We are working with community partners to develop projects focused on clean water investment in Near North Minneapolis neighborhoods. We partnered with Harrison Neighborhood Association to recruit three businesses, Venture North Bike Shop, Ripley Gardens apartments, and KNOCK Inc., to install raingardens, permeable pavement, boulevard bioswales and pollinator habitat in 2019. Engagement with these businesses took place over two years and included adapting the Equitable Development Scorecard created by the Alliance for Metropolitan Stability and partners, meeting with business stakeholders and gathering feedback from the broader community. We are focusing on partnership with longstanding community assets to create opportunities for investment. In 2020, this funding supports clean water projects at Masjid An Nur and the Regional Apprenticeship and Training Center in North Minneapolis. In addition to design and installation, we help participants with applications for City of Minneapolis stormwater credits. We intentionally work with and train local contractors from Northside to install projects, keeping clean water investment within the community, and provide landcare training to contractors and property staff so they can care for their projects long term. Projects completed in 2019 included 11 raingardens (2193 sq. ft.), six native plantings (2350 sq. ft.) and two fescue lawns (2820 sq. ft);15 sustainable landcare stewards were trained.

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