July 16, 2021
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
This week I attended the National Association of Counties (NACo) Annual Conference. These gatherings offer county officials nationwide the opportunity to share best practices and join forces in advocacy to better serve our residents.
During the gathering I connected with with Deputy U.S. Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo, the Federal official responsible for local government implementation of the American Rescue Plan (ARP). Hennepin County is receiving $240 million in Federal ARP investments. It’s an historic opportunity to build back better post-pandemic.
Hennepin County also received 17 awards from NACo, including top honors for an innovative training program intended to reduce disparities and improve racial equity. More details on those awards are below.
Updates in this week’s newsletter:
🏛 NACo Conference
🏆 County earns recognition for efforts during pandemic: Hennepin County received 17 awards from a national organization, including top honors for an innovative training program intended to improve racial equity.
💉 Funding for Community Vaccine Clinics: Community organizations within Hennepin County can receive up to $3,000 in grants for COVID-19 vaccine incentives.
🍎 2021 food distribution opportunities: Hennepin County will grant $1.5 million to assist providers working to meet residents’ food needs.
🏛 Eden Prairie Commission Banquet
In service,
Chris
🏛 NACo Conference
This week I traveled to Washington, D.C. for a couple of days for the National Association of Counties (NACo) Annual Conference. NACo events are a gathering place for county officials nationwide to connect, share best practices and join forces in advocacy to better serve our residents.
I spoke with Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo about building back better and stronger after the pandemic. The Biden Administration has entrusted counties with implement the American Rescue Plan, a historic investment. Hennepin is responsible for $240 million.
With Ramsey County Commissioner Mary Jo McGuire
after she was elected as NACo’s 2nd Vice President.
🏆 County earns recognition for efforts during pandemic
Hennepin County received 17 awards from a national organization, including top honors for an innovative training program intended to improve racial equity.
The National Association of Counties presented Hennepin with its Best in Category award in personnel management and employment training on July 12 at its annual conference. Hennepin also earned 16 other awards for its efforts to serve residents during the pandemic. These included shifting services online and making sure staff had the tools they needed.
Each year, the National Association of Counties presents awards recognizing counties that provide better, more innovative services to residents. The organization is dedicated to strengthening America’s counties. The organization also advocates for federal policy making, promotes best practices, and facilitates fiscal responsibility.
Projects recognized include:
Racial Equity Impact Tool champions academy
- Category: Personnel management, employment, and training
- Submitting department: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Replacing county laptops to enable remote work
- Category: Information technology
- Submitting department: Information Technology
Rapid response IT team to help county departments serve residents remotely
- Category: Information technology
- Submitting department: Information Technology
Virtual Training Agility
- Category: Personnel management, employment, and training
- Department: Human Resources
Election Student Volunteers
- Category: Civic education and public information
- Submitting department: Elections
Small business relief and recovery
- Category: Community and economic development
- Department: Public Works
Licensing Center pandemic redesign
- Category: County administration and management
- Submitting department: Resident and Real Estate Services
Confronting past discrimination embedded in real property records
- Category: Civic education and public information
- Submitting department: Resident and Real Estate Services
Efficient Buildings Collaborative
- Category: County resiliency: Infrastructure, energy, and sustainability
- Submitting department: Facility Services
COVID-19 pandemic elections response
- Category: Civic education and public information
- Department: Elections
Library web archiving program
- Category: Libraries
- Submitting department: Library
CARES food insecurity
- Category: Human services
- Submitting department: Human services
CARES expanded services
- Category: Human services
- Submitting department: Human Services
Emergency rental assistance
- Category: Community and economic development
- Submitting department: Housing and Economic Development
Education support services
- Category: Children and youth
- Submitting department: Educational Support Services
Isolation and quarantine program
- Category: Human services
- Submitting department: Human Services
COVID-19 data and reporting
- Category: County administration and management
- Submitting department: Center of Innovation and Excellence
💉 Funding for Community Vaccine Clinics
Community organizations within Hennepin County can receive up to $3,000 in grants to use toward COVID-19 vaccine incentives.
Learn more and apply at http://hennepin.us/community-vaccination.
🍎 2021 food distribution opportunities
Hennepin County will grant $1.5 million to assist providers working to meet residents’ food needs. This opportunity is a very intentional effort on behalf of the County to address food insecurity issues in our communities and in recognition of the hardships and economic need created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
This round of grants will cover food only. Hennepin County is examining a longer-term, more sustainable approach to solving food insecurity.
Apply for funding by filling out the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Food Insecurity Award application.
Pre-application materials from July 7 conference
You may need information in these materials as you apply for funding.
- About the American Rescue Plan Act funding for food insecurity (PPT)
- Questions and answers from July 7 pre-application conference (DOCX)
Project timeline
- July 7: Pre-release conference
- July 8: Application release
- July 30: Last day to apply; deadline for applications is 2 p.m.
- August 6: Award letters will be sent.
🏛 Eden Prairie Commission Banquet
Yesterday evening I joined Eden Prairie in celebrating the leadership of some of their most engaged citizens—including a spirited round of Eden Prairie Jeopardy! Gratitude for all those who serve on local government boards and commissions. You make our communities stronger. Thanks to Mayor Ron Case, for the invitation!
📰 News
As demand for vaccines decline, public health shifts focus to small, targeted clinics
by Catharine Richert, Minnesota Public Radio
Monique Drier-Sutton works for Hennepin County coordinating these types of targeted vaccine clinics.
Instead of asking people to go to a pharmacy, health care facility or large-scale clinic for a vaccine, she said public health workers are bringing vaccines to them — usually in places that are familiar and comfortable.
“Hennepin County has looked at some creative ways to be able to get ourselves into spaces and provide vaccine in unique ways,” she said.
Access the full story here.
Minnesota halts school lunch shaming over student debts
by Anthony Lonetree, Star Tribune
Anoka-Hennepin, the state’s largest district, will be offering free meals through next school year, as well, said Noah Atlas, the district’s child nutrition director.
He said districts often have to grapple with what to do about debts and related pressure on the general fund, but that Anoka-Hennepin has complied with no-shaming measures as outlined in the new bill.
Access the full story here.
About District 6
The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners consists of one commissioner from each of seven districts. I am proud to represent Deephaven, north Eden Prairie, Edina, Excelsior, Greenwood, Hopkins, Long Lake, Minnetonka, Minnetonka Beach, northern Mound, Orono, Shorewood, Spring Park, Tonka Bay, Wayzata and Woodland.
County information
- Elected officials
- Hennepin County libraries
- Hennepin County Medical Center
- Hennepin volunteers
- Online services
- Phone directory
- Service Center information
- Southwest light rail
- Understanding your property tax
Chris LaTondresse
Commissioner
6th District
612-348-7886
Jessica Oaxaca
District Director
612-348-6885
Kyle Olson
Policy Director
612-348-3168