Item Description:
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Neg various Agmts for Green Partners environmental education programs for periods between 09/01/26-08/31/27 and 09/01/26-08/31/28, total NTE $173,000
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Resolution:
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BE IT RESOLVED, that the County Administrator be authorized to negotiate the following agreements during the period September 1, 2026 through August 31, 2027, with a total amount not to exceed $37,000:
• PR00008653 with Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches for a youth environmental education project, not to exceed $25,000
• PR00008662 with Special School District 1 for a youth environmental leadership project, not to exceed $12,000; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the County Administrator be authorized to negotiate the following agreements during the period September 1, 2026 through August 31, 2028, with a total amount not to exceed $136,000:
• PR00008645 with Lao Assistance Center of Minnesota for an environmental action project, not to exceed $50,000
• PR00008656 with Northside Residents Redevelopment Council for a youth environmental education project, not to exceed $36,000
• PR00008658 with Regents of the University of Minnesota for a youth environmental education project, not to exceed $50,000; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that following review and approval by the County Attorney’s Office, the County Administrator be authorized to sign the agreements on behalf of the county; and that the Controller be authorized to disburse funds as directed.
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Background:
The Hennepin County Green Partners environmental education program provides funding to organizations to actively educate, engage, and motivate residents to become environmental stewards and make positive environmental behavior changes. Since the program was established in 2012, the county has awarded 311 agreements totaling more than $4.8 million. Funding for the program comes from the Solid Waste Enterprise Fund.
The program offers three types of environmental education funding: (1) Environmental Action agreements for projects that focus on motivating adults to take environmentally friendly actions, (2) Youth Environmental Leadership agreements that engage older youth (high school to age 24) in environmental leadership opportunities, and (3) Youth Environmental Education agreements for projects engaging youth in elementary and middle school in environmental education and stewardship.
Eligible organizations include registered nonprofit organizations such as community groups, youth programs, and congregations; park districts; and schools, including community education and early childhood family education programs.
The county released a request for proposals in February 2026. A total of 68 proposals were received, of which two withdrew their proposals. A total of 27 projects are recommended for funding, for a total amount of $652,000. Proposals were reviewed by environmental subject matter experts and environmental educators from the Environment and Energy and Climate and Resiliency departments. The review panels also included a representative from an organization that is currently under contract with Green Partners but ineligible to apply this year.
Five of the 27 agreements require board approval because these organizations have existing agreements with the county that exceed $100,000. The remaining 22 agreements will be approved through administrative processes. The full list of the 27 agreements is included below.
Environmental Action projects:
• Free Geek Twin Cities (Minneapolis), $12,000 - To engage 50 adults in building refurbished computers from used electronic waste parts and learning about reusing waste.
• Gifting Grove (Minneapolis), $12,000 - To engage 600 people in mending, upcycling, and creating garments using reclaimed textiles.
• Sisters of Synergy (Minneapolis and nearby suburbs), $12,000 - To directly engage 20 households receiving community support services in reducing and recycling waste at home and on-the-go.
• Hispanic Advocacy and Community Empowerment (countywide), $50,000 - To engage 120 Latino residents in waste reduction, recycling, and organics recycling in their households.
• Lao Assistance Center of Minnesota (countywide), $50,000 - To host swap events engaging at least 150 people from the Asian American Pacific Islander community in reuse.
• Lyndale Neighborhood Association (Minneapolis), $25,000 - To engage 500 residents of Lyndale and Whittier neighborhoods in waste reduction through learning how to repair, upcycle, and reuse.
• Minnesota Swahili Christian Congregation (countywide), $12,000 - To engage 100 congregation members in food waste reduction, textile waste, and fix-it activities to reduce waste.
• Mississippi Park Connection (Minneapolis, Brooklyn Park), $25,000 - To engage 600 residents in outdoor and nature activities to encourage engagement with and care of the river through visiting parks along the Mississippi River, canoeing, litter pick-up, nature walks, learning about local environmental issues, and what they can do to protect the river and natural areas.
• Reuse Minnesota, Incorporated (countywide), $15,000 - To engage 300 residents in learning repair skills to reduce waste in their daily lives.
• ZIRAN, Zone for Integrated Resources and Alliances (countywide), $25,000 - To engage 300 residents in the Chinese community and others in learning where food waste occurs across the food system and gaining practical skills to reduce food waste.
Youth Environmental Leadership projects:
• Conservation Corps (countywide), $12,000 - To engage 58 youth in natural resources restoration and conservation, green jobs, and leadership opportunities.
• Center School, Inc. (Minneapolis), $25,000 - To engage 55 Native American youth in learning about and removing invasive species from public lands and community green spaces, incorporating environmental science and Indigenous teachings.
• EcoAlpha (countywide), $50,000 - To engage 60 youth ambassadors in recycling, composting, and waste reduction through leadership and community education.
• Friends of Frog Tree Farm (countywide), $12,000 - To engage 200 youth in learning about natural areas, environmental stewardship in composting, pollinators, soil health, and green career pathways.
• Harrison Neighborhood Association (Minneapolis), $12,000 - To engage two youth and 100 neighbors in learning and leadership around food systems, pollinators, composting, soil health, and food waste in their neighborhood.
• Juxtaposition Arts, Inc. (Minneapolis), $50,000 - To engage 50 to 100 youth in studying environmental issues along the Broadway corridor in North Minneapolis through the Environmental Design Lab.
• Special School District 1 (Minneapolis), $12,000 - To engage 420 students from Roosevelt High School in learning about food preservation, organics recycling, soil health, and environmental stewardship.
Youth Environmental Education projects:
• Al-Maa'uun (Minneapolis), $12,000 - To engage 10 youth in watershed education, stewardship, storytelling, and exploring how urban environments influence the health of the Mississippi River and their neighborhoods.
• ArtStart (Minneapolis), $27,000 - To engage 270 students from three Spanish dual-immersion language elementary schools in learning about native birds of Minnesota through outdoor experiences and art.
• Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches (Minneapolis), $25,000 - To engage 150 youth in environmental STEAM programming.
• Highpoint Center for Printmaking (Minneapolis), $19,000 - To engage 80 youth from Minneapolis Public Schools in learning about native and invasive species and their impact on water through art.
• Justice Impacted Individuals Voting Effectively (dba JIIVE) (Minneapolis), $12,000 - To engage 15 middle school-aged youth in learning about and educating their community about composting, zero waste practices, and environmental stewardship in urban food systems.
• Northside Residents Redevelopment Council (Minneapolis), $36,000 - To engage 15 middle school-aged youth each year in learning and educating others in their community about environmental stewardship, composting, and water systems.
• OneSoundNorth (Minneapolis), $12,000 - To engage 150 elementary students from Lucy Laney Community School in learning about environmental stewardship through music.
• Regents of the University of Minnesota (countywide), $50,000 - To engage 150 youth and educators from K-8 camps and clubs in learning about and implementing environmental programming on waste and environmental stewardship, through the 4-H programming.
• We All Need Food and Water (Minneapolis), $36,000 - To engage 1100 youth from schools and community organizations in areas of high disparity in learning about environmental topics, including waste, water, and environmental stewardship.
• World Savvy, Inc. (Minneapolis), $12,000 - To engage 178 middle school students from AIM Academy in an environmental justice capstone project, exploring environmental issues like water, soil, and ecosystems.
Current Request: This request is to authorize the County Administrator to negotiate and execute five Green Partners environmental education agreements with a total amount not to exceed $173,000.
Funding for the program comes from the Solid Waste Enterprise Fund.
Impact/Outcomes: The Green Partners program supports the county’s goals of environmental stewardship, engaging communities, enhancing quality of life, and protecting the environment for current and future generations. These agreements advance the county’s zero waste, climate action, and disparity elimination goals.
Recommended projects focus primarily on audiences that face disparities. Organizations listed in this request will engage more than 6,300 people, which include more than 3,100 youth, in becoming environmental stewards and taking action to protect the environment. These projects are expected to reach more than 238,000 people with environmental messages.
Of the 27 recommended proposers, 11 are new to the program and will receive their first Green Partners award in 2026. All the 27 recommended proposers included strategies to eliminate disparities through their project activities and participant recruitment efforts.
Organizations are required to report project outcomes. Research has shown that these models of community environmental engagement are effective in motivating participants to take actions that have a positive impact on the environment.
This request funds services that are: core services
recommendation
Recommendation from County Administrator: Recommend Approval