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Once a vacant and boarded home that was rehabilitated
through Minneapolis Homes. (Source: The City of Minneapolis)
The City of Minneapolis, in partnership with Grounded Solutions Network, is hosting three opportunities for community and public input around Community Informed Housing Policy.
The City invites community members to help develop policy and programs that produce affordable and accessible housing and eliminate disparities. The City’s goal is to prioritize community voices with a focus on the lived experiences and disparate impact that programs and policies have on Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) communities; particularly in Minneapolis.
The focus of the two February meetings will be to review options and recommendations for changes to the City’s homebuyer product offerings. Potential changes include more options and tools to expand long term or permanent affordable ownership homes and serve lower income households. Three specific questions will be discussed:
- Is it more important to produce more new units of housing or to create permanent affordability in communities?
- Is it more important to sell City property quickly and efficiently, or to use City property to achieve multiple City goals?
- Should there be a single option for creating permanent affordable housing in the City or should we expand capacity and provide multiple options?
The focus of the March 18 meeting will be to discuss priorities for City policy and investment in affordable rental housing development, preservation and stabilization. Discussion topics will include:
- What are the top policy or investment priorities to improve housing stability of low income renters?
- What is the ideal balance between priorities of new affordable housing development and preserving existing affordable housing?
- Is it more important to produce more affordable units or fewer units that are more affordable to extremely low-income households (with incomes at or below $30,000 per year)?
Advanced registration is requested to accommodate need for space:
Permanent Affordable Homeownership – Northside meeting on Wed., Feb. 26
Permanent Affordable Homeownership – Southside meeting on Thurs., Feb. 27
Rental Priorities & Permanent Affordable Homeownership meeting on Wed., Mar. 18
(L to R): Kim Bretheim, LHB Architects; Mayor Jacob Frey; Angie Skildum, CPED; Becky Landon, Newport; and Council Member Kevin Reich attend the Hook and Ladder Apartments Grand Opening. (Source: City of Minneapolis)
Hook and Ladder Apartments, developed by Newport Midwest, recently celebrated a grand opening open house for their 118-unit affordable apartment buildings located at 2316 Jefferson St. NE. Mayor Jacob Frey and Ward 1 Council Member Kevin Reich addressed the attendees.
Located in the heart of NE Minneapolis Art District, the development features two side-by-side structures. One is a five-story building that is Minnesota’s first multifamily building built to stringent Passive House Certification standards. The second building is built to Green Community standards, with green building materials, rooftop solar panels, and energy efficient construction. A third party consultant will study the performance of the two buildings.
The total development costs were $30,637,619, including City Affordable Housing Trust Funds of approximately $3,625,000, Bonds of approximately $12,375,000, and tax credits of approximately $10,570,000.
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On Tuesday, February 4, Step Up honored its 200+ employers and alumni with its annual Step Up Partners Breakfast. Mayor Jacob Frey addressed the group along with Step Up Co-chair, Kate Quinn for US Bank. Step Up founder R.T. Rybak discussed the legacy of Step Up and called for employers to partner and pledge to hire Step Up interns.
View KSTP’s coverage about the event
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Step Up Team
Minneapolis Transportation Pathway
Minneapolis residents prepare for careers in the transportation industry. (Source: EMERGE)
The City of Minneapolis Employment and Training, the Minnesota Trucking Association (MTA) and three community non-profits launched the Minneapolis Transportation Pathway (MTP) to prepare Minneapolis residents for careers in the transportation industry. This unique collaboration will train 50 new CDL drivers and provide placement and support services to help drivers succeed in their new career.
As of January, two groups of trainees have completed training and three are underway. Employers are attending info sessions at EMERGE, Lifetrack and African Immigrants Community Services to talk with candidates about the industry and what to expect as CDL drivers. Three people have already been placed with an average wage gain of $6.42 per hour and many more are expected in the coming months.
Green Cost Share and 4d Affordable Housing Incentive Program Update
 * : The first round of energy efficiency application for 2020 will be March 2020. Numbers current as of 1/23/2020 . a: Natural Gas (Therms) savings were converted to kWh for the purposes of this table
2019 marked the first full year of the Green Cost Share program’s 4d energy efficiency and solar incentives. In that time, twenty 4d properties covering 100 4d affordable housing units completed energy efficiency projects, and two started construction of a solar energy project. Together, these energy projects will save an estimated 660,000-kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity and natural gas savings. Which is equal to the total annual energy use of 70 average Minnesota homes.
Renters, particularly low-moderate-income (LMI) renters, may not have access to capital or permission from their landlord to perform their own energy efficiency upgrades. Once completed, upgrades also risk out-pricing existing tenants from their homes. Taken together, incentivizing energy projects in affordable multifamily properties present a series of challenges that often exclude LMI renters from the energy bill savings and the improved housing quality that energy projects provide.
The unique combination of the 4d Affordable Housing Incentive Program and Green Cost Share Program helps overcome some of these challenges. The 4d housing program offers reduced property taxes in exchange for a commitment to keep rent affordable for ten years. By pairing this 10-year affordability commitment with deep energy retrofits, the City both preserves and improves existing affordable housing, and ensures that LMI renters will continue to benefit from those energy improvements for a decade.
Events
Neighborhood Roots indoor winter markets
Saturday, Jan. 11, Feb. 8 and March 14, 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Bachman’s Garden Center
6010 Lyndale Ave.
The Neighborhood Roots farmers markets are moving inside to the greenhouse at Bachman’s this winter. Join vendors from Fulton, Kingfield and Nokomis farmers markets to stock up on produce, meats, cheese and eggs, along with breakfasts and lunches, packaged foods, canned goods and handmade crafts.
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Thinking About Business Workshop
Saturday, Feb. 15, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Northside Economic Opportunity Network (NEON)
1007 West Broadway Avenue
Minneapolis, 55411
Are you thinking about starting a business? The NEON Thinking About Business Workshop is ideal for pre-venture entrepreneurs who consider going into business for the first time. Connect with an expert business advisor who will educate you on the many facets of business ownership. Learn how to design a business model as you transition to starting a business of your own.
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Women Venture Entrepreneurship Information Session
Tuesday, Feb. 18, 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Hennepin Co. Minneapolis Central Library
300 Nicollet Mall
RKMC Meeting Room
Minneapolis, 55401
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 a free information session.
More Information
Upper Harbor Community Engagement Learning Table: Community Benefits
Wednesday, Feb.19, 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
2100 Plymouth Avenue North
Lower Level
Minneapolis, 55411
The Upper Harbor redevelopment project is a 48.8-acre development on the Mississippi River. Please join the Upper Harbor Learning Table to share your thoughts on topics that look to strengthen the social fabric of the existing North Minneapolis community, bring greater wealth and local ownership into the community, and foster stronger relationships between North Minneapolis and the Mississippi River. February's Topic: Community Benefits
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Careerforce South Minneapolis Career Fair
Wednesday, Feb. 19, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
777 Lake Street E
Minneapolis, 55407
Stop by the South Minneapolis Career Fair to network with employers and discover a career for you. Connect to local resources, update your resume, apply to open positions and engage with a Career Coach. ASL, Spanish and Somali Interpreters will be available.
More Information
2020 Minneapolis Preservation Awards Celebration
Thursday, Feb. 27, 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
A-Mill Artist Lofts
315 Southeast Main Street
Minneapolis, 55414
Join fellow preservation practitioners, enthusiasts and boosters with a celebration of the 28th Annual Minneapolis Preservation Awards at the historic Pillsbury A-Mill Artist Lofts. This year’s awards event will feature music, appetizers, cash bar, a lively program recognizing the 2020 winners and plenty of time to mix and mingle with Minneapolis’ preservation movers and shakers.
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Women In Entrepreneurship Conference
Friday, Feb. 28, 10:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Carlson School of Management
321 19th Avenue South
3M Auditorium
Minneapolis, 55455 |
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Join the 7th Annual Women in Entrepreneurship Conference. Connect with other female founders and leave inspired. This years' conference will be focused on growth – featuring practical, actionable insights from female founders about how to grow and scale your business.
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New/Expanding Businesses
Food/Beverage
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Service
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Heath/Wellness
Coworking Space
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