October E-News 2025
“In our world, divide and conquer must become define and empower.” -- Audre Lorde
To request this information in another language or format, please contact [email protected]. Si aad u codsato foomkan oo qaab ama luqad kale ah, fadlan la xiriir [email protected]. Para solicitar esta información en otro idioma o formato, póngase en contacto con [email protected].
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"YOUR VOTE, YOUR VOICE, YOUR POWER:"
What You Need to Know About the 2025 Elections!"
Join us and the League of Women Voters THIS Thursday, October 2nd, 6:00-7:30pm at the Elliot Park & Rec. Center (1000 E. 14th Street - enter on the 8th St. side near the skate park), to learn:
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Why EVERY vote matters;
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How the history of our elections connects with democracy of today; and
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What up-to-date info on the 2025 Minneapolis City Elections and the voting process YOU need to know!
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NEW Fall Schedule - Wednesday Food Distributions!
NEW Fall Schedule:
- 1st / 3rd/ (5th) Wednesdays: 11:00am-noon/until supplies last: FREE lunch & hygiene supplies from Mobile Loaves! (And, starting Weds. 10/15, 10-11am: come early for the new Community Cooking Class!)
- 2nd / 4th Wednesdays: 9:30am: tickets, coffee & donuts / 10:00-11:30am/until supplies last: FREE groceries, from Jericho Road!
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NEW! Community Cooking Class starting Weds. October 15th!
Join your neighbors for a NEW community cooking class, featuring new recipes with healthy ingredients from the Food Distributions!
Starting Oct. 15th -- 1st/3rd/(5th) Wednesdays: Join the cooking class from 10-11am, and stay for lunch together. You can try out the new meal you cooked, as well as a free lunch from Mobile Loaves (11am-noon)!
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Interested in joining our food donation and distribution efforts?
Drop off your non-perishable food donations (especially "grab & go" / no cook items, and canned goods, pasta, rice, etc.) to Elliot Park & Rec Center during open hours — every contribution helps feed our neighbors! And we’re always seeking volunteers to lend a hand. Click the button below to sign up!
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LAST CALL FOR ARTISTS -- Submit Your Original Artwork to the Elliot Park Neighborhood Mural Contest by the October 14th deadline!
Call for Artists: Help Tell Elliot Park’s Story Through a Mural!
Submit your design HERE: https://forms.gle/6vbz9nvj1WDtVPnv9
Elliot Park Neighborhood (EPNI) and North Central University are teaming up for an exciting community mural competition—and we want your creativity to bring our community’s story to life!
The Vision:
We’re looking for bold, vibrant mural designs that:
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Celebrate Elliot Park’s history, diversity, and future
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Feel welcoming, inclusive, and inspiring to all
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Reflect the spirit of our neighborhood and its people
The Canvas:
The winning design(s) will be painted on the Praise FM building (15th St. & Chicago Ave.) by a team of NCU students and community volunteers. Artists can submit designs for:
Key Dates:
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Submission deadline: October 14th
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Community feedback: October 15th, 6:00–7:30 PM at Elliot Park Rec Center (during Elliot Park Sustainability + Cleanup Series event, open to all!)
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Final approval by NCU (artists may be asked to adjust designs)
Why Participate?
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Your art could become a lasting landmark for Elliot Park!
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Winning designs may also be used for future EPNI projects.
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Help shape the visual identity of our neighborhood.
- Cash prize for winning design/s!
Ready to create? Submit your artwork HERE: https://forms.gle/g4mHC6zAzGAJXUn66
Questions? Email [email protected] Let’s make something beautiful together!
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Elliot Park Sustainability + Cleanup Series:
LAST in the Series - Weds. 10/15: Community Workshop with the Zero Burn Coalition!
 
Join the Elliot Park Sustainability + Cleanup Series 2025! 🌍 Mark your calendars for this final event in the Series: Weds. October 15th for a mini neighborhood cleanup, followed by the Zero Burn Coalition community workshop:
HERC Myth or Truth? Time to Move Beyond Burn and Bury 🔥
Join the Zero Burn Coalition to learn how to distinguish fact from misinformation about the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC), and leave equipped with the knowledge to advocate for a zero-waste future that doesn't burn trash.
After 36 years of incineration in our neighborhoods, it’s time to stop polluting and move beyond burning and burying. Learn, share, and take action!
We want to hear your thoughts before the event! Please take a few minutes to complete this brief pre-forum survey. Your input will help guide the conversation and ensure community priorities are at the center. The link to the pre-survey is HERE.
All events run from 6:00–7:30 PM at the Elliot Park Rec Center (1000 E. 14th St.), and FREE food 🍕 will be provided! Let’s work together to make our community cleaner and more sustainable—see you there!
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Need funds for your Elliot Park Neighborhood Project? Applications still open for the Elliot Park Mini-Grant Program!
Got a fun idea to bring your neighbors together? We’d love to help!
Do you live or work in Elliot Park? Have a creative idea to help build community, share resources, or simply get folks talking and connecting more? Whether it’s something new for your apartment building, your block, or the whole neighborhood—we want to hear it!
We’ve got mini-grants available to help you bring your project to life. From game nights to garden projects to porch concerts—if it brings people together, it’s worth doing.
With your fun idea, let’s make Elliot Park even more connected!"
Elliot Park Neighborhood Inc. (EPNI) invites you to turn your ideas into reality with our new Neighborhood Mini-Grant Program (up to $500 per project). We're looking for creative ways to build connections - from block parties to art projects, community gardens to skill-shares.
Priority given to:
• New applicants
• Underrepresented communities (BIPOC, renters, students, low-income residents, people with disabilities)
Key Details:
✓ Must benefit Elliot Park residents
✓ Open to all neighbors, workers & local organizations
✓ Rolling applications accepted until funds run out
Get Started:Apply HERE
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Has this newsletter helped you connect to local resources? Have you enjoyed a neighborhood event we’ve put on, or met neighbors through a neighborhood meeting? Elliot Park Neighborhood could use your support! We’re hoping to raise $750 from neighbors like you within the next month.
The money we raise will go towards:
- Translating our print materials to make sure our programs are accessible
- Nitty-gritty event details, like food, outreach, etc.
- Keeping our organization going by paying our staff and book keeper.
Donation Tiers (Every Donation Helps)
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$5 – "The Friendly Neighbor" 🍽️
- Covers compostable utensils for community events!
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$20 – "The Connector” 🤝
- Prints flyers to rally neighbors for upcoming events!
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$50 – "The Cookie Commander” ☕🍪
- Keeps volunteers energized with snacks & coffee at meetings!
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$100 – "The Environment Guardian" 🌳
- Funds clean up days for our neighborhood!
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$500 – "The Neighborhood Hero" ❤️
- Funds a neighborhood event OR directs funds where they’re needed most!
Will you help us reach our goal? You can donate by clicking here.
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EPNI October Calendar
To request interpreting services or accommodations for these events, please contact [email protected]. Si aad u codsato turjubaan ama waafajin, fadlan la xiriir [email protected]. Para solicitar servicios de interpretación o adaptaciones para estos actos, póngase en contacto con [email protected].as
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Please visit the EPNI web Calendar for event details & to RSVP! Also post and share our October Event Calendar flyer which is linked here and posted above. Flyer PDF
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Thursday, October 2nd - Your Vote, Your Voice, Your Power: What You Need to Know About the 2025 Elections - workshop with League of Women Voters Mpls.
6:00-7:30pm • At Elliot Park Rec Center, 1000 E. 14th Ave. (enter on the 8th St. side!)
Join us for an interactive workshop to learn: WHY every vote matters; HOW the history of our elections connects with democracy today; and WHAT up-to-date info on the 2025 Minneapolis city elections and voting process you need to know. Enjoy refreshments, connect with your neighbors, and help empower democracy!
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Wednesday, October 8th - Neighborhood Vitality & Land Use Joint Committees Meeting
6:30-8:00pm • At Elliot Park Rec Center, 1000 E. 14th Ave., or participate via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84231574529
ALL are welcome to the joint EPNI Neighborhood Vitality & Land Use Committees meeting—bring your ideas and connect with your neighbors! This joint committee structure is your "one-stop shop" for involvement in new and ongoing projects serving our shared Elliot Park community.
At the October 8th Land Use & Transportation committee, we will hear the latest updates about the upcoming Elliot Park improvements, development, transportation projects. Bring your questions for guest presenter Abdulkadir Gelle Mohamed, City of Minneapolis Public Health Specialist, about what you need to stay safe as a pedestrian, biker or transit rider in Elliot Park. Share your input with Michael Jones, MPRB Senior Planner, on the final playground/challenge course design as part of the Franklin Steele park improvements, before the contract goes out to bid.
At the Neighborhood Vitality committee, come share your feedback on the artist submissions for the collaborative Elliot Park Community Mural project. Hear about updates and involvement opportunities on a number of current projects, including weekly Elliot Park Food Distributions, the Sustainability + Cleanup series, and Elliot Park Mini-Grant projects. Review the Draft Weds. Oct. 8th agenda HERE!
Bring your voice -- ALL are welcome! Questions or want to learn more? Contact [email protected] or call/text (612) 234-2280. See you there!
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Weds, October 15th - Elliot Park Sustainability Series: Mini Cleanup + Zero Burn Coalition Workshop 6-7:30pm • At Elliot Park Rec Center, 1000 E. 14th Ave.
Participate in a mini neighborhood cleanup - supplies & light refreshments provided! Then stay for a community workshop with the Zero Burn Coalition: HERC Myth or Truth? Time to Move Beyond Burn and Bury!
Learn how to distinguish fact from misinformation about the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC), and leave equipped with the knowledge to advocate for a zero-waste future that doesn't burn trash. After 36 years of incineration in our neighborhoods, it’s time to stop polluting and move beyond burning and burying. Learn, share, and take action!
We want to hear your thoughts before the event! Please take a few minutes to complete this brief pre-forum survey. Your input will help guide the conversation and ensure community priorities are at the center. The link to the pre-survey is HERE.
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Monday, October 20th-NOTE: October schedule change: there will be an EPNI Board Retreat, instead of the regularly scheduled Board meeting. The Board meets next on Monday, November 17th, from 6:00-7:30pm, at Elliot Park & Rec Center, 1000 E. 14th Ave.
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Monday, October 27th - Elliot Park Food Access Work Group 6:30-7:30pm • At Elliot Park Rec Center, 1000 E. 14th Ave.
Join neighbors to work collectively on our food access goals, such as:
- Bring a Grocery Store or Co-op to Elliot Park
- Expand Food-sharing Community Gardens
- Continue our Food Distribution Program
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Do you have a suggestion or question for Elliot Park Neighborhood Inc.? Email [email protected] or text / call (612) 234-2280 and we will get back to you soon!
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October Community Calendar
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Mondays, October 6th & 27th - Ward 6 City Councilmember Jamal Osman Community Office Hours • 3:00-4:00pm • At Lutunji's Palate, 1400 Park. Ave S. #1010
Come have a chat with your Ward 6 Councilmember Jamal Osman - The first & last Monday of each month, 3-4pm!
Saturday, October 11th - MN Zero Waste Fest • 10:00am-4:00pm • At Burroughs Community School, 1601 W. 50th Street, Minneapolis
Register & details here: https://mnzerowastecoalition.org/zwf2025
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Wednesday, October 22nd - South Minneapolis Seniors Fair • 9:00am-2:00pm • At Diamond Lake Lutheran Church, 5760 Portland Ave., Minneapolis
Adopt-A-Tree
🌳 Help Water Our Trees – Earn Rewards!
We’re entering Year 2 of the Elliot Park Canopy Project and need your help watering last year’s new trees!
How It Works:
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$25 stipend for adopting a tree
- Earn extra rewards based on how often you water:
- $10 for watering 2+ weeks/month.
- $25 for watering every week.
- Grand prize raffle at the end of the season!
Questions? Email [email protected].
Thanks for keeping our trees thriving! 💧🌿
(Shout-out to last year’s lottery winners: Kelly, Liam, Loveday, Ibsa, Sanjana, and Ben!)
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MPRB - Elliot Park & Recreation Center Events
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Search the program by keyword, or filter by location to see all programs at Elliot Park.
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Search the program by keyword, or filter by location to see all programs at Elliot Park.
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The Minneapolis Downtown Council's Community Calendar is your source for downtown events & FREE fun!
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 EPNI Updates & Project Reports
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9/17 Elliot Park Sustainability Series: Waste Wise Workshop + E-Waste Collection
On Wednesday, September 17th, community members gathered at Elliot Park & Rec to drop off their old electronics for E-Waste recycling with Free Geek, and to participate in an interactive Recycling training discussion with Chelsey Sloan of Waste Wise - Hennepin County. Neighbors learned some of the finer points of recycling and composting in Minneapolis. Neighbors came with good questions, and everyone left with some new knowledge to help reduce contamination and increase effective recycling and composting, to properly divert more waste!
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Over 1,000 Elliot Park Neighbors Served So Far at Wednesday morning Food & Fresh Produce Distributions -- Come Join Us as we continue with a new fall schedule!
Since July 13th, the EPNI Food Access Work Group and its partners have served over 1,000 of our neighbors through September, through our Wednesday morning Food Distributions, hosted by our partner, MPRB - Elliot Park.
As of October 1st, as the harvest season winds down, we will move to a new alternating fall schedule: on the 1st, 3rd (and 5th) Wednesdays of the month, Mobile Loaves will continue offering take away sack lunches and a variety of "head to toe" hygiene products every other week, from 11am-noon. Starting October 15th, we'll begin a Community Cooking Class just before the lunch on these alternating Wednesdays from 10:00-11:00am, trying out recipes featuring foods from the Food Distribution.
On the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays, we will continue, through our partnership with Jericho Road, to provide the free food distribution from 9:30-11:30am, where neighbors can choose from a wide variety of groceries for their fridge and their cupboards, and for the last couple weeks of the harvest season, a lovely array of neighborhood-grown fresh produce, grown and donated by our partners at the Gethsemane Community Garden.
All involved have really been enjoying the new connections made and relationships we are building with many new neighbors, through this project. This has been an impactful project for our Elliot Park neighbors, and we have a lot of fun doing it. If you'd like to join our Wednesday morning "dance & donut parties" at Elliot Park as a volunteer, sign up HERE! All are also welcome to join the EPNI Food Access Work Group to continue work on this and other projects to improve food access in Elliot Park, at 4th Monday of the month meetings, 6:30-7:30pm at Elliot Park & Rec (1000 E. 14th Street).
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Minneapolis Police Department Seeking Input on draft policy: 9-401 Police Authority in Immigration Matters
Information and updates from MPD Implementation Unit for MDHR Settlement Agreement:
NEW MPD policy drafts open for public comment:
Read the Minneapolis Police Department policy drafts and provide your feedback
Posted documents
The posted documents include the revised draft and the special order draft. This shows the changes from the current policy.
Updated policy draft(s):
Feedback period
The timeframe for submitting feedback is 30 days: September 26, 2025 to October 26, 2025.
Provide feedback HERE.
All feedback received is:
- Considered for the draft policy.
- Anonymous - You may not receive an individual response on your feedback.
We encourage you to review these policies and share your feedback during the official 30-day feedback period. That is the most effective way for us to review your feedback. Our goal is to ensure all voices are heard, so you can submit feedback at any time. We will consider feedback submitted after the official period closes during the next official period.
The online feedback portal for posted policies will remain open to the public. We will consider and collect all feedback received about any of the policies. We will use it the next time MPD begins revising that section.
We value your unique perspective as a member of our community. We invite you to review the updated draft policies. Your thoughts, insights, and suggestions are essential in helping us shape the final policies. This will aid in building a safer, more inclusive environment for everyone.
We look forward to hearing from you. We will continue our collaborative efforts together towards positive change within our community.
If you have any feedback or questions about the policies, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at [email protected].
Thank you for your continued support and engagement.
Best regards,
The MPD Implementation Unit
City of Minneapolis – Police Department – Implementation Unit
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Beyond the Ballot: Supercharge Your Civic Impact
This is the summary for the sixth article in the League of Women Voters Minneapolis 2025 Democracy Series.
If you’ve ever wondered how to stay involved between elections, you’re not alone. The good news? There are simple, impactful ways to keep showing up for your community and make sure your voice continues to be heard.
Article summary:
- The city’s website (https://www.minneapolismn.gov) and Park and Recreation Board’s website(https://www.minneapolisparks.org) offers up-to-date information on upcoming meetings, decisions, and how to contact your local representatives.
- Your continued participation by contacting your representatives through email, public comments, or showing up at meetings, allows for issues that matter to you to stay on the table.
- To stay abreast of what is happening at the Mayor’s office, sign up for the mayor’s newsletter and share your input through the mayor’s contact page.
- City council members pay attention to residents who show up and speak. Check out your council person’s webpage, sign up for your ward’s newsletter and attend public meetings.
- Consider attending public meetings for the Park and Recreation board to share your concerns for the maintenance and expansion of green spaces in Minneapolis as well as programs for youth, adults and seniors.
- If you are concerned about property taxes, then learn more about the Board of Estimate and Taxation (https://www.minneapolismn.gov/government/boards-and-commissions/bet/); this board sets the maximum property tax levy for the city. You can get involved by attending meetings, particularly during the budget season.
- Between elections, your engagement is an important way to help shape the direction of our city for years to come.
You can read the entire article at https://lwvmpls.org/democracy-series/
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Updates & Neighborhood Opportunities:
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Community Solar Garden Opportunity
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Cooperative Energy Futures (CEF) is a local energy cooperative housed in South Minneapolis at the Sabathani Community Center.
They are collaborating with various neighborhood organizations and community-based organizations to spread the word about their Community Solar Garden (CSG) Program that saves you money on your Xcel bill, while building community-member owned
renewable energy infrastructure. We give priority to community members with lower incomes or that participate in programs like SNAP, WIC, energy assistance and Medicaid.
Our community-member owned CSG program allows community members, whether you rent or own, to share the benefits of the solar array we are building on the parking canopy at Abbott Northwestern Hospital at 28th and Chicago.
Learn more at this link: https://www.cooperativeenergyfutures.com/community-solar-1
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EPNI Renter's Corner
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HOMELine
HOME Line provides free and low-cost legal, organizing, education, and advocacy services so that tenants throughout Minnesota can solve their own rental housing problems.
Have a question for HOME Line?
Call 612-728-5767
or email an attorney
Fire Prevention Month
While every aspect of fire safety is important, this year’s fire prevention theme focuses on lithium-ion batteries, which are commonly found in phones, tools, laptops, and more.
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Report rental issues to 311
Contact 311 to report rental housing issues or speak to a housing liaison. You can also track complaints online on the 311 property complaint dashboard.
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311: Did You Know . . . ?
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311 is the remote access point for ALL non-emergency info & service requests
You can call 311 to:
- Report and get resolution to problems, and follow up on the status of issues
* Remember - there are power in numbers. If a number of affected neighbors call 311 about the same issue, it may speed up response time.
- Find out about City services
- Get other city-related information
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It's easy and accessible! Ways to contact 311:
If you need immediate emergency assistance, contact 911.
Want to read more about 311? Check out resources provided by the city
311 Website: https://www.minneapolismn.gov/government/departments/311/
View flyer from city in different languages. English, Spanish, Somali, Hmong
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Ongoing Notices & Opportunities:
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Homebuyer & Home Improvement Opportunities
Click link for larger graphic of image below
The city has resources available for home buying and home improvement. Including down payment assistance for specific homes and financing options to improve your house. For more information see the flyer above.
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Minneapolis Green Cost Share Program
We are excited to work with the Minneapolis Green Cost Share program, a project that helps our city be greener! The Green Cost Share program provides up to $14,000 in rebates to eligible homeowners in our neighborhood. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help with your next project using the Minneapolis Green Cost Share program. Together, we can make Minneapolis a better place to live.
Green Cost Share Contact Info:
Minneapolis Health Department, [email protected], 612-673-2301
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Resources for Unhoused People
To access more resources visit: https://www.hennepin.us/residents/human-services/waypoint
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Want a free ride & a cleaner bus stop? Adopt-a-Stop!
WHAT: Individuals and groups can "adopt" a Metro Transit bus stop to help keep it clean and cared for, and alert Metro Transit staff to special maintenance needs and reporting vandalism or suspicious activity.
WHY: Help everyone have a safer ride experience and and get 10 free rides each month!
HOW: Learn more and apply online for Metro Transit Adopt-A-Stop program HERE.
Want to partner through EPNI to Adopt-a-Stop? Come talk about it at the Land Use & Transportation committee meeting, or contact us at [email protected] or text/call 612-234-2280
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Shop the Mobile Market!
The Twin Cities Mobile Market continues on Wednesdays! You can find the bus at 1515 Park Ave. All are welcome to stop by and shop. The market has beautiful and affordable produce, meat, dairy, bread, and more.
You can view the full schedule here on the Park Center Hi-Rise site. Sign up for text updates. To learn more about the Mobile Market, please visit thefoodgroupmn.org/twin-cities-mobile-market/.
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