Highway Budget Tool to provide input and set your own budget!
If you enjoy visiting lakes around Hennepin County, join Lake Pledge to learn what you can do to protect our lakes by preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species.
Lake Pledge will help you learn how the activities you do on and around lakes may unintentionally introduce aquatic invasive species. Through short, entertaining videos, you’ll learn what actions to take to prevent the spread. The website and app are free, family-friendly, and take just minutes each week to participate.
 About Lake Pledge
In 2021, Hennepin County and three lakes in Maple Grove piloted Lake Pledge by encouraging lakeshore homeowners to join. In early 2022, the program expanded to more lakes and added a mobile app. Now, the website and app are open to anyone who uses lakes in Hennepin County.
Join Lake Pledge
- Join at lakepledge.com or download the Lake Pledge app through the Apple App Store or Google Play.
- Select the Hennepin County lake you use most often.
- Select all the ways you enjoy spending time on the water on any lake, such as sailing, fishing, kayaking, wakeboarding, and more.
For more information, contact Tony Brough at tony.brough@hennepin.us or 612-348-4378.
Read more in the Star Tribune.
Applications are now open for CEO Next Business Institute, a program providing cohort learning, advanced research, and expert forums to established, second stage companies growing to regional and national markets. This opportunity is offered to business owners at no cost through funding provided by Hennepin County.
Applications will be accepted August 1–November 4, with information sessions in September and October (more below). The program will run from November 2022–June 2023.
Spots fill quickly for this competitive program, so apply today or visit the CEO Next webpage to learn more.
Attend an information session
Thursday, September 15 IN-PERSON
9:00-9:15 a.m. refreshments
9:15-10:15 a.m. presentation
Click here to register.
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Thursday, October 6 via ZOOM
Noon-1:00 p.m.
Click here to register.
Hennepin County is sponsoring and attending Hmong MN Day at the State Fair, an annual gathering celebrating Hmong community and culture in Minnesota. We’ll have staff from across the County ready with giveaways, interactive activities, and resources to share.
- Monday, September 5 (Labor Day)
- 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
- Dan Patch Stadium, MN State Fair
Learn more: Hmong MN Day Facebook event
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Check out events happening at a library near you. Filter for specific areas, age groups, and different types of event to find something unique and specific to you and your family!
Learn more at Hennepin County Library events.
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Whether it's a housing crisis, energy assistance question, or child protection concern, we are here to help you navigate these and other issues.
Please call our office at 612-348-7885 to seek assistance or ask a question.
Contact
Commissioner Debbie Goettel
Hennepin County District 5
Bloomington | Eden Prairie | Richfield
612-348-7885
Michael Ohama
Policy Director
612-348-7885
Graham Faulkner
Communications Director
612-348-7885
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