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Increasing Diversity in Environmental Careers
The Increasing Diversity in Environmental Careers (IDEC) program provides a unique college-to-careers pathway for underrepresented STEM college students, specifically, women, racial and ethnic minorities, or individuals with disabilities, who want to pursue a career in environmental and natural resources fields. Students receive a fellowship, mentorship, and paid internship during their academic journey in Minnesota. Partners include: Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Minnesota Board of Water & Soil Resources, Minnesota Environmental and Natural Resources Trust Fund.

Upcoming online info sessions - bit.ly/IDECInfo:

• Saturday, Feb 27, 9:00–9:45 am
• Tuesday, Mar 11, 1:00–1:45 pm
• Friday, Apr 9, 7:00–7:45 am
• Saturday, May 1, 10:00–10:45 am
• Wednesday, May 19, 5:00–5:45 pm

Applications for the Increasing Diversity in Environmental Careers program are due Friday, May 28. Learn more and apply at https://www.conservationcorps.org/idec.

At a Remote Bikeable Community Workshop, local and regional staff, community leaders, and local bike champions are trained on strategies that they can use to create a bike friendly community. Through virtual presentations, breakout discussions, and an independent bike audit, participants will assess their community’s bicycle friendly efforts and facilities while working together to create a personalized community action plan.

BikeMN, in partnership with the Minnesota Departments of Health and Transportation, will be offering a number of Remote Bikeable Community Workshops in 2021. If you feel that your community is a great candidate for a workshop, please fill out this online application.

Learn more and apply. See Best Practice Action 12.1 about becoming a Bicycle Friendly Community.  

The two state revolving fund (SRF) programs are administered by the Minnesota Public Facilities Authority (PFA), together with the MPCA and Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). The PFA provides low interest loans or grants to local governments for eligible projects based on priorities determined by the MPCA (for wastewater and stormwater projects) and the MDH (for drinking water projects).

Deadlines are listed below for the PPLs and IUPs:

 Project Priority List – Clean Water Revolving Fund 

• Wastewater and stormwater projects
• Deadline: On or before March 5, 2021 to MPCA
  • PPL application and scoring worksheet (Including supporting documentation, as required)
  • Wastewater facilities plans
• Stormwater project plans, contact: Bill Dunn, MPCA 651-757-2324, dunn@state.mn.us
• www.pca.state.mn.us/ppl

Project Priority List – Drinking Water Revolving Fund

• Drinking water projects
• Deadline: May 7, 2021 to Department of Health, contact: Chad Kolstad, MDH 651-201-3972, kolstad@state.mn.us
• www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/water/dwrf

Intended Use Plans – Both Clean Water and Drinking Water Funds

• Specify which program on submission
• Deadline: June 4, 2021 to Public Facilities Authority, contact: Becky Sabie, PFA 651-259-7470, sabie@state.mn.us
• mn.gov/deed/pfa

System owners must request that their projects be placed on the appropriate 2022 IUP if they expect to be ready for construction and are seeking SRF financing in state fiscal year 2022 (July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022). 

2021 MPHA "Public Health Matters" VIRTUAL Policy Forum Series

"Environmental Health: Is There Justice for All?"

Continue to explore the intersection between environmental health and health equity. The four forums we have planned for the 2020-2021 year are sure to be thought-provoking explorations of the challenges we face in ensuring that the public health needs of every Minnesotan are addressed.

All 2020-2021 forums will be held virtually.

Online networking begins 7:45am. Each forum starts promptly at 8:00am and concludes at 9:30am. Please join Minnesota’s public health community in these breakfast conversations:

December 4, 2020…in the water we use    Forum Agenda  View Dec. 4 Recording

This forum’s panelists and participants will address the distribution of Minnesota’s water resources. Is there equal access to clean water? Where is the greatest impact of water pollution felt?

January 15, 2021…in the places we live  Register Here!

Making sure that there is a fair distribution of the environmental resources needed for good health takes planning. Our panelists will consider environmental health topics related to waste treatment and landfill properties, road and bicycle routes, and green space. Do we have equitable distribution of these resources?

March 5, 2021…for our vulnerable populations

Our panelists, moderator and participants will explore the distribution and impact of environmental health burdens and resources for our most vulnerable population groups. In what ways do environmental concerns influence social determinants of health?           

May 7, 2021…in our public health response

The final forum of this series will examine the public health response to environmental health. We will ponder together the question, “What can we do better?”

Learn more and Register - https://mpha.net/2021-Policy-Forum-Series

Workshops will be online-only this season and are scheduled from 9:00-11:00 am. See the series at Eventbrite. 

August 26 - Planning for sustainability and resiliency in SE Minnesota communities
September 16 - Safe Routes to School in the time of COVID-19
October 21 - Creating cultural and sustainable shifts in sustainability 
November 4 (9:00am- 1:00pm) - Smart Salting Property Management Certification training
November 18 - Strategies and approaches to reduce energy burden
December 16 - Construction, demolition and building material reuse 
February 17 - Understanding and maintaining soil health - RSVP 
March - Stayed tuned! We will hold "office hours" for GSC action and metric reporting (reports are due by April 1, 2021)
April 21 - Urban trees for a changing climate - RSVP 
May 19 - Supporting Minnesota's pollinators - RSVP

See the workshop archives for past workshop recordings and materials. 

As cities grapple with the impact of COVID-19 on their local communities, cities may wonder how to address race equity. The state and other cities have created helpful resources that may benefit your community.

The League will continue to compile race equity resources, so check here for updates.

Get answers to frequently asked questions regarding COVID-19 and race equity

• Are there racial disparities related to COVID-19?
• Are there racial disparities in Minnesota related to COVID-19?
• How can cities include race equity in their response to COVID-19?
• If city residents are looking for multilingual COVID-19 resources, where can the city find them?
• We hear there may be acts of racial bias or discrimination happening related to COVID-19, but they are not getting reported to our police department. What can the city do to address this issue?
• What kind of statement could a city make related to race equity and COVID-19?
• What are Minnesota cities doing to address race equity during this health pandemic?
• What other local government efforts should cities be aware of related to equity and COVID-19?

Upstream Nutrient Reduction: MnTAP has launched a project geared towards working with facilities upstream of wastewater treatment plants to help them better-manage wastewater effluent.

Through this project, at no-cost, MnTAP staff and interns can help identify strategies for upstream nutrient reduction, which can:

• Decrease load to local wastewater treatment ponds and plants
• Reduce the burden on our local bodies of water and wildlife
• Minimize pressure and costs for businesses that discharge wastewater

The Minnesota Technical Assistance Program (MnTAP) is an outreach program at the University of Minnesota that helps Minnesota organizations develop and implement industry-tailored solutions that prevent pollution at the source, maximize efficient use of resources, and reduce energy use and costs to improve public health and the environment.

See current grant opportunities as part of the LMC Resource Library - https://www.lmc.org/page/1/current-grant.jsp

The Clean Water Partnership (CWP) program offers zero-interest loans to local units of government for implementing nonpoint-source best management practices and other activities that target the restoration and protection of a water resource such as a lake, stream, or groundwater aquifer.

Eligible projects include:

• Urban green infrastructure such as rain water reuse, green roofs, porous pavement, or any stormwater best management practice (BMP)
• Buffers: purchase of native seeds and vegetation
• Septic system upgrades and replacements
• Technical assistance, outreach, and education
• Equipment such as conservation tillage equipment
• Any nonpoint source BMP
• Feedlot upgrades and replacement  

Funding: Up to $2 million, 0% interest
Timing: Accepted on a rolling basis
Link: https://www.pca.state.mn.us/water/cwp-loans