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H.C. Commissioner Chris LaTondresse (Dist. 6) Update: July 16, 2021


July 16, 2021

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

This week I attended the National Association of Counties (NACo) Annual Conference. These gatherings offer county officials nationwide the opportunity to share best practices and join forces in advocacy to better serve our residents.

During the gathering I connected with with Deputy U.S. Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo, the Federal official responsible for local government implementation of the American Rescue Plan (ARP). Hennepin County is receiving $240 million in Federal ARP investments. It’s an historic opportunity to build back better post-pandemic.

Hennepin County also received 17 awards from NACo, including top honors for an innovative training program intended to reduce disparities and improve racial equity. More details on those awards are below.

Updates in this week’s newsletter:

🏛 NACo Conference

🏆 County earns recognition for efforts during pandemic: Hennepin County received 17 awards from a national organization, including top honors for an innovative training program intended to improve racial equity.   

💉 Funding for Community Vaccine Clinics: Community organizations within Hennepin County can receive up to $3,000 in grants for COVID-19 vaccine incentives.

🍎 2021 food distribution opportunities: Hennepin County will grant $1.5 million to assist providers working to meet residents’ food needs.

🏛 Eden Prairie Commission Banquet

In service,

Chris


🏛 NACo Conference

This week I traveled to Washington, D.C. for a couple of days for the National Association of Counties (NACo) Annual Conference. NACo events are a gathering place for county officials nationwide to connect, share best practices and join forces in advocacy to better serve our residents.

I spoke with Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo about building back better and stronger after the pandemic. The Biden Administration has entrusted counties with implement the American Rescue Plan, a historic investment. Hennepin is responsible for $240 million.


With Ramsey County Commissioner Mary Jo McGuire
after she was elected as NACo’s 2nd Vice President. 


🏆 County earns recognition for efforts during pandemic


Hennepin County received 17 awards from a national organization, including top honors for an innovative training program intended to improve racial equity.   

The National Association of Counties presented Hennepin with its Best in Category award in personnel management and employment training on July 12 at its annual conference. Hennepin also earned 16 other awards for its efforts to serve residents during the pandemic. These included shifting services online and making sure staff had the tools they needed.  

Each year, the National Association of Counties presents awards recognizing counties that provide better, more innovative services to residents. The organization is dedicated to strengthening America’s counties. The organization also advocates for federal policy making, promotes best practices,  and facilitates fiscal responsibility.  

Projects recognized include:

Racial Equity Impact Tool champions academy

  • Category: Personnel management, employment, and training
  • Submitting department: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Replacing county laptops to enable remote work

  • Category: Information technology
  • Submitting department: Information Technology

Rapid response IT team to help county departments serve residents remotely

  • Category: Information technology
  • Submitting department: Information Technology

Virtual Training Agility

  • Category: Personnel management, employment, and training
  • Department: Human Resources

Election Student Volunteers

  • Category: Civic education and public information
  • Submitting department: Elections

Small business relief and recovery

  • Category: Community and economic development
  • Department: Public Works

Licensing Center pandemic redesign

  • Category: County administration and management
  • Submitting department: Resident and Real Estate Services

Confronting past discrimination embedded in real property records

  • Category: Civic education and public information
  • Submitting department: Resident and Real Estate Services

Efficient Buildings Collaborative

  • Category: County resiliency: Infrastructure, energy, and sustainability
  • Submitting department: Facility Services

COVID-19 pandemic elections response

  • Category: Civic education and public information
  • Department: Elections

Library web archiving program

  • Category: Libraries
  • Submitting department: Library

CARES food insecurity

  • Category: Human services
  • Submitting department: Human services

CARES expanded services

  • Category: Human services
  • Submitting department: Human Services

Emergency rental assistance

  • Category: Community and economic development
  • Submitting department: Housing and Economic Development

Education support services

  • Category: Children and youth
  • Submitting department: Educational Support Services

Isolation and quarantine program

  • Category: Human services
  • Submitting department: Human Services

COVID-19 data and reporting

  • Category: County administration and management
  • Submitting department: Center of Innovation and Excellence

💉 Funding for Community Vaccine Clinics 

Community organizations within Hennepin County can receive up to $3,000 in grants to use toward COVID-19 vaccine incentives. 

Learn more and apply at http://hennepin.us/community-vaccination.


🍎 2021 food distribution opportunities


Hennepin County will grant $1.5 million to assist providers working to meet residents’ food needs. This opportunity is a very intentional effort on behalf of the County to address food insecurity issues in our communities and in recognition of the hardships and economic need created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

This round of grants will cover food only. Hennepin County is examining a longer-term, more sustainable approach to solving food insecurity.

Apply for funding by filling out the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Food Insecurity Award application.

Pre-application materials from July 7 conference

You may need information in these materials as you apply for funding.

Project timeline

  • July 7: Pre-release conference
  • July 8: Application release
  • July 30: Last day to apply; deadline for applications is 2 p.m.
  • August 6: Award letters will be sent.

🏛 Eden Prairie Commission Banquet

Yesterday evening I joined Eden Prairie in celebrating the leadership of some of their most engaged citizens—including a spirited round of Eden Prairie Jeopardy! Gratitude for all those who serve on local government boards and commissions. You make our communities stronger. Thanks to Mayor Ron Case, for the invitation!


📰 News

As demand for vaccines decline, public health shifts focus to small, targeted clinics

Photo Credit: Evan Frost, Minnesota Public Radio


by Catharine Richert, Minnesota Public Radio

Monique Drier-Sutton works for Hennepin County coordinating these types of targeted vaccine clinics. 

Instead of asking people to go to a pharmacy, health care facility or large-scale clinic for a vaccine, she said public health workers are bringing vaccines to them — usually in places that are familiar and comfortable. 

“Hennepin County has looked at some creative ways to be able to get ourselves into spaces and provide vaccine in unique ways,” she said. 

Access the full story here.


Minnesota halts school lunch shaming over student debts


by Anthony Lonetree, Star Tribune

Anoka-Hennepin, the state’s largest district, will be offering free meals through next school year, as well, said Noah Atlas, the district’s child nutrition director.

He said districts often have to grapple with what to do about debts and related pressure on the general fund, but that Anoka-Hennepin has complied with no-shaming measures as outlined in the new bill.

Access the full story here.


About District 6

The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners consists of one commissioner from each of seven districts. I am proud to represent Deephavennorth Eden PrairieEdinaExcelsiorGreenwoodHopkinsLong LakeMinnetonkaMinnetonka Beachnorthern MoundOronoShorewoodSpring ParkTonka BayWayzata and Woodland.


County information


Chris LaTondresse
Commissioner
6th District
612-348-7886 

Jessica Oaxaca
District Director
612-348-6885

Kyle Olson
Policy Director
612-348-3168

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