County board actions

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county board actions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Carolyn Marinan, Communications, 612-348-5969


Black History Month

The board issued a proclamation in honor and recognition of February as Black History Month. The proclamation recognizes the amazing and everlasting efforts and accomplishments of Black descendants of the African diaspora in Hennepin County, Minnesota, and the U.S.

This observance is a time for Hennepin County students, educators, and residents to know and pay tribute to the community’s rich Black history, and rededicate to nurturing a bright future for our Black students.

Hennepin County is hosting a variety of events in celebration of this month. Follow the county on social media for details. 


Funding to clean up contaminated sites

The board awarded $1.6 million of Environmental Response Fund grants for 10 projects to assess and clean up contaminated sites where added environmental costs hinder site improvements or redevelopment.

Grant recipients 

  • 1345 Minneapolis — affordable senior housing, Minneapolis
  • 14th and Central — affordable housing, industrial building, public art gallery, and playground, Minneapolis
  • Amber Apartments — affordable and market-rate apartments, Minneapolis
  • Amundson Flats — affordable housing, Edina
  • Former Brooklyn Center Sears — two light-industrial buildings, Brooklyn Center
  • Hennepin Lead-Safe Housing — assessment and abatement of lead-based paint hazards in homes, countywide
  • Leef Townhomes — affordable housing, Minneapolis
  • Lydia Apartments — affordable housing, Minneapolis
  • Minnesota Brownfield Gap Financing Program — a program that provides environmental assessment grants to government entities and non-profits, countywide
  • Stonehouse Square Apartments — affordable housing, Minneapolis

Healthy tree canopy grant awards

Hennepin County is awarding more than $100,000 of grants to promote a more diverse, resilient, and equitable tree canopy. Organizations will receive grants to engage communities in planting trees, remove and replace ash trees, conduct tree-related education, complete tree inventories, and hold Arbor Day celebrations.

Grant recipients

Affordable housing

  • Aeon, Seasons Park Apartments in Richfield
  • City of Edina, 7075 Amundson Avenue in Edina
  • Metro Blooms, Autumn Ridge Apartments in Brooklyn Park

Non-profit organizations

  • Bethel Evangelical Lutheran Church, Golden Valley
  • Friends of the Mississippi River, Nicollet Island in Minneapolis
  • Green Minneapolis, Downtown Minneapolis
  • Lakewood Cemetery Association, Minneapolis
  • St. Anthony East Neighborhood Association, Community Commons Park in Minneapolis
  • Tree Trust, Glen Lake Elementary in Minnetonka
  • Touchstone Mental Health, residential treatment service facility in Bloomington
  • YMCA, Camp Christmas Tree and Camp Ihduhapi in Independence

Federal legislative platform

The board approved the county's federal 2020 legislative platform.

Legislative priorities 

  • Transportation
  • Health and human services
  • Safety-net health services

Other items on the platform

  • Climate change
  • Criminal justice
  • Housing and community development
  • Immigration
  • Taxes
  • Workforce development

Current and archival board meetings, agendas and minutes are available at hennepin.us/boardmeetings.

Look for more news on the Hennepin County website at hennepin.us/news.

Discover how we're making a difference in our communities at hennepin.us/stories.