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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Carolyn Marinan, Communications, 612-910-9111
Board adopts 2021 budget
On Tuesday, the Hennepin County Board approved a 2021 budget of $2.2 billion. The budget includes an $869 million property tax levy – unchanged from the 2020 budget.
Voting as the Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA), the board approved a budget of $20.7 million and levy of $16.5 million.
Voting as the Regional Railroad Authority, the board approved a budget of $31.4 million and levy of $30 million.
Read the full news release.
$25 million for additional small business relief
The board voted to accept $25.3 million from the State of Minnesota’s COVID-19 relief grant to support businesses and organizations impacted by COVID-19.
So far this year, the county has approved $42 million of direct financial assistance from the federal CARES Act for more than 4,400 businesses impacted by COVID-19. It is distributing the money through the Hennepin County Small Business Relief fund.
The county has completed four rounds of applications for Small Business Relief funding in 2020. It continues to process applications and disburse funds through the latest application round, which closed earlier this month.
Applications for this new $25 million in funding are expected to open in January 2021.
NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center campus expansion moves forward
The board gave its approval to advertise and award construction contracts for the NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center campus expansion project. The project is located at Penn and Plymouth avenues in Minneapolis.
The center provides medical, dental, behavioral health, and human services in an area where racial and health disparities are most significant in Hennepin County.
In addition to expanding the current clinic, built in 1993, the project will physically integrate services and remodel existing spaces.
Read more about the project and its history.
Establishing 911/Mental Health Task Force
Hennepin County is forming a group that will create a plan for responding to mental health requests identified through public safety partners.
The board directed the Hennepin County Criminal Justice Behavioral Committee to establish a 911/Mental Health Task Force.
The task force will include people with professional experience with dispatch, law enforcement and mental health, in addition to people with personal experience with mental illness.
The subcommittee will research best practice approaches and national models for responding to mental health needs identified through public safety.
Funding for youth behavioral health
New grant funding will help stabilize families and keep youth at home and out of hospitals, detention, or shelters.
This initiative will serve families who have reached out for support, but do not meet inpatient admission criteria.
Culturally relevant services will focus on families of color and families who have touched public systems, including juvenile justice, children’s mental health, and child protection.
On Tuesday, the board accepted $125,000 from Blue Cross and Blue Shield and $100,000 from UCare.
2021 Youth Sports awards
The board awarded 8 grants for athletic facilities, 4 grants for playgrounds and 28 grants for small equipment.
Facility grant recipients
- City of Bloomington: $300,000 for replacement of eight dugouts at Kent Hrbek Fields
- City of Champlin: $300,000 for two outdoor all-season ice rink/field hockey/pickle ball courts site preparation, rink boards, and a warming house at South Community Park
- City of Crystal: $100,000 for accessibility improvements at Valley Place Park
- City of Maple Grove: $300,000 for athletic facility at Gleason Fields
- City of Medina: $148,490 for ball field lighting improvements at Hamel Athletic Club
- Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board: $80,000 for clay tennis court conversion at Waveland Triangle Park
- Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board: $150,000 for Adventure Play Area improvements at Keewaydin Park
- Minneapolis Public Schools: $300,000 for athletic track renovation at Patrick Henry High School
Playground Grant Recipients
- City of Champlin $25,000 at Chandler Park
- City of Champlin $11,500 at Andrews Park
- City of Loretto $25,000 at Highlands Park
- City of New Hope $25,000 at Begin park
Since it began in 2009, Hennepin Youth Sports has awarded more than $27.4 million for facility, small equipment and playground projects, along with water safety lessons. Proceeds from the Twins ballpark sales tax support this program.
January 2021 board meeting calendar
The board approved the January board and committee meeting calendar.
In January, the board will approve a calendar for all of 2021.
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.
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