In this edition of Minneapolis Promise Zone Updates:
- Minneapolis Mayor Frey Proclaims National Service Recognition Day
- Homework Starts with Home - RFP
- Watch Northside Storyville's Latest Episode
- City of Minneapolis Emergency Solutions Grant Program
- Governor's Nominated Census Tracts for Opportunity Zones
- Governor's Housing Task Force and Work Group May Meetings
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News, Events and Jobs
- About the Minneapolis Promise Zone
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 L to R: Julianne Leerssen, Manager of Equity and Inclusion; Sam Calahan, Economic Development VISTA; Tina Weitzel, VISTA Leader; Jacob Frey, Mayor; Kattie Evans, Resource Development VISTA; Jenny Melin, Communications & Marketing VISTA; Michael Waldegerma, Research Analyst VISTA
Minneapolis Mayor Frey Proclaims National Service Recognition Day, Honors Importance and Impact of Volunteering
On Tuesday, April 03, current and former City of Minneapolis national service volunteers were honored by Mayor Frey and Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) Minnesota Director Sam Schuth at a National Service Recognition Day event at City Hall.
CNCS members, such as AmeriCorps and Senior Corps Volunteers In Service To America (VISTAs), help communities across the country address critical needs, including increasing academic achievement, locating affordable housing, mentoring youth, fighting poverty, sustaining national parks, preparing for and recovering from disasters, and more. At the Minneapolis Promise Zone (MPZ) five out of seven employees are AmeriCorps VISTAs, without whom the MPZ would not have the capacity to realize much of it's work around racial and economic equity.
Those five MPZ VISTAs attended the event, along with numerous current and former national service volunteers working for and in Minneapolis and surrounding communities. The knowledge and skills gained during the year of service are integral to the impact and success of many government and nonprofit organizations not only during, but after the year of service ends.
The first MPZ cohort of nine VISTAs in 2016-17 resulted in four women of color being employed by the City of Minneapolis and partner organizations. Two of those women are employed by programs that received Federal funding: the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Resilience in Communities After Stress and Trauma (ReCAST) program at the City of Minneapolis, which serves North Minneapolis; and the Northside Achievement Zone (NAZ) Department of Education (ED) Promise Neighborhood, which is located in North Minneapolis.
Those young women of color, and many other volunteers, are now able to repay in-kind the mentorship and training they received by using the knowledge and skills they gained to continue serving their employers and neighbors as they progress in their careers and communities.
Homework Starts with Home - RFP
Minnesota Housing and the Heading Home Minnesota Funders Collaborative, in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Education, the Minnesota Department of Human Services, and the Minnesota Interagency Council on Homelessness, announce the anticipated availability of funds for the Homework Starts with Home program. This initiative will support collaborative efforts between schools, housing organizations, and local governments to identify, engage, and stabilize students experiencing homelessness and their families. Minnesota Housing will allocate up to $3.5 million in Housing Trust Fund resources and up to $450,000 in Family Homelessness Prevention and Assistance Program funds. An additional $250,000 will be made available by the Heading Home Minnesota Funders Collaborative.
For more information about this initiative, see the Homework Starts with Home web page.
Minnesota Housing anticipates selecting three to eight applicants for funding.
Application Materials
Application Process
Applications are due by 4:30 p.m. on Monday, June 4, 2018. Review the RFP Application Instructions for submission instructions.
An information session about the RFP and application process will be held on Friday, April 27, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. at Minnesota Housing. The session will also be available over web and tele-conference. To register for this session and for details about participating remotely, please send an email to hswh.mde@state.mn.us or call 651.582.8511 by Thursday, April 26, 2018.
Contact
Diane Elias at 651.284.3176 or diane.elias@state.mn.us
 Watch Northside Storyville's Latest Episode
Northside Storyville is back with it's fourth episode!
Roots Community Birth Center brings life to North Minneapolis - literally. As Minnesota's first and only African American-owned birth center, Roots is focused on making out-of-hospital births more accessible and affordable to ALL families. Rebecca Polston open Roots in 2015 to invest in the
community, to serve the next generation of mothers and families, and to create access to quality midwifery care throughout the northwest metro area. Her practice is small by design in order to maintain personal connections and a sense of individuality with each family served.
- Watch the latest episode here
City of Minneapolis Emergency Solutions Grant Program
The City of Minneapolis is
seeking development funding proposals for the 2018 Emergency Solutions Grant
(ESG) program. ESG program funds may be used to renovate, rehabilitate and
convert buildings for use as emergency shelters for people who are homeless. There
is approximately $400,000 available and proposals are due no later than 4:00
p.m. on Friday, May 18, 2018.
Emergency Solutions Grant
program RFP materials available on-line: http://www.minneapolismn.gov/cped/cped_rfp
Questions should be directed
to Tiffany Glasper at 612-673-5221 or tiffany.glasper@minneapolismn.gov
Governor’s Nominated Census Tracts for Opportunity Zones
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 established a new economic development program called
Opportunity Zones designed to encourage long-term private investments in low-income communities.
The Governor of Minnesota has officially sent in his census tract nominations to Department of Treasury.
Governor's Housing Task Force and Work Group May Meetings
Regional Housing Forum in Crookston, MN
Thurs, May 3, 2-5 p.m.
2900 University Ave., Crookston, MN
Housing Stability & Opportunity Work Group Meeting #5
Mon, May 7, 9 a.m. -12 p.m.
400 Wabasha St. N., Saint Paul
Rental Housing Work Group Mtg #5
Mon, May 7, 1-4 p.m.
400 Wabasha St. N., Saint Paul
Homeownership Work Group Meeting #5
Wed, May 9, 1-4 p.m.
400 Wabasha St. N., Saint Paul
Regional Housing Forum in Saint Paul
Thurs, May 10, 6-9 p.m.
Chiller Building, Falcon Heights, MN
News
Events
Make Homes Happen Campaign Kick-Off
Mon, April 30, 4:30-6:30 p.m.
The Hook and Ladder Theater & Lounge, 3010 Minnehaha Ave., Minneapolis
Penn Ave Garden BBQ and Spring Awakening
Sun, May 6, 1-4 p.m.
3558 Penn Ave. N., Minneapolis
Minneapolis 2040 Comprehensive Plan Community Meeting
Wed, May 16, 5:30-8 p.m.
North Commons Recreation Center, 4055 Nicollet Ave S., Minneapolis
Thinking About Business Workshop
Sat, May 19, 9 a.m. -12 p.m.
NEON, 1007 W. Broadway Ave., Minneapolis
Jobs
Minneapolis Promise Zone-Communications & Marketing Associate
Minneapolis Promise Zone
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Minneapolis Promise Zone-Economic Development Coordinator
Minneapolis Promise Zone
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Minneapolis Promise Zone-Research & Data Analyst
Minneapolis Promise Zone
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Minneapolis Promise Zone-Resource Development Coordinator
Minneapolis Promise Zone
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Minneapolis Promise Zone-VISTA Leader
Minneapolis Promise Zone
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Northside Fresh Food Partnership Coordinator VISTA-AFC-C3
Northside Fresh Coalition
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NRRC - House Development Coordinator (MCN)
Northside Residents Redevelopment Council
More Information
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About the Minneapolis Promise Zone
Promise Zones are federally designated, high poverty communities where the federal government partners with local leaders to increase economic activity, improve educational opportunities, and leverage private investment. The Minneapolis Promise Zone (MPZ) plan is a comprehensive, community-driven revitalization strategy that builds on and aligns numerous initiatives to address the persistent unemployment, crime, housing blight, and poor educational outcomes that affect that area.
Contact information: Juli Leerssen, (612) 225-7721
For more information, please visit www.minneapolismn.gov/promisezone
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