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Mayor Rybak Announces Grants Supporting Green Activism

Minneapolis Mobilizes Residents for Grassroots Change With $1,000 Micro-grants

July 9, 2007 (MINNEAPOLIS) -- Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak today joined City Council Member Scott Benson and other members of the Council’s Health Education and Environment Committee to announce the recipients of the first round of Minneapolis’ Mobilizing Citizens for Grassroots Climate Change micro grants.

“As a green leader, Minneapolis is doing everything it can to reduce our energy use and fight global climate change,” Mayor Rybak said. “But the City government can’t do all of this work this alone. We need strong partnerships with our churches, community groups and neighborhoods. We need a vision, but we also need action. These grantees are rolling up their sleeves and doing meaningful work to reduce energy consumption and fight climate change.”

“People-led leadership and inspiration is critically important right now because while city government can provide leadership, we can make monumental progress in improving our environment if we also inspire residents and community groups to join our actions,” said Council Member Benson, who chairs the Council’s Health Education and Environment Committee. “While we need to inspire in all areas of environmental stewardship, the area that emerges far above all others is our urgent need to address the climate change crisis.”

Twenty grants of up to $1,000 will support the many grassroots efforts taking place throughout Minneapolis directing people to take meaningful actions to reduce their energy use. The grantees include churches, neighborhood groups, non-profit organizations and parks.

The Climate Change grants are part of Minneapolis’ comprehensive sustainability initiative to reduce the City’s carbon dioxide footprint 12% by 2012, supported by the realization that everyone can and must play a part in reducing climate change. All the grantees are using the City funds to promote the Minneapolis Energy Challenge campaign to reduce energy use in the city.

Because many of the grantees requested funds to purchase compact florescent light bulbs (CFLs), Xcel Energy has agreed to provide 1,360 CFLs, which will be distributed to the grant recipients in lieu of the CFL budget items in their proposals.

Below is a list of grantees and a brief review of their projects to be funded:

University Baptist Church - Change church light bulbs from incandescent to compact florescent bulbs (CFLs), publicize the changes, including wattage and carbon savings and urge congregants to follow suit at home.

Kingfield Neighborhood - Handheld electricity calculators will measure the electrical usage of residential appliances over a one month period. The electricity data collected will be used to promote energy savings for all residents in the neighborhood newsletter.

Cleveland Neighborhood - Provide computer access at this fall’s Regional Energy Fair to encourage residents to sign up immediately for the Minneapolis Energy Challenge.

Sheridan Neighborhood - Support the “Lights on Sheridan” program which provides CFLs to residents contemplating security lighting on their property. The program also encourages the use of solar energy and CFL lights and promotes the Minneapolis Energy Challenge.

Walker Community Methodist Church - Hire 10-12 Learn to Work/Work to Learn youth for the summer to go door-to-door educating residents about climate change, make posters for community buildings regarding climate change, water newly planted trees in Powderhorn Park, and host a potluck dinner for church members, friends and community residents to screen An Inconvenient Truth.

St. Anthony West Neighborhood – Provide an information table and Minneapolis Energy Challenge sign-up at the “Historic Riverfront 5K Run/Walk”. Those signing up for the Minneapolis Energy Challenge at the group’s annual fundraiser will receive a free CFL.

Bedlam Theatre - Expand their “How did you get HERE?” program which gives $2 to every patron who arrives at the theater via mass transit, biking or walking. Create signage in the lobby advertising both the “How did you get HERE?” program and the Minneapolis Energy Challenge.

Standish Ericsson Neighborhood – Conduct a “Green Give-Away” drawing during their annual meeting. Items to be given away include home energy audit, CFLs, 3M window treatment, low-flow shower head, gift certificate for trees, etc. A brief explanation of each item, how it saves energy and where it can be purchased will be conducted before the winning entry is drawn. Everyone who signs up for the Minneapolis Energy Challenge will receive a CFL.

Bike On - Expand “Women Bike On” program with two interns, fluent in Somali/Oromo/Amharic or Spanish who will work to encourage immigrant women to bike and provide them with information about the Minneapolis Energy Challenge during eight weeks of classes on Saturday mornings. The women will be surveyed about their energy use habits at the beginning of the classes and with a follow-up survey in May 2008.

Bryn Mawr Neighborhood Association – Actively advocate for residents to use CFLs with advertisements in the neighborhood newsletter and at neighborhood gatherings. The neighborhood youth group will go door-to-door to talk about the Minneapolis Energy Challenge and distribute CFLs.

Linden Hills Recreation Center - Hold a “Good Energy” fair to provide residents with simple ideas to reduce energy use and offer information about the Minneapolis Energy Challenge. A CFL will be given to each person who signs up for the Energy Challenge.

Powderhorn Recreation Center - Hold a “Good Energy” fair to provide residents with simple ideas to reduce energy use and offer information about the Minneapolis Energy Challenge. A CFL will be given to each person who signs up for the Energy Challenge.

Luxton Recreation Center - Hold a “Good Energy” fair to provide residents with simple ideas to reduce energy use and offer information about the Minneapolis Energy Challenge. A CFL will be given to each person who signs up for the Energy Challenge.

Bryant Square Bike Club - Youth cycling club will encourage kids to be lifelong bike riders. The club will also be visible in scheduled events in the neighborhood, encouraging people to participate in the Minneapolis Energy Challenge and reduce their energy use.

Trinity Lutheran - Outreach to the East African community served by the congregation to implement a global warming education program. The program will educate about global warming and what can be done, and distribute CFLs.

Corcoran Neighborhood - Sponsor 10 or more “Block Talks” concentrating on specific ideas to tackle global warming. At the end of each talk, residents will be told about funding available to implement the technique or tactic presented. The neighborhood group will then pay interested residents to implement their ideas.

Southeast Como - At the Annual Como Cookout, discuss the advantages of using clotheslines and distribute mini-retractable clotheslines to residents. Give away one “Sunline Umbrella Clothesline Dryer” as a prize drawing of everyone who signed up for the Mpls. Energy Challenge.

Basilica of St. Mary - Sign up 1,000 parishioners for the Minneapolis Energy Challenge with sign-up tables after Mass and at the Basilica Block Party. Follow up with those pledging to encourage them to follow through.

EarthFusion - A festival to use music and art as a way to bring people together and expose them to positive actions they can take to reduce their impact on the globe. Volunteers will sign people up for Minneapolis Energy Challenge teams.

Grace University Lutheran Church - Conduct an energy fair at the church following two Sunday worship services and Adult Forums. Computers will be available at the energy fair to sign people up for the Minneapolis Energy Challenge. There will be a drawing for an energy audit of all those who sign up for the Energy Challenge as well as a reduced cost energy audit for the first 25 parishioners who sign up.

For more information about these grants and the City of Minneapolis’ environmental efforts, visit www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/sustainability.

To read this news release and related photos online, visit www.mayorrybak.us.