Item Description:
title
Work Order PR00007880 under Principal Cooperative Agreement No. 18-0274/A188951 with the University of Minnesota for joint funding of the Hennepin-University Partnership program, 01/01/26-12/31/27, NTE $309,967
end
Resolution:
body
BE IT RESOLVED, that Work Order PR00007880 under the Principal Cooperative Agreement No. 18-0274/A188951 between Hennepin County and the University of Minnesota for joint funding of the Hennepin-University Partnership program from January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2027 with a total not to exceed amount of $309,967 be approved; that the Chair of the Board be authorized to sign the Work Order on behalf of the County; and that the Controller be authorized to disburse funds as directed.
end
Background:
The Hennepin-University Partnership (HUP) was established in 2005 by Hennepin County and the University of Minnesota to catalyze and support mutually-beneficial collaborations. For two decades, HUP has united the research power of the University of Minnesota with the expertise of Hennepin County to eliminate disparities and enrich the lives of County residents through collaborative projects. From housing stability and climate resilience to public health and data integration, HUP serves as a trusted bridge between academic insight and public service innovation, supporting work that turns knowledge into action and seeks to strengthen community outcomes.
The County and University share HUP Office costs on a biennial basis.
Work Orders and Cooperative Agreement Structure
HUP operates under the County’s Principal Cooperative Agreement with the University, first adopted in 2010 and renewed in 2018 (A188951), with an extension through June 30, 2026. The Agreement provides a streamlined contracting mechanism for collaborations between County departments and University units. The HUP Office works closely with Hennepin County’s Strategic Planning and Initiatives Department to ensure strategic alignment for county-initiated research requests and collaborations. Work Orders exceeding $100,000 require County Board approval.
Governance
HUP receives oversight and strategic direction from a Leadership Team of senior executives and additional program input from an Advisory Committee composed of County and University leaders. Together, these bodies provide guidance, alignment, and accountability to ensure the partnership advances shared institutional priorities.
2025 HUP Leadership Team Members
Hennepin County: Commissioner Marion Greene; County Administrator Jodi Wentland; Deputy County Administrator Kareem Murphy; Assistant County Administrators Lisa Cerney and Jodie Wierimaa
University of Minnesota: Associate Dean, Humphrey School of Public Affairs Ryan Allen; Director, Minnesota Design Center Tom Fisher; Executive Director Institute on the Environment Jessica Hellmann; Director of Center for Urban and Regional Affairs Edward Goetz; Vice Provost for Public Engagement Laurie Van Egren.
HUP Advisory Committee Members
Hennepin County: Strategic Planning and Initiatives Director Maggie Mesaros; Chief Data Officer Erik Erickson; Senior Project Manager Allyson Sellwood
University of Minnesota: Associate Vice Provost for Public Engagement David Weerts; Director for Public Engagement Initiatives Amber Cameron
Program Activities and Impact
Funding from Hennepin County jointly supports the HUP Office, which provides the essential staffing, coordination, and systems that make collaboration possible. The Office:
• Connects County staff and University experts to co-design research, evaluation, and innovation projects aligned with County priorities.
• Facilitates knowledge exchange and capacity-building through monthly webinars, policy huddles, and annual Mixers that convene hundreds of county staff, faculty, researchers, and students.
• Manages student assistantships, providing applied research and evaluation experience to graduate students while advancing County initiatives.
• Tracks and communicates outcomes and impact through annual reports, project tracking, and partnership spotlights, spotlighting the overall impact of over 500 collaborations and $22 million in County investments since HUP’s inception.
• Executes the 2031 HUP vision and strategies, a jointly developed roadmap that advances shared goals in disparity elimination, climate resilience, and data-informed decision-making.
• Maintains a dedicated bridge team that brokers partnerships, translates needs, and coordinates collaborative projects between County departments and University researchers.
• Provides administrative backbone support, including contract management, communications, event logistics, and strategic planning to ensure the partnership’s long-term success.
In 2024, over $1.1 million in funding was facilitated to support applied research and technical assistance in key priority areas, such as climate, connectivity, education, employment, health, housing, income, and justice. These projects helped to inform initial and ongoing county program design, evaluate impact, as well as provide technical assistance, mapping, and convening support to advance county-identified goals
HUP’s work is carried out by a jointly funded office housed within the University’s Center for Urban and Regional Affairs. The office serves as the backbone of the partnership, catalyzing and supporting mutually beneficial collaborations that advance knowledge, inform policy, and drive innovation to improve outcomes for Hennepin County residents. The office is staffed by 2.25 FTEs and the HUP Director reports jointly to the CURA Director and Hennepin County Administrator.
This Work Order covers the County’s portion of staffing the HUP office, specifically salaries and benefits and miscellaneous office support costs.
recommendation
Recommendation from County Administrator: Recommend Approval