EMS Pathways Academy Student Internship Program

The EMS Pathways Academy is a partnership between the Minneapolis Fire Department, the Minneapolis Foundation, Hennepin County Medical Center, Project for Pride and Living, and other healthcare organizations. The goal is to provide a pipeline of diverse candidates for the Minneapolis Fire Department and the emergency medical workforce of our community. This student internship career pathway will target low-income, minority, male and female young adults of Minneapolis between the ages of 18-30, to be eligible to receive free Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training and certification.

The training course is 11-13 weeks and participants are paid $15 per hour. Applicants must have a high school diploma or GED, be authorized to work in the United States, and will be required to pass a physical exam. Applications are being accepted Feb. 13 - Feb. 24. To apply, visit www.minneapolismn.gov/jobs.

Universal Plating Site Update

The Minneapolis Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has added the former Universal Plating site, which consists of 1900-1922 Monroe Street NE and 661-19th Avenue NE, to the State's Superfund Permanent List of Priorities. This is a significant step in ultimately returning this piece of property to productive and beneficial use. Universal Plating was the site of chemical and mechanical plating and finishing from 1944 to 2009. Metals and chlorinated solvents at levels that exceed the MPCA's soil reference values for residential land use have been detected in the site's soil. The property has been included in MPCA's Voluntary Investigation and Cleanup Program since 2014.

The property was forfeited to the State of Minnesota for non-payment of taxes in 2015. Hennepin County Resident and Real Estate Services (RRES) currently administers the site on behalf of the State. In addition to securing and maintaining the property, Hennepin County staff have sampled and identified chemicals and process waste on the site and packaged and transferred waste from the site to disposal facilities. The site needs to be completely cleaned before the structures can be demolished. The clean up is expected to be completed by the end of 2016 and the demolition will take place during the spring and summer of 2017.

Energy Assistance Information

Following the termination by the State of Minnesota of its contracts with Community Action of Minneapolis, the City of Minneapolis is committed to ensuring that those who need the services that Community Action provided will still receive them. Effective immediately, Community Action of Suburban Hennepin (CAPSH) will deliver the Energy Assistance Program in Minneapolis.

Energy Assistance applications that were previously submitted to Community Action of Minneapolis will be delivered to CAPSH and processed in the order in which they were received. Clients do not need to submit new applications unless notified by CAPSH. Minneapolis residents who have received Energy Assistance applications should mail them to CAPSH at the address below rather than to the address printed on their application:

Mail new applications to:

Energy Assistance Program, 8800 Highway 7, #403, St. Louis Park, MN 55426

The Energy Assistance application can be downloaded online at www.capsh.org or by calling 952-930-3541. Residents who are interested in weatherization services for their home should contact Sustainable Resources Center at 612-870-4255.

Hennepin County Business Recycling Grants Grants

Hennepin County provides funds for businesses, non-profit organizations and institutions to start or improve programs to divert recyclables and organics (food and non-recyclable paper) from the trash.

The grant program is open to for-profit and non-profit businesses, organizations and institutions, as well as multifamily housing, located in Hennepin County. Option 1 is available anytime, with accelerated approvals, and offers up to $10,000 toward containers, equipment purchase and installation, hauling service charges and improvements to loading docks and waste enclosures. No match is required and grantees are given a 12-month term to complete their project. Option 2 is available spring and fall, through a competitive selection process, for large or innovative projects. This option offers up to $50,000 and requires matching funds of at least 25% of total project costs.

For further information about these two grant programs, call 612-543-1316 or visit www.hennepin.us/businessrecycling.

Proposed Minneapolis-Hennepin Environmental Center

Since 2005, representatives from the City of Minneapolis and Hennepin County have been discussing the potential of the City and County partnering on a household hazardous waste facility in the City of Minneapolis. Currently Hennepin County operates facilities in Bloomington and Brooklyn Park.

However, participation data collected by Hennepin County has shown that only approximately 5% of Minneapolis residents utilize these facilities on a regular basis. Both the City and the County felt that more convenient access would increase participation by Minneapolis residents, to reduce the amount of improperly disposed of waste ending up in the river, ground and air.

In June 2010, the City began the process of evaluating the environmental and public purpose of the property at 340 27th Ave NE as a potential location for a Minneapolis-Hennepin Environmental Center. The evaluation includes environmental investigations and a traffic study to analyze traffic flow in the area.

There have been three public information meetings about this proposed site over the summer. Upcoming meetings will review the traffic study. In addition, the City of Minneapolis is in the process of developing a website so that the public may be further informed about the proposed site, environmental study, traffic study and details about further public meetings. For information about upcoming meetings, the traffic study and/or the website, please feel free to contact the Ward 1 office.