Happy New Year, District 7!
I have officially been sworn in as your commissioner for the next four years. As I've said many times before, I am so grateful for your support as we work to build on the amazing things happening in Hennepin County.
A huge shout out to my family, who have been by my side every step of this journey and through their support of me, have supported my constituents.
State and Federal Politics
As I'm sure you are aware, changes at the State and Federal level have left many with questions about what to expect from their governments. I can assure you that no matter what happens in St. Paul or Washington D.C., Hennepin County will continue to serve our residents. If you have questions about how such changes may affect you, please don't hesitate to reach out to our office.
Near Year, New Committee Assignments
County Commissioners are assigned to many different boards and committees, some within the county infrastructure and some within our communities. Here are a few of my 2025 assignments:
- Chair of the Public Works Committee
- Vice Chair of the Housing Redevelopment Authority
- Vice Chair of the Health Committee
- Chair of the Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC) Business and Partner Development
- Appointed to the AMC Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Land Bank Twin Cities, Metropolitan Emergency Services Board, Metropolitan Mosquito Control District, etc.
If you have any questions about what we do on these various boards and committees, we'd love to give you more information.
 This week, I visited the Plymouth City Council during their annual legislative updates.
City Council Visits
One of the best parts of my job is traveling around District 7 to give a county update to city councils. As we schedule these visits, we'll include them in the newsletter so that if you're interested, you can attend as well! This year, I'll be focusing heavily on our Public Works projects, grants available to cities, and housing opportunities.
 On Tuesday, January 28, Congresswoman Ilhan Omar spoke before the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners meeting to present a Congressional Record recognizing the county's work on effectively ending veteran homelessness in Hennepin County.
“It is an honor to present the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners with the framed Congressional Record statement recognizing the remarkable milestone of meeting all federal benchmarks for effectively ending veteran homelessness in Hennepin County.”
Hennepin County has systems in place for making homelessness among veterans rare, brief and nonrecurring. In October 2024, Hennepin County announced this major milestone during a press conference at the Hennepin County Government Center attended by Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota Peggy Flanagan, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, U.S. Senator Tina Smith, along with veterans, Hennepin County Commissioners, leaders, employees and partners.
I personally want to thank our Hennepin County staff for making this possible. While the Hennepin County Board provides direction, it is the staff that do the work to make accomplishments like this happen. They truly embody what it means to serve the community.
SCHOOLS:
Grants are available for schools to start or improve programs to reduce waste and keep recycling and organic materials, including food and non-recyclable paper, out of the trash. Eligible organizations include preschools, K-12 schools, colleges and universities in Hennepin County.
Grant funding can be used to fund staff time for project implementation as well as to purchase equipment and supplies including recycling and organics recycling containers, sorting stations, reusable food service ware, and bulk condiment dispensers. Review the grant flyer (PDF) and the grant guidelines (PDF) for more information about the program.
The first round of funding will be available to two-year colleges, Head Start, and preschools and K-12 schools with at least 50% of students qualifying for free and reduced lunch. Applications are due by 4 p.m. on Thursday, February 27. Schools may apply for up to $20,000 in the first round.
Applications of up to $15,000 from any K-12 school, preschool, college, or university in the county will be accepted in the second round from March 18 through October 15, or until available funds are depleted.
Visit the school recycling web page to learn more and apply.
MULTIFAMILY PROPERTIES:
Hennepin County offers grants for multifamily properties to start or improve recycling or organics recycling, reduce contamination, prevent waste, and educate their residents on recycling and waste prevention. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until Monday, November 10, 2025, or until the annual program budget is exhausted, whichever occurs first.
Areas of focus can include purchasing bins and compostable bags, paying for hauling costs, constructing waste enclosures or chutes, managing or preventing the waste of bulky items, and educating residents. Applicants may apply for up to $3,000 for bins and compostable bags and up to $20,000 for all other categories combined. Review the 2025 Multifamily recycling grant guidelines (PDF) and grant flyer (PDF) to learn more.
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You may now be eligible for MinnesotaCare. Your immigration status does not matter. You may qualify even if you are undocumented.
It’s a good idea to have health insurance because you and your family can save money on medical bills. You should apply if you:
- Live in Minnesota.
- Don’t have other health insurance options.
- Meet income limits.
Apply for MinnesotaCare
Find a MNsure Navigator for help on your MinnesotaCare application
Share your voice and help shape local government policies
 The latest group of CEO Now graduates with their expert facilitators.
Applications are open for the next group of CEO Now.
Apply today or share this email with someone in your network that could benefit from this opportunity.
Technical know-how for sustainable growth
CEO Now is a no-cost group-learning opportunity from Elevate Hennepin designed to support emerging small business owners as they grow and evolve their businesses. This hands-on program will help business owners learn the strategic and technical foundations of running their businesses more efficiently and strategically.
Participants in CEO Now will join a group of growth-minded founders and CEOs to learn how to think about their business systematically via the nationally recognized StreetWise ‘MBA’ from Interise, local advisors, and peer business owners.
The training covers everything from strategy, finances and cashflow to building a profitable sales process and finding key personnel. Participants will leave with an expanded network, a three- to five-year strategic road map, and the confidence to take their next steps forward.
Eligible businesses can join this cohort at no financial cost, thanks to ongoing investments in the business community from Hennepin County.
Spots are limited and fill quickly for this competitive program. Learn more, see eligibility guidelines and apply now.
Read how business owners like you have reinvigorated their businesses via CEO Now.
 If you are looking for ways to volunteer in your community, consider becoming a Hennepin County Community Recycling Ambassador!
Community Recycling Ambassadors are trained on waste prevention, recycling and composting, and effective communication skills through a six-week course, with one class each week, taught by industry experts and community leaders. This training program is free to participants.
Once training is complete, participants commit to 30 hours of volunteering putting their skills to work on projects and activities that minimize waste and provide waste reduction, recycling and composting education.
Apply for the spring 2025 class
The spring 2025 class will be held every Thursday from February 20 through March 27 from 6 to 8 p.m. The class will take place virtually via Zoom.
The application for the spring class will open on Thursday, January 23 and close on Thursday, February 6.
Before applying, please ensure that you meet the following requirements:
- You are 18 years of age or older
- You live, work, or go to school within Hennepin County
- You are available for all six class sessions
- You can commit to 30 hours of volunteering after the class completes
- You have access to internet and a computer or similar device to attend class virtually
Visit the website to learn more about the program and apply.
The 7th District serves the cities of
Champlin, Corcoran, Dayton, Greenfield, Independence, Loretto, Maple Grove, Maple Plain, Medina, Minnetrista, Southern Mound, Rogers,
St. Bonifacius, Hanover, Northwest Plymouth, and Rockford.
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Contact us
Kevin Anderson
Commissioner, 7th District
Ketki Varsha
Policy Director
612-559-4221
Clara Severson
District Director
612-596-9040
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