Minneapolis set to give $300,000 to neighborhood projects

It's the first year for a new competitive funding program, with winning projects ranging from a Somali-language radio station to a tool library.

By eringolden

July 13, 2015 at 7:53PM

Rain gardens in Longfellow, a Somali-language radio station in Phillips and a tool library in Windom Park are among the dozen neighborhood projects that will receive city funding through a new competitive program in Minneapolis.

The Community Innovation Fund will provide a total of $300,000 in support for projects proposed by neighborhood and community organizations, sometimes working together in groups. The twelve projects were selected from 19 applications, which were each expected to show how they would help the city meet its goals.

This is the first year for the competitive funding process, which differs from other neighborhood funding the city distributes based on a formula. City officials recommended the 12 projects after sorting through the applications, and presented them to a City Council committee on Monday. The full council will still need to take a final vote on the funding.

Among the other areas slated to receive funding are: the Bottineau Neighborhood Association, which would receive $16,000 to monitor air emissions in the neighborhood; Ventura Village, which would receive $25,000 for an outdoor patio and picnic area at the Philips Community Center and the Lyndale Neighborhood Association, which plans to work with a handful of other groups to form a renters' organization. That project is scheduled to receive $30,000.

Council members said they were supportive of the program, though some requested additional information about each organization's spending plans in advance of making a final vote. Funds for the projects will come from the city's consolidated tax increment financing district.

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