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Hello, and welcome to the December 2023 edition of the Sustainability, Healthy Homes, and Environment newsletter.
The Climate Legacy Initiative will reduce utility bills, increase green job opportunities, plant more trees, and help Minneapolis become carbon-neutral by 2050.
MINNEAPOLIS – The City of Minneapolis has awarded the first round of funding for the new, historic climate action work through the Minneapolis Climate Legacy Initiative (CLI). The CLI is Mayor Frey’s innovative plan to fund the City’s accelerated, equitable, and aggressive climate goals over the next ten years. Through the CLI, Minneapolis is poised to become one of the most sustainable cities in the nation.
Mayor Frey announced the creation of the CLI in July after working with various community leaders, grassroots advocates, unions and climate organizations, and City staff. Last Thursday, the City officially opened up contracts with more than 20 community organizations, allowing them to get funding and services through the CLI in areas of the city that need it most.
“You can’t put a price on saving our planet – but the Climate Legacy Initiative triples our investment in climate work and paves the way for important climate initiatives across Minneapolis,” Mayor Jacob Frey said. “With this funding, we’re committing to years of ongoing initiatives to protect our planet and future generations. I am excited to see the first round of funding go out to incredible organizations that are partnering with us in this work, and I want to thank my Council colleagues who authored and co-authored this important Initiative: Council President Jenkins, Council Vice President Palmisano, Council Member Goodman, Council Member Chughtai.
The CLI provides necessary funding to implement the City’s Climate Equity Plan, which provides a roadmap for climate work over the next decade. The community-wide plan sets a goal for Minneapolis to significantly reduce climate pollution by 2030 and become carbon neutral by 2050. It also includes plans to weatherize all homes, reduce utility bills, promote green job training, and plant more trees.
Beginning with Mayor Frey’s 2024 budget, $10 million will be invested each year to the CLI, which triples previous climate work investments. These funds are in addition to current climate funding.
The Green Zones Community Project Funds RFP application period has been extended by two weeks.
The funds are available for community-led, environmental justice projects in the North and Southside Green Zones.
- Individuals can apply for up to $5,000
- Organizations can apply for up to $25,000
Read more about the goals and strategies of the Green Zones Community Project funds:
Read the request for proposals
Submit your application on the City's eSupplier portal. Proposals are due Wednesday, Jan. 3 at 2 p.m. Late proposals will not be accepted.
The City of Minneapolis Health Department’s City Trees program is expanding our residential tree sale. We are gathering community input to decide what types of trees to offer. Share your thoughts with us!
Please share your ideas with us via this survey link
The City partners with Tree Trust to plant low-cost trees for businesses, non-profits, organizations, and 5+ unit apartments.
To qualify for this program, you must have
- Enough green space for trees
- An outdoor water connection or alternative plan for watering the trees
- A plan for maintaining and pruning the trees
Cost
$30 per tree, includes:
- Consultation with a landscaper to find the best trees for your property
- Planting
- Mulching
- Water bags
Request a tree
- To request a tree, submit this form
- Requests are accepted on a rolling first-come, first-served basis
- We usually plant trees in the late spring and late fall
Questions? Sydney.Schaaf@minneapolismn.gov
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Started by Green Zone members, the Community Air Monitoring Project helps the community monitor air quality. The Minneapolis Health Department has placed three different kinds of air sensors around the city:
- PurpleAir (pictured right) measures particulate matter
- AQMesh measures different gases (ozone, nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and total volatile organic compounds)
- SENSIT SPODs measures which specific volatile organic compounds are in the air
70 PurpleAir sensors are already out in the community. The Health Department installed 30 AQMesh sensors this past summer and the SENSIT SPODs will be installed next spring.
To learn more or take part:
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The Minneapolis Health Department offers lead resources:
The Minneapolis Health Department offers a free asthma program, which includes:
- A home assessment
- Asthma trigger education
- Free services and products, like air purifiers
If you have a child 21 years old or younger with asthma, email the Health Department or call 612-673-2301 for more information.
Learn more about the free asthma program.
Did you know that we generate 25% more waste during the holidays?
One of the City’s goals in the Climate Equity Plan is to increase the use of solar in our communities. Since 2017, more than 1,700 homes have gone solar in Minneapolis. The City hopes to increase that number to 15,000 by 2032.
To help community members explore solar options and compare companies, we're partnering with EnergySage, a one-stop shop for consumers to find reputable solar installation companies in your area.
Please pass along this resource to your network
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