Proposed LHENA City Contract 2022 Modification

Motion: to approve the NRP funding contract modification outlined in Proposed LHENA City Contract 2022 Modification, presented to the Lowry Hill East community on July 21, 2022 and open to member vote through August 11, 2022. The LHENA board would then conduct a final vote of approval on August 17, 2022. 

VOTE on this motion and share input

What is this about? 

• LHENA is funded largely by the City of Minneapolis. One of our primary City contracts was created over a decade ago, and the needs of our organization and community were largely different than they are today. 
• Per the terms of the City of Minneapolis’ Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP), the program under which these funds are administered, to modify an existing contract of more than $25,000 neighborhood associations must receive a community approval vote of at least 25 LHENA non-board members via an online form. A member of LHENA is any person who lives, owns property, or owns a business in Lowry Hill East. 

Why do we need to modify a City contract? 

•  This contract modification will allow LHENA to use its funding to align with its organizational sustainability goals outlined in our strategic plan. 
• We will be able to use about $500,000 in NRP funds that are reserved for LHENA but are currently uncontracted and unavailable to us. 
• These funds would allow LHENA flexibility to acquire property in the community for commercial use, community event space, and housing. 

What is the proposed modification? 

• The current uncontracted amount of $500,000 would be put into a new NRP contract focused on organizational development. These NRP funds may be used to purchase, rehabilitate, or develop residential and commercial property in Lowry Hill East, as well as other costs associated with pre-development and development management.  

What are LHENA’s goals in potentially acquiring property? 

• Create flexible space to serve as a small business incubator, particularly for BIPOC businesses
• Increase the amount of affordable housing in the neighborhood
• Help redevelop and revitalize a neighborhood commercial property
• Create new parklet/accessible community and event space
• Provide LHENA a permanent home and revenue streams

NRP funds currently uncontracted: $500,000

Proposed contract modification total for organizational/property development: $500,000

What’s next? 

• You may vote to support this contract modification and to share your input via survey here between July 21, 2022 and August 11, 2022. LHENA will conduct outreach on multiple levels (digital and in-person) over the course of this time to engage as many members as possible. 
• The LHENA board of directors will analyze the community vote/input and make a final vote on August, 17, 2022. 
• If you have questions, please reach out to LHENA executive director Paul Shanafelt at [email protected] and LHENA board member Peter Schmitt at [email protected]

VOTE on this motion and share input