 The second annual Minneapolis Tech Month is coming up in April 2020. The goal of Minneapolis Tech Month is to make tech training and careers accessible to all. To kick off early in the new year, the City has invited youth artists, grades 6-12 to design the logo for Minneapolis Tech Month 2020. First place prize will be awarded $1,000.
Learn more about the guidelines.
Tech Month offers dozens of events throughout Minneapolis. Youth and adults are invited to explore careers in tech, tour tech companies, learn to code, get information about training, network with tech professionals, attend hiring events and much more.
 Every year, the Minneapolis Preservation Awards Program recognizes the city’s best work in historic preservation, restoration, adaptive re-use and other outstanding preservation projects. The AIA Minneapolis, Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission and Preserve Minneapolis accept nominations for the 2020 Minneapolis Preservation Awards through January 30. The celebration will be on February 27 at the Pillsbury A Mills Artists Lofts at 315 Main Street SE from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. There will be live music, appetizers and a bar. Those interested in attending can register here.
The 2020 award categories include:
- Historic Restoration, Rehabilitation or Adaptive Reuse
- New construction in historic districts
- Advocacy & Education
- Individual career achievement (the Steve Murray Award)
- Preservation Gem
Minneapolis Homes Development Assistance (MHDA) Round 4
Interior of 4200 Colfax Ave N, developed through Minneapolis Homes. (Source: RE/MAX Results)
On December 13, the City Council approved recommendations to fund the creation of 59 units of housing through the fourth round of the MHDA Program. Combined with units approved earlier in 2019, the City funded 93 units of housing through MHDA for the 2019 year which exceeds a typical year by four times.
Coinciding with the Minneapolis 2040 comprehensive plan, this is the first year where the City is funding triplexes in addition to funding five duplexes. This funding round also included an incentive to build Passive House or Department of Energy Zero Energy Ready certified homes. Four developers committed to building 13 homes to one of those standards.
The City hopes this round of funding will build from the great outcomes seen through previous rounds in addressing disparities in homeownership and contracting. Some of these outcomes from the past year include:
- 76% of homebuyers identifying as Black, Indigenous, or Persons of Color (BIPOC)
- Average household income of $68,000 for a family of four
- 7 of the 11 developers participating are BIPOC-owned or led
Council Member Lisa Goodman cuts the ribbon for the 1500 Nicollet Grand Opening.
1500 Nicollet is a new 183-unit affordable housing project located on Nicollet Avenue in Loring Park. The project was developed by Dominium and includes a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom units along with new commercial space on the first floor. The City issued $29,000,000 in Housing Revenue Bonds and allocated 4% Housing Tax Credits to the project.
1500 Nicollet is the first project in the city to utilize Income Averaging, which is a new financing tool that enables developers to make units available to tenants with lower incomes than would otherwise be possible, by offsetting them with units at higher rents. New residents are currently moving in, and the building is expected to be fully leased by the end of December.
"Collection Point" Public Art Installation Completed
Public artwork, Collection Point. (Source: Randy Walker)
Artist Randy Walker and his fabricator, Primitive Precision Metalcraft, wrapped-up installation of the public artwork, "Collection Point" at the new East Side storage and Maintenance Facility. They installed 96 concrete panels during the cold days of mid-December. The panels are cast replicas of recycling container lids, and many include images abstracted from those gathered during community events in Northeast Minneapolis. The artwork is scheduled to be dedicated in conjunction with the opening of the new Public Service Building in spring 2020. For more information, please contact Mary Altman.
Minneapolis Youth Step Up interns. (Source: The City of Minneapolis)
Becoming a Step Up Intern: The Step Up application period for 2020 closes Monday, Feb. 10. Minneapolis youth are gearing up for the 2020 summer Step Up internships, ready to learn life-long skills and kick-start their career.
Pledging to be a Step Up Employer: Employers interested in hiring a Step Up intern for 2020 can do so until March 2020 at stepupmpls.org. Step Up prepares Minneapolis youth for tomorrow’s careers.
Step Up Youth Employment Program prepares today’s youth for tomorrow’s careers by recruiting, training and placing nearly 1,400 young people (ages 14-21) in paid internships each year. As one of the nation’s leading youth employment programs, Step Up leverages a collective of more than 200 partners spanning 15 industries and multiple sectors. The program helps organizations diversify their workforce and build a base of young, skilled workers for the entire region. Step Up has provided over 28,000 internships since 2003, yielding a competitive talent pipeline, a stronger economy and millions of dollars in wages for Step Up interns.
Events
Upper Harbor (UH) - Community Engagement Learning Table
Wednesday, January 15, 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
2100 Plymouth Ave. N
Lower Level
Join deeper community conversations on a topic from the UH Concept Plan. January's Topic: Community Ownership Models. What types of Community Ownership Models could be explored together? What community benefits could be realized at the UH?
More Information
Art Shanty Projects
Saturdays & Sundays, January 18 – February 9
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Bde Unma / Lake Harriet
Art Shanty Projects began in 2004 as an experiment in turning a traditional ice fishing house into a less conventional art studio and retreat on a frozen lake. Over 14 years and three lakes, it has grown into a much-anticipated annual festival that most recently hosted 40,000 visitors on Lake Harriet (Bde Unma) in 2018. The four-weekend event is now home to more than 20 unique shanties and over 150 artists and performers.
More Information
|
Entrepreneurship Information Sessions @ Women Venture
Wednesday, January 21, 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Minneapolis Central Library
WomenVenture offers a variety of different services to those planning to start or expand a for-profit business. Come learn about the programs WomenVenture offers at the free information session.
More Information
|
The Great Northern Festival
Events January 23 – February 2
Enjoy the cold. The ice. The snow. The flurries and drifts and whiteouts and whatnot - all of it. Layer up, bundle up. Use ice skates, snow skis and snowshoes. Sit by the fire and raise a glass of something warm to wintry mixes and winter advisories and winter storm warnings. To snowmen and snow forts and snowmobile suits. Spend winter in winter. Embrace and celebrate winter by joining in on a winter activity.
More Information
City of Lakes Loppet
Friday - Sunday, Jan. 31 – Feb. 2
1301 Theodore Wirth Pkwy
Minneapolis, MN 55422
Register for one or more of the many City of Lakes Loppet Winter Festival events. The Minneapolis area leads the world in year-round outdoor activities. Ethnically and economically diverse individuals and families come together around a shared passion for the outdoors – a passion that is universal.
More Information
|
New/Expanding Businesses
Food/Beverage
Retail
|
Health/Wellness
|
|
 |
In the News
Twin Cities 2019 Eater Award Winners Eater Twin Cities
Read in the Twin Cities Eater
Restaurant of the Year
Read in the Star Tribune
Family Partnership and PPL secure funding for Lake Street redevelopment
Read in the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal
$99-a-month membership means a free menu item a day at four Twin Cities restaurants
Read in the Star Tribune
Young Mpls. entrepreneur creates empathy for refugees, one bracelet at a time
Read in the Star Tribune
New fee for plastic and paper bags begins Jan. 1 in Minneapolis
Read in the Star Tribune
Minneapolis may get a new drive-through despite recent ban
Read in the Star Tribune
Toast to Northside Business Awards celebrates prominent local businesses
Read in North News
| 
