NCAA Women's Final Four

Join the excitement for the Women's Final Four at Target Center March 31 - April 2!

Take advantage of the crowds coming to town at the end of the month, and plan some of your marketing, specials or events around the final 4!

City seeks partners to host City-owned parklets for 2022 season 

The City of Minneapolis is seeking community partners to host City-owned parklets for the 2022 season. Parklets are unique public gathering spaces built in the right-of-way with seating, plantings and other amenities. Neighborhood organizations, street-level businesses, nonprofits, community organizations and Special Services Districts are encouraged to apply to host a City-owned parklet. The application deadline is Friday, April 8. The City has three parklets to find hosts for. City crews will set up the parklets at host locations in the spring after street sweeping is completed and will remove them in the fall. The City-owned parklets include the parklet structure (platform and planter boxes), plantings, chairs, tables, patio umbrellas and public parklet signage. Hosts are responsible for day-to-day maintenance, such as watering plants, picking up trash, talking down umbrellas on windy days, locking up tables and chairs when not in use and reporting any issues. In 2021, City-owned parklets were hosted at the following businesses: Dollar & Up, 3653 Chicago Ave.; Butter Bakery Café, 3700 Nicollet Ave.; and Dancing Bear Chocolate, 4367 Thomas Ave. N. The goal of the parklet program is to activate community corridors with fun public spaces that make neighborhoods more vibrant and support local businesses. Find more information about the parklet host application process on the City’s website or by contacting parklets@minneapolismn.gov.

Do I need to check for proof of vaccination or negative test at the door?

It is up to each business to implement a process that makes sense for their service model.

We recommend posting signage requiring proof of vaccination or a negative test at each point of entry. Some sample approaches to consider:

• Restaurants with a host stand: Check for proof of vaccination or a negative test when a customer checks in.
• Restaurants without a host stand: Check for proof of vaccination or a negative test by the server at the first interact with a seated customer.
• Counter service: Check for proof of vaccination at the point of ordering when asking if a customer would like their order for dining in or if it’s a to-go order.
• Bars: Check for proof of vaccination or a negative test at the door along with IDs, or bartender asks at the bar when the customer sits down.
• Venues with ticketed events: Check for proof of vaccination or a negative test at the point of entry when checking tickets and/or IDs.
• Catering/Rental Halls: For rental halls with private events (e.g. weddings) an event coordinator can work with the party to communicate the standards for the venue. They may choose to work with the event planner or host to gather proof of vaccination in advance of the event or identify staff to verify at the point of entry to the event.

Resources

FAQ

• Answers to frequently asked questions 
• Mask guidance

Signs

Tell your customers proof of being fully vaccinated or a negative test within three days is required to enter.

The City updated signs to clarify only customers eating or drinking indoors need to show proof of vaccination or a negative test. If customers are picking up food for take-out or will only be inside for less than 15 minutes, they do not need to show proof.

• Vaccine or testing requirement sign in English
• Vaccine or testing requirement sign in Hmong
• Vaccine or testing requirement sign in Somali
• Vaccine or testing requirement sign in Spanish

Tell your customers face masks are required.

• Mask sign for businesses in English
• Mask sign for businesses in Hmong
• Mask sign for businesses in Somali
• Mask sign for businesses in Spanish 

Help your employees know what to look for when verifying vaccination status.

• How to verify vaccination status in English
• How to verify vaccination status in Hmong
• How to verify vaccination status in Somali
• How to verify vaccination status in Spanish

Waste Prevention Grants Available to Businesses and Non-profit Organizations

Hennepin County has a grant program for projects that prevent waste in the business sector. Areas of focus include replacing disposables with reusables, food waste prevention and innovative projects around research and development (to prevent waste). This year $300,000 is available for business waste prevention grants. Applicants may apply for up to $50,000 toward a project, with a minimum of $5,000. Grants over $10,000 require a 25% match. Review the 2022 waste prevention grant guidelines (PDF) and the grant flyer (PDF) for details on this grant program.

Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until Monday, November 14, 2022, or until the annual program budget is exhausted, whichever occurs first.

Visit the business recycling page for more information.

Minneapolis Public Schools Seeks Proposals from Farms and Organizations for Sustainably Grown and Raised Foods

Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) is now seeking bid proposals from farms and organizations interested in selling sustainably grown and raised foods to the school district’s Farm to School Program for the 2022-2023 school year. This year’s expanded RFP includes a wide variety of vegetables and fruits, free-range chicken and turkey, grass-fed beef, dried legumes, rolled oats, wild rice, and more.

To learn more and download a copy of this year’s Farm to School Food RFP, please visit MPS’ Open Bids and Proposals website and click on "RFP 22-17 Farm to School Food."

Visit the Farm to School website for more information.

End of COVID Temporary Expansion Permits  

Temporary COVID expansion permits for bars and restaurants expire on November 1.

All expansions permitted under EO 2020-13 will need to be removed and returned to their preapproved configuration, if applicable, by end of day October 31.

You may apply for a permanent Expansion of Premises:

• If you wish to make it permanent, and
• The expanded area meets the requirements

Please reach out to your area license inspector to discuss your options or if you have other questions.

Minneapolis will once again be enforcing its bag fee ordinance beginning tomorrow (October 1). Businesses providing a bag to customers at the point of purchase must charge a minimum 5 cent fee per bag and itemize this on receipts. If you have questions about the ordinance, you can review the language at the link below, or contact SWBA for assistance.

Bag Fee Ordinance

Contact SWBA at jessica@experiencesouthwest.com or 612-823-3472

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) will begin accepting applications for the Main Street COVID Relief Grants Program on September 20th. A total of $64,200,000 is available in grants for Minnesotan owned and operated businesses that can demonstrate financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Businesses that are majority-owned by military veterans, women, and Black, Indigenous, and people of color individuals; employ 6 people or fewer; and/or did not receive previous assistance from other state relief programs will be prioritized in the selection process. Funding will be distributed in a 50/50 split between the Twin Cities metro area and Greater Minnesota.

If you have questions, you can email MSCRG.DEED@state.mn.us. We will also be keeping our Frequently Asked Questions updated as we get inquires. Additionally, you will be able to find translated program information on our website in Hmong, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese. You can also watch our How To Apply For The Minnesota Main Street COVID Relief Grant video in Hmong, Somali and Spanish. You can also share our English flyer and English video.

 

Minneapolis CPED will be holding informational sessions; please find the dates and details below.

• Tuesday, September 14th at 11:00 a.m.
• Monday, September 20th at 10:00 a.m.
• OR you can watch a recorded video: HOW TO APPLY HELP

The Minneapolis League of Women Voters is hosting a candidate forum for Ward 11 (sponsored by Ward 11 Neighborhood Groups). Questions may be submitted to vote@lwvmpls.org

September 15 @ 6:30pm
Watch Live: www.facebook.com/lwvmpls or at mcn6.org

Confirmed Candidates Include:

• Kurt Anderson
• Dillon Gherna
• Emily Koski
• Jeremy Schoeder

35W was slated to close again this weekend between 62 and 280, but will now remain open as equipment availability became an issue. We'll post updates as they are made available.