News

Safe Routes Boost Grants for programmatic funding now available

Safe Routes to School Boost grants are an answer to your SRTS programmatic/non-infrastructure needs! Through these grant awards, the Minnesota Department of Transportation will support communities with existing SRTS plans or other SRTS programs, in advancing non-infrastructure strategies for schools that support Minnesota youth  by helping students safely, confidently and conveniently walk, bike and roll to school and in daily life. New this year the application will use community data to help better prioritize funds for schools with low income and students of color, as well as utilize community context for areas unsafe for pedestrians and bicyclists. 

Grant application closes at noon on Nov. 25. SRTS Boost grant awardees are intended to begin work in March 2021, completing work by June 2021.

SRTS Boost Grants Informational Webinar
Nov. 2at 11 a.m.
Join Microsoft Teams Meeting

Join the meeting through the link or email the SRTS coordinator for more information here.

SRTS Planning Assistance funding now available

SRTS plans have been used to engage community stakeholders to successfully identify barriers and opportunities for youth to walk and bicycle to school and to leverage significant investments in infrastructure and non-infrastructure solutions. Now is your chance to bring these improvements to your community!

MnDOT’s Planning Assistance Grants provide planning expertise and plan development support to schools. Planning is completed by the local regional development organization, metropolitan planning organization or the statewide SRTS planning consultant team. MnDOT will contract directly with the planning organizations and consultant. In alignment with our five year strategic plan, we will be directing funds to priority populations that include individuals, groups and communities who are more likely to rely on walking, biking or transit for transportation; are more vulnerable to unsafe traffic conditions; or have suffered historic disinvestment in safe, comfortable walking and biking infrastructure.

Grant application closes at noon on Nov. 25. Planning efforts will commence in August 2021 through June 2021.

SRTS Planning Assistance Grants Informational Webinar

Oct 15 at 10 a.m.
Join Microsoft Teams Meeting

Join the meeting through the link below or email the SRTS coordinator for more information here.

SRTS infrastructure solicitation now open for greater Minnesota

Minnesota communities, schools and their partners are invited to apply for funding on local projects that enhance transportation safety goals around schools.

The Transportation Alternatives Solicitation is a competitive grant opportunity for local communities and regional agencies in greater Minnesota to fund projects for pedestrian and bicycle facilities, historic preservation, Safe Routes to School and more. Minnesota will be soliciting projects that has historically had over $6 million available in grant funding across the state where the total is shared between the seven area transportation partnerships. Greater Minnesota applicants must submit a letter of intent by Oct. 31 describing the key components of their project. A regional representative will contact applicants to help review the project proposal and the steps necessary for delivering a federally funded project prior to local communities and regional agencies submitting a full grant application.

For grant details see the Transportation Alternatives website.

The Climate Engagement Team of the Governor's Climate Sub-cabinet is seeking input from all Minnesotans to help with priority setting around their work.

The climate of Minnesota is changing. In the past several decades, our state has seen substantial warming that is most pronounced during winter and at night, increased precipitation, and heavier downpours. An overwhelming base of scientific evidence projects that Minnesota’s climate will see additional, significant changes through the end of this century. 

To address the climate crisis, the Governor’s Climate Engagement Team needs ideas and participation from a broad spectrum of Minnesotans from all parts of the state. Help shape the Climate Change Subcabinet's priorities and approach to climate change engagement. Please complete this 5-10 minute survey to communicate which issues affect you the most, how you'd like to be involved in this work, and to share your ideas for building momentum for climate action in Minnesota.

Take the Survey

Please help us spread the word. The Climate Engagement Team would love to hear from a wide range of Minnesotans.

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 - RSVP 
November 4 (9:00am- 1:00pm) - Smart Salting Property Management Certification training - RSVP 
November 18 - Strategies and approaches to reduce energy burden - RSVP 
December 16 - Construction, demolition and building material reuse - RSVP 
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. 

Workforce Housing Development Grant Program

Minnesota Housing is now accepting applications for this competitive funding program, which targets small to mid-size cities in Greater Minnesota with rental workforce housing needs. Anticipated funding of approximately $1.5 million will be available to build market-rate residential rental properties in communities with proven job growth and demand for workforce rental housing. Communities are required to secure matching funds that match one dollar for every two dollars in funding offered through the program. The deadline to apply is 12 p.m. on Dec. 17.

Learn more and apply

Apply for a grant to install direct current fast chargers for electric vehicles in designated corridors along highways and interstates in Greater Minnesota.

See the request for proposals (RFP) for full details on eligibility: who may apply, grant match amounts, and other information that will help applicants submit a proposal.

• Application deadline: November 25, 2020
• Total funding: Approximately $2.66 million
• Maximum amount available for each 50kW fast charger: 80% of project costs, up to $70,000 (20% cash match required)

Application materials

Phase 2 Electric vehicle fast charging corridor grants (FY21)

The RFP assists applicants in applying for and managing state grants. This document describes the Electric Vehicle (EV) Fast Charging Corridor grant round, and provides information that will help applicants plan their EV corridor project and submit a competitive proposal. Proposals are due no later than 4:30 p.m. Central Time on November 25, 2020.

https://www.pca.state.mn.us/air/ev-fast-charging-station-grants?utm_campaign=vw&utm_medium=organic&utm_source=facebook 

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.

Sustainability Commission. Energy and Environmental Committee. Conservation Commission. GreenStep Core Group. Whatever you call them, effective Green Teams are often at the center of GreenStep successes. 

And now there is a guide to help Green Teams do their work even better! The GreenStep Green Team Work Plan provides guidance on developing and maintaining effective Green Teams. The Work Plan answers questions like “What does a Green Team do?” and “Who should be on a Green Team?” and provides tips on essential aspects of Green Team longevity and usefulness, like structure, leadership, and succession.

In addition, the Work Plan takes a deeper dive into two best practice areas required for Step 3 recognition: Benchmarking Public Buildings (BP 1.1) and Comprehensive and Related Plans (BP 6). The Work Plan suggests resources and provides step-by-step guidance on how Green Teams might move forward on these best practices. 

Check out the 2020 Green Team Work Plan here!

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