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This newsletter provides updates on the City's response to COVID-19, an overview of recovery efforts underway, efforts to transform public safety and other important news and information from the City of Minneapolis.
City Coordinator Mark Ruff and City department leaders provided an update on recovery efforts in neighborhoods damaged by civil unrest and the City's ongoing response to COVID-19 during a press conference Tuesday at City Hall.
Watch the news conference.
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The City Council’s Budget Committee will hold two public hearings in July on proposed revisions to the City’s 2020 budget.
The City faces a significant revenue shortfall as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and needs to make cuts to the City’s roughly $1.5 billion budget. Mayor Jacob Frey will brief the City Council’s Policy & Government Oversight (POGO) Committee on a revised 2020 budget July 9 and staff will present the revised budget to City Council July 10.
The public can then engage and share their voices in this process during two online public hearings:
- 6:05 p.m. Tuesday, July 14
- 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 22
You can watch or participate in the online meetings.
The City Council is scheduled to vote July 24 on a revised 2020 budget. For more information about the City’s budget, visit minneapolismn.gov/budget.
Over the last several months, our Minneapolis community has faced extraordinarily painful challenges. The City of Minneapolis is working hard to help the people of our city heal and recover, to emerge stronger and more equitable than before.
To find information about legal actions related to George Floyd's death, plans to transform public safety and resources for residents and businesses impacted by recent violence, civic unrest and the COVID-19 pandemic, visit minneapolismn.gov/minneapolisforward.
Hennepin County has up to $15 million available to help low-income renters who can’t afford their housing costs this month due to COVID-19. Even though there is a temporary hold on evictions, rent is still due.
Folks may qualify for emergency assistance if they:
- Rent anywhere in Hennepin County.
- Had household income below 50% of the area median income (about $46,550 for a three-person household) before COVID-19.
- Lost income due to COVID-19 that has not been replaced by unemployment insurance or other emergency assistance.
- Can’t afford housing costs this month.
- Are not currently receiving Section 8 or other rental assistance.
There is no deadline to apply. Priority will be given to households with the lowest incomes and those not eligible for unemployment insurance.
Learn more and apply for assistance
If you do not have internet access or cannot complete the form in English call 612-302-3160.
The governor's latest extension of the peacetime emergency means that the suspension of evictions and landlord-initiated lease terminations remains in place until July 13.
This suspension will allow households to remain sheltered during the peacetime emergency. The executive order does not relieve a tenant's obligation to pay rent, however. It also does not include eviction actions based on cases where the tenant seriously endangers the safety of residents, or where the tenant seriously endangers the safety of others on the premises.
Read the executive order.
Governor Tim Walz has signed H.F. 5 into law, a bipartisan bill that will aid Minnesota’s economic recovery by providing $62.5 million in grants for small businesses impacted by COVID-19.
Eligible businesses with 50 or fewer employees can apply for grants of up to $10,000. Half of the funding will go to Greater Minnesota businesses, at least $10 million to go to minority-owned businesses, $2.5 million will go to veteran-owned businesses, $2.5 million will go to women-owned businesses, and $2.5 million will support cultural malls.
The bill includes $60 million from the federal CARES Act, and $2.5 million from DEED’s Emergency Loan Program. More information, including grant applications, will be available in the coming weeks at mn.gov/deed/.
Mayor Jacob Frey’s emergency regulation requiring people in Minneapolis to wear cloth face masks or coverings when they are in an indoor place of public accommodation is in effect.
Businesses will not be required to provide masks to customers or employees themselves, though employers shall be required to mandate the use of masks by their staff. Non-compliance should be reported through 311. Find more information here.
Donate homemade face masks at Minneapolis fire stations for Mask Drive Mondays
Minneapolis residents can deliver homemade masks to their local fire station from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Monday for Mask Drive Mondays. The City plans to distribute the donated masks throughout Minneapolis to residents, organizations and businesses that are most in need, including food shelves, congregate living facilities, small corner stores and shelters.
The State has added special COVID-19 testing sites for critical communities for people who have recently been a part of large gatherings whether or not they have symptoms. Make sure to preregister for a time slot if you can before heading over to be sure you have a spot. Appointments have been filling up fast. People who arrive without an appointment might have to come back later or another day. Appointments for the next week will open up on Wednesdays, so if you don’t find anything available, keep checking back.
The Minnesota Department of Health recommends that any Minnesotan who has attended a protest, vigil or community cleanup get tested for COVID-19, which can spread easily and quickly in large groups of people who are close together for long periods of time. Even people who do not have symptoms can still spread the virus to others.
Residents who live in the area of these three sites who have recently been a part of large gatherings are invited to preregister for free COVID-19 testing:
- Holy Trinity Church (pedestrians)
2730 E. 31st St.
- Sabathani Community Center (drive up, limited pedestrians)
310 E. 38th St.
- New Salem Baptist Church (pedestrians)
2507 Bryant Ave. N.
Read more.
Tune into the City's cultural radio programs for COVID-19 updates. The City has programs on KMOJ 89.9 FM (English); La Raza 95.7 FM (Spanish); KALY 101.7 FM (Somali); and WIXK AM 1590 (Hmong.) Radio shows schedule
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