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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I hope you are able to spend time this coming July 4 holiday celebrating our wonderful community. Summer seems to be moving by fast, so I look forward to slowing down and enjoying time outdoors.
In this newsletter you'll find:
- New Hennepin County small business capital funds
- Highlights from my visit to Hennepin Shelter Hotline, and a programmatic overview of its work
- Information on and sign up for the Stop Food Waste Challenge
- Hennepin County's geothermal heating and cooling installation details
- Application information for the county's forestry workforce and development program
- Details on upcoming child immunizations clinics
- Hennepin County summer library event schedule
My best,
The Hennepin County Board approved two agreements that invest $4.22 million to leverage upward of $16 million and create new sources of capital for small businesses.
In Hennepin County, businesses with less than 100 employees represent 95% of total businesses.
The funding launches a new Hennepin County strategy to address the capital needs of under resourced entrepreneurs and reduce disparities in the county’s small business ecosystem.
The new funds are expected to support capital needs for approximately 120 underserved businesses in Hennepin County and generate approximately $20 million in leveraged investment in coming years.
The agreements with NextStage, a nonprofit community-based lender, reflect two new small business financing strategies:
- $1.1 million to seed a low-barrier capital fund designed to flexibly meet the needs of a variety of startups and established businesses, including contractors, who are underserved by traditional lending.
- $3.12 million to launch an innovative new source of capital designed to help business owners buy and improve their commercial space.
These new capital funds continue Hennepin County’s extensive programs and resources for small businesses and entrepreneurs, such as Elevate Hennepin. Originally developed as a response to the pandemic, Elevate Hennepin has grown to become an essential platform for a wide range of businesses, providing access to customized, professional resources that support business owners in every stage of development.
By investing in business owners, Hennepin County is building a foundation to create a more inclusive and thriving economy that strengthens communities.
The Hennepin Shelter Hotline is operated by a Catholic Charities Twin Cities program called Diversion. Residents of Hennepin County who are 18 or older call the hotline to seek emergency shelter, access mediation to find safe housing options, get advice about short-term non-shelter accommodations, and even locate resources to secure or stabilize permanent housing. The goal of Diversion and the Hennepin Shelter Hotline is to help residents who are facing a housing emergency explore all their options before accessing emergency shelter.
I had the opportunity to learn more about the ins-and-outs of the program, and spend time with staff understanding how they operate this vital resource for our community. Learn more about the program and my visit here.
Hennepin Shelter Hotline by the Numbers
Since its inception in January 2023, the program has helped thousands of people find alternatives to shelter:
- In Quarter 1 of 2024 (January through March), Hennepin Shelter Hotline served 2,082 households who were eligible for Diversion services (including first-time shelter seekers in Hennepin County or individuals who haven’t been in shelter in the past 90 days).
- Of those 2,082 households, 588 were families, and 1,492 were individuals. Also during that quarter, a total of 464 households (22%) were successfully diverted from emergency shelter.
- So far in 2024, 28 people have received direct assistance with down payment money, and/or first month’s rent to secure housing.
In the U.S., about 40% of food is wasted somewhere along the supply chain, and much of that food waste happens at home.
Most of the food we throw in the trash is leftovers or unspoiled food that could have been eaten, according to a recent waste study in Minneapolis. All that wasted food adds up to wasted money. The average family of four spends more than $2,500 on food that goes to waste every year.
Improve your food-waste-fighting skills
The Stop Food Waste Challenge is a month-long effort starting August 1 to help you notice when you are wasting food, commit to actions that will have the greatest impact in your household, connect you with helpful resources, and provide support and motivation along the way. Businesses, organizations, and community groups can also join the challenge as Stop Food Waste Challenge partners.
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Hennepin County is proactively combatting climate change through our Climate Action Plan. One of the ways we do that is by using geothermal heating and cooling in some of our buildings. Geothermal heating and cooling accesses and pumps the consistent temperatures below-the-ground into a building.
This photo shows geothermal infrastructure being installed at Maple Grove Library.
Geothermal heating and cooling reduces the reliance on fossil fuel-based HVAC options. Currently the county utilizes geothermal at our Emergency Communications Facility; and Maple Grove, Nokomis, and Plymouth Libraries. In addition, geothermal sites are planned for the near future at the county's Public Safety Services Building, and at Southdale and Westonka libraries.
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Proposals due by 1 p.m. on Monday, July 8
Hennepin County is soliciting proposals for forestry workforce development programming, which includes adult arborist apprenticeship programming, adult and youth introductory tree maintenance programming, and wraparound services to support both programs.
Programming will be financially supported through funds awarded to Hennepin County by the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Inflation Reduction Act Urban and Community Forestry Grant. A total of $1.9 million has been allocated to fund this forestry workforce development programming.
Contracts awarded are anticipated to span a two-year duration, and pilot program contracts are anticipated to span one year.
Hennepin County is an equal opportunity provider. Funding provided by the Inflation Reduction Act and USDA Forest Service.
Childhood immunizations protect kids from serious diseases. Many children, and teens have fallen behind on immunizations. Now is a good time to get caught up for school, sports, daycare, and more.
Hennepin County Public Health is hosting free immunization clinics for children ages 0-18 years old throughout the summer and fall. Upcoming clinic dates and locations are:
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Saturday, August 24 at Hosmer Library
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Saturday, September 28 at Brookdale Library
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Saturday, October 26 at Hosmer Library
Learning for fun through the summer is important! There are many ways youth and their caregivers can participate in summer learning at Hennepin County Library. There are opportunities for youth on summer break, as well as those enrolled in summer school or other structured learning programs. Visit Summer Programming at Hennepin County Libraries for details and event listings.
Practice reading skills this summer with Let's Read tutors
K-5 students can get free support in developing their reading skills at some Hennepin County Library locations this summer. Students and trained volunteer tutors meet weekly one-on-one to work on grade level reading skills.
Let's Read is intended for students:
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In grades K-5
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Reading below grade level
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Able to meet with their tutor every week on the same day and at the same time
Learn more about Let’s Read at Hennepin County Library or see a list of Let's Read locations. Sessions are scheduled in advance by appointment only. To schedule a session, please speak with staff at any Let's Read location or email LetsRead@hclib.org.
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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