May 2022 E-News

EPNI May Calendar

  Community Meeting May 26th 2022 at 6pm.

We will be learning about HCMC's upcoming project and how it will affect the Elliot Park Neighborhood.

 Please join us for our Community Meeting on May 26th 2022 at 6pm. We will be learning about HCMC's upcoming project and how it will affect the Elliot Park Neighborhood.

 If you are able to attend in person the address is 1410 Elliot Ave. (NCU), on the second floor in CLC 203.

 For anyone who is interested in attending but can not make it out in person please visit the zoom link:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83754398105?pwd=M0t0TERZbndhT2o0Z1hCa1ZCYmN1Zz09

 We will send out a survey after the meeting is concluded for your valuable feedback!

Beginning May 23 through mid-September  

• Southbound Hiawatha Avenue between downtown Minneapolis and Cedar Avenue will be closed

o   The detour uses: Westbound I-94 to southbound I-35W to eastbound Hwy 62.

• The bridge from downtown Minneapolis (8^thStreet) to southbound Hiawatha Avenue will be closed

o   The detour uses: Park Avenue to 4th Street to southbound I-94 to southbound I-35W to southbound Hwy 62 to Hiawatha Avenue

• Ramp from southbound I-35W to southbound Hiawatha Avenue will be closed

o   The detour uses: Westbound I-94 to southbound I-35W to eastbound Hwy 62.

• Ramp from eastbound I-94 to southbound Hiawatha Avenue will be closed

o   The detour uses: Eastbound I-94 to 26th Street to Franklin Avenue to Bloomington Avenue to 24th Street to Cedar Avenue to Hiawatha Avenue

Beginning May 23 through May 27   

• Franklin Avenue near Hiawatha Avenue will be closed

o   The detour uses: Bloomington Avenue to 24th Street to Cedar Avenue

o   Temporary, short-term closures of Franklin Avenue will occur June through September

Beginning early June

• The bridge from northbound Hiawatha Avenue into downtown (7th St.) will be closed through late September

o   The detour uses: Northbound Hiawatha Avenue to 3rd Street to Portland Avenue to 7th Street

• Southbound Hiawatha Avenue between Cedar Avenue and 32^ndStreet will be closed for two weeks

Weekend closure of I-35W

A weekend closure of I-35W near downtown Minneapolis is scheduled for the first weekend in June so our crews can remove the 7th St. and 8th St. bridge decks over I-35W. Both directions of I-35W between I-94 in Minneapolis and Hwy 280 in Lauderdale will be closed during this time. We will provide more information before these closures begin. 

Please note that timeframes are all approximate, subject-to-change and weather-and-schedule-permitting.

Visit the MnDOT project webpage for more details, recommended detour route maps and to see the construction schedule.

As Elliot Park Neighborhood is aware, there have been many changes in the last year as the organization works toward adapting to changes in the city. We are happy to announce that we were able to hire an Elliot Park Administrator! You will have the opportunity to meet her at the Meet and Greet event on May 14th.

The board is currently accepting applications and interviewing candidates and hopes to have the new hire start before the end of the month. We are searching for bilingual (Somali/English) candidates. Interested candidates may apply on indeed, search for Elliot Park Neighborhood Community Coordinator.

Community Connections Conference

Register now for an exciting day of learning, connecting and community conversation. The City’s free Community Connections Conference May 21 connects residents of Minneapolis, community groups, neighborhoods and local government. This year's conference theme is "forward together," welcoming all communities to reconnect with the city and get involved in moving Minneapolis forward.

We are seeking volunteers for the conference. You can help welcome guests, guide people to community conversation sessions or keep lunch services running smoothly. Bilingual volunteers are especially helpful. Sign up to volunteer.

Ride the bus or METRO light rail free to the Community Connections Conference May 21 courtesy of Metro Transit. Download your pass from Metro Transit.

Forward together: Community Connections Conference
9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, May 21
Register on the City website

The Minneapolis Violence Prevention Community Champion Institute is for adults in the community who want to be more actively involved with violence prevention efforts. The institute focuses on building knowledge around the public health approach to violence prevention and adverse childhood experiences while also teaching skills around de-escalation and conflict resolution. The next institute will be on Saturday, May 21 from 10am-3pm at UROC in North Minneapolis. We’d love if you can share out the registration link:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/minneapolis-violence-prevention-community-champion-institute-tickets-328147727687?utm_source=eventbrite&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=post_publish&utm_content=shortLinkNewEmail

 It's #DrinkingWaterWeek. To learn more about your water, consider having it tested for lead. Testing is simple and free.

 The City of Minneapolis delivers lead-free water to its customers. However, if your service line or home plumbing contains lead, the lead can get into your drinking water. 

 There is no safe level of lead, and it can cause serious health problems. 

You can request a lead testing kit to check for lead levels in your water.

State will soon offer help with COVID-related housing debts

• The HomeHelpMN program will begin accepting applications for assistance on Tuesday, May 17. The application period will be open through Friday, June 17, but homeowners should not wait to apply.

  HomeHelpMN provides assistance for homeowners who have fallen behind on their mortgage or other eligible housing-related expenses due to effects of the pandemic. Eligible homeowners may receive up to $35,000 in assistance for past-due expenses.

  Funds for the program are limited, and need is expected to be high. If applications received during the application period exceed available funding, applicants may be put on a wait list. Homeowners should submit their applications as soon as possible after the application period begins.

  For more information about the program, including who is eligible to apply and what expenses are covered, visit HomeHelpMN.org or call 1-800-388-3226. The Call Center is open Monday – Saturday from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. A Language Line is available to provide access for callers who prefer a language other than English. 

Visit the HomeHelpMN website to learn more about the program and access "Get Ready" checklists. The HomeHelpMN website and materials are available in English, Spanish, Hmong and Somali by selecting the drop-down bar on the top left of the webpage.

Farmers markets opening for the season:

The 2022 farmers market season is underway.

When the Midtown Farmers Market opens for the season in June, it returns in its original location at 2225 E. Lake St. This market was the first farmers market in the state to allow shoppers to buy food with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, and its return is important to the community.

Shopping at farmers markets is an easy way for everyone to get healthy, local food on the table. The Market Bucks incentive matches up to $10 worth of coupons per day to customers who use SNAP benefits to buy eligible food at participating farmers markets. Participating markets are noted in the farmers markets map and downloadable list on the City website.

2021 was a record year for SNAP EBT and Market Bucks citywide, bolstered by pandemic EBT funds. Farmers market customers in Minneapolis spent more than $182,000 in SNAP and Market Bucks last year using regular and pandemic SNAP dollars. 

To see the 2022 farmers markets schedule, visit the City website.

For other Homegrown Minneapolis news, events, and resources, please follow this link.

 We are excited to celebrate the grand opening of Letunji's on the 14th! 

You can visit her website at Lutunji's Palate | Cobblers, Cakes, & More (lutunjispalate.com)