Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Accepting Project Submissions for State Revolving Fund Loan Programs

Submissions are now being accepted to place public wastewater, stormwater, and drinking water infrastructure improvement projects on the Clean Water and Drinking Water Revolving Funds’ respective 2010 project priority lists. Projects must be on the appropriate project priority list to be eligible for a below market rate revolving fund loan.

The two-state revolving fund programs are administered by the Minnesota Public Facilities Authority, together with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and Minnesota Department of Health. The Public Facilities Authority provides below-market rate loans to local governments for eligible projects based on priorities determined by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (for wastewater and stormwater projects) and the Minnesota Department of Health (for drinking water projects).

The deadline for receiving submissions for a project priority list is May 1, 2009. The Public Facilities Authority must also receive a request to place a project on the 2010 Intended Use Plan if financing will be sought for state fiscal year 2010 (July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010).

Project Priority List – Clean Water Revolving Fund
􀂾 Wastewater and stormwater projects
􀂾 Deadline: May 1, 2009 to Pollution Control Agency
Facility plans or stormwater project plans due March 6, 2009

Bill Dunn, MPCA
651-757-2324
bill.dunn@state.mn.us

Project Priority List – Drinking Water Revolving Fund
􀂾 Drinking water projects
􀂾 Deadline: May 1, 2009 to Department of Health

John Schnickel, MDH
651-201-4658
john.schnickel@state.mn.us

Placement on 2010 Intended Use Plan
􀂾 For either program
􀂾 Deadline: June 5, 2009 to Public Facilities Authority

Jeff Freeman, PFA
651-259-7465
jeff.freeman@state.mn.us

Monday, February 9, 2009

Legislative leaders will be holding hearings statewide on the Governor’s proposed budget to solicit input from citizens

Thursday, Feb. 19:
Mankato: 6 p.m. at the Mankato Intergovernmental Center, Mankato River Room, 10 Civic Center Plaza, Mankato.
Rochester: 6 p.m. at the Rochester Community and Technical College, Heintz Center Commons Area, 851 30th Ave. S.E., Rochester.
St. Cloud: 6 p.m. at the St. Cloud City Hall Council Chambers, 400 2nd St. S., St. Cloud.
Willmar: 6 p.m. at Kennedy Elementary School, 824 7th St. S.W., Willmar.

Friday, Feb. 20:
Albert Lea: 10 a.m. at the Albert Lea City Hall Council Chambers, 221 E. Clark St., Albert Lea.
Winona: 3:30 p.m. at the Winona City Hall Council Chambers, 207 Lafayette, Winona.
Marshall: 2:30 p.m. at the Southwest Minnesota State University Lecture Hall, 1501 State St., Marshall.
Worthington: 10:30 a.m. at the Worthington City Hall Council Chambers, 303 Ninth St., Worthington.
Little Falls: 9:30 a.m. at the Morrison County Government Center, Garden Level Meeting Room, 213 1st Ave. S.E., Little Falls.
Alexandria: 2 p.m. at Alexandria City Hall, 704 Broadway, Alexandria
Duluth: 9:30 a.m. at the Duluth City Hall Council Chambers, 411 W. 1st St., Duluth
Virginia: 1:30 p.m. at Mesabi Range Community and Technical College, Small Auditorium,1001 Chestnut St. W., Virginia.
Brainerd: 10:30 a.m. at Washington Educational Services Building, Boardroom, 804 Oak St., Brainerd.
Bemidji: 3:30 p.m. at Bemidji State University, American Indian Resource Center Gathering Place, 1620 Birchmont Dr., Bemidji.

Monday, February 23
Woodbury: 6:00 p.m. at Central Park Amphitheater, 8595 Central Park Place

Tuesday, February 24
Bloomington: 7:00 p.m. at Bloomington City Hall, 1800 W Old Shakopee Rd
Minneapolis: 6:00 p.m. at Minneapolis Park Board, 2117 West River Road

Wednesday, February 25
Burnsville: 7:30 p.m. at Fairview Ridges Hospital, 201 E. Nicollet Blvd
White Bear Lake: 6:30 p.m. at White Bear Lake High School - South Campus, 3551 McKnight Rd N

Thursday, February 26
St. Paul: 6:00 p.m. at West Minnehaha Rec. Center in Frogtown, 685 Minnehaha Ave W
Plymouth: 7:00 p.m. at Plymouth City Hall, 3400 Plymouth Blvd.
Coon Rapids” 7:00 p.m. at Coon Rapids City Hall, 11155 Robinson Drive
Forest Lake: TBD

Committee Deadlines Approved
March 27 at 8 p.m., 1st deadline - committees act favorably on bills in the House of origin;
April 7 at 11:59 p.m., 2nd deadline - committees act favorably on bills, or companion of bills, that met the first deadline in the other body;
April 16, divisions of House and Senate finance committees act favorably on omnibus appropriation bills;
April 22, House and Senate finance and taxes committees, and the House Ways and Means Committee, act favorably on omnibus appropriation and tax bills; and
May 7, conference committees on omnibus appropriations and tax bills must report bills to the floor.

In addition, House and Senate leaders said it is their intention to send all budget, finance and tax bills to the Governor by May 12 – six days before the Legislature must adjourn according to the state constitution.

Friday, January 16, 2009

A MINNESOTA WITHOUT POVERTY

Business, government and faith leaders to gather on January 21, 2009 to affirm recommendations to end poverty in Minnesota by 2020, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 218 10th St. S., Moorhead, MN 56560 from 3:00 PM—4:00 PM

A Minnesota Without Poverty, the statewide movement that is galvanizing support from business, government and the faith communities in Minnesota, announced plans for a Jan. 21, 2009, public affirmation of recommendations made by the Legislative Commission to End Poverty in Minnesota by 2020. A gathering at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Moorhead, MN will be held simultaneously with the St. Paul ceremony. The public is invited to attend and participate.

The Legislative Commission to End Poverty in Minnesota by 2020 has compiled a comprehensive list of recommendations that erase or reduce the barriers that force people to live in poverty. The recommendations identify problems and solutions in key areas: education, health care, transportation, employment and welfare. The recommendations, if implemented, would have the potential to lead to a poverty-free Minnesota by 2020.

Ending poverty is possible when we show up, stand up, sign up, and speak up. A Minnesota Without Poverty is a statewide, interfaith movement to end poverty in Minnesota by 2020.

This announcement is brought to you by Lakes & Prairies Community Action Partnership.

Their Mission: To assist low-income people in their quest for self-sufficiency. Their Vision: To be a visible leader in encouraging self-sufficiency and attainment of personal goals through valued services that address the people in the communities we serve.

Originally posted on the Lakes & Prairies Community Action Partnership blog site.
http://lakesandprairiesblog.blogspot.com/2008/12/minnesota-without-poverty.html

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Minnesota Senate Budget Discussion: Solving the Budget Problem Together

The Senate has created a Senate Budget Discussion website, welcoming ideas from the public regarding the state budget. The Minnesota State Senate’s Budget Discussion Website is an online community designed to invite you to contribute your ideas on the state budget. Your ideas will help the Senate develop a budget that reflects the values and needs of our communities.

The Minnesota Senate wants to hear from you. This web site is designed to gather ideas to solve the state's budget crisis from as many Minnesotans as possible. We welcome all suggestions, large or small. Your ideas will help shape the Senate's spending decisions and your creativity could spark innovative solutions.

During this Session, the state will set its budget for the next two fiscal years: July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2011. The November 2008 economic forecast revealed that the state government faces a deficit of more than $4.8 billion dollars over the next two years. This is a very significant budget deficit. In order to create a balanced budget for the next two years, we will need to consider all ideas and be creative in finding solutions. All Minnesotans will need to be a part of the decision-making process.

Remember that you are always welcome to contact your local Senator by letter, telephone, email or personal visits to the Capitol. We hope that this website will be another way for you to be a part of the legislative process.

http://budgetforum.senate.mn/

Monday, December 1, 2008

LCSC Launches new Leadership Skills Training series for 2009

At the request of member agencies, Lakes Country Service Cooperative is pleased to be able to offer a series of five leadership workshops for mid-management level employees in 2009.

Building Relationships with Decision Makers....February 12, 2009
This workshop will give you real life ideas as to the value of building relationships with decision makers and things you can do to begin and sustain the relationship over time.

Committees That Work.......March 11, 2009
This workshop will address the Seven Meeting Traps most groups, committees and boards find themselves in from time to time. This workshop will name and traps and offer solutions for each. It will address meeting guidelines, bad meeting behavior, agenda management, leading from the back and much more.

Your Conflict Type........April 9, 2009
Conflict is a given in our lives. We all handle it differently. The Thomas Kilman Conflict Inventory is an instrument that allows each person to determine how they handle conflict, the strengths of each type and the "shadow" side of each type. This is an eye-opening session that looks at the personal side of conflict.

Ethical Decision Making......September 24, 2009
In your work, you're presented with perplexing decisions every day. What is right? What is wrong? How do you know? This session will help you understand Ethical Decision Making frameworks that you can use to make decisions. We will utilize some case studies and look at the qualities ethical people have. Come to this session with examples, questions and your stories as we explore this provocative topic.

Public Participation.......October 15, 2009
How do we get the public involved in setting an organizational agenda? Just what is Public Participation and how do we make it happen? This workshop will help you gather input from the public and key stakeholders on any issue. Strategically determine who in the public is for you and who is against you and how looking at all sides of an issue will enable you to make appropriate decisions based on the input you have received.

Registration is on-line at the Lakes Country Service Cooperative website.
www.lcsc.org

Contact Pam Ness for more information: pamness@lcsc.org

Friday, November 14, 2008

Fergus Falls Community Zero Adult Provider Program; Judicial Response to Underage Drinking

The Fergus Falls Community ZAP project is a partnership between the Otter Tail Family Services Collaborative Chemical Health Work Group and the Otter Tail County Safe Communities Coalition. These two committees have the membership of over 35 different county-based organizations including, but not limited to local police departments, the Sheriff''s Department, Public Health, the County Attorney's Office, public school districts, the MN State Community & Technical College, chemical dependency treatment providers and specialists and Lakes Country Service Cooperative.

We know that persons under the age of 21 usually obtain alcohol directly or indirectly from those over the age of 21. We believe that by working with parents and other adults, youth, law enforcement, prosecutors, judges and others directly involved with chemical use issues, we can make a change in the community norms that will foster long term efforts and reduce underage drinking within Otter Tail County.

ZAP in Fergus Falls:
  • Allows for enhanced enforcement of adult provider laws by increasing overtime hours for officers to fully investigate and identify the source of the alcohol when minors are found in possession of it within Otter Tail County.
  • Provides for increased identification of the adults purchasing and providing alcohol to minors by finding overtime above and beyond those hours currently provided by law enforcement to increase surveillance and patrol during key community events when minors are often arrested for consuming alcohol.
  • Strives to increase public awareness of the dangers and consequences of underage drinking and to reduce the amount of alcohol provided to minors by adults over the age of 21.

The program activities identified within this grant project will be carried out between July 1, 2008 and June 30, 2009. The specific dates for increased surveillance and patrol by law enforcement will include, but not be limited to: September 27 (MN State Community & Technical College Homecoming); October 3 (Fergus Falls High School Homecoming); November 28 (Friday after Thanksgiving when many college students are home from college); May - June 2009 at the DeLagoon City Park during adult league softball season; and June 2009 City of Fergus Falls Summerfest.

To date, added law enforcement hours through this program has charged 61 minors with underage consuming, as well as two adults for providing alcohol to minors.

For more information regarding the ZAP Program in Fergus Falls, contact:

Jane Patrick, Coordinator; Otter Tail Family Service Collaborative; 218-736-3458

Pam Ness, Coordinator; Lakes Country Service Cooperative; 218-739-3273

Bremer Emergency Fund

A joint response by the Foundation and Bremer Bank to the current economic crisis, the Bremer Emergency Fund will provide one-year grants of up to $100,000 to help organizations provide emergency financial assistance to individuals and families in Bremer communities who are struggling to continue to provide basics such as food, warm and stable housing, health care, and reliable transportation in the face of increased unemployment and high prices.

We recognize that timely financial assistance can sometimes make the difference between instability and security, enabling families and individuals to meet emergency needs and retain housing or jobs. Then, once basic needs are met and a crisis is averted, families are in a better position to access community programs that can help them achieve long-term stability and participate fully in their communities' economic, civic, and social life.

The Bremer Emergency Fund honors the legacy and vision of Foundation founder Otto Bremer, who believed that people could survive and flourish if they had help at critical times. In the 1930s, during the Great Depression, Bremer liquidated many of his personal assets to help the "countryside banks" in which he had invested ride out the hard times. The Bremer Emergency Fund reflects this commitment to the bank communities and to the support of those working to make their lives better. The Foundation's grant dollars will be supplemented by a donation from Bremer Bank.

We will be inviting proposals for this initiative beginning on November 14, with a submission deadline of December 15, 2008. We will notify recipients of grants by January 15, 2009. Eligible organizations are those whose beneficiaries are residents of the Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin communities served by Bremer Bank. Additional information on the Emergency Fund and application forms are available on our website, www.ottobremer.org.

Foundation decisions will be based on: demonstrated community need; geography; the organization’s experience and capacity; and the organization’s ability to provide follow-up and support, including links to additional community resources.

Randi Ilyse Roth, Executive Director
Otto Bremer Foundation
445 Minnesota Street, Suite 2250
St. Paul, MN 55101-2107
651-312-3723 (direct)
651-227-8036 (office)
888-291-1123 (toll-free)
Email: rroth@ottobremer.org
Web: http://www.ottobremer.org

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) is pleased to announce the availability of the Minnesota Investment Fund (MIF) Biomass Heating Program.

This program provides grants and loans to local units of government for the installation of biomass heating projects in publicly owned facilities. The funding award limit is $250,000, with a required minimum local match of 1 to 1.

A total of $1 million will be awarded.

Applications for funding will be accepted until April 30, 2009, or until all funds are committed, whichever is sooner.

For more information, please go to:
http://www.deed.state.mn.us/Community/assistance/MIF_BiomassIntro.htm

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

City of Hoffman Awarded Grant

U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development officials last month awarded the City of Hoffman nearly $1.8 million to fund two community development projects.

Paid from the 2008 farm bill, most of the money - more than $1.5 million - will go toward installing a new city water system. The rest will help replace Hoffman's aging fire hall.

The city has been working for the last year to secure federal funding for the two projects, reported City Clerk Pat Lawson. The current city water system was built in the 1950's. As part of the project, the city will also build a new 100,000 gallon water tower; twice as large as the old tank.

Construction on the new water system is set to begin next spring.

(Source: "Minnesota Cities" volume 93, issue 9 by the League of Minnesota Cities and Alexandria Echo Press)