Minneapolis
NRP
With the advent of the Minneapolis Neighborhood Revitalization Program,
FRNNG began hiring staff in 1993 which allowed for an increased number
of neighborhood improvement projects and created the capacity, in 1995,
to administer a $2.7 million budget. Paid staff also accelerated the development
of our volunteer fundraising capacity and other skills; improved the recruitment
and retention of more volunteers; allowed for the maintenance of a computer
data base; and vastly improved the quality of the bi-monthly newsletter.
Working with the staff, volunteers have continued to bring together residents
of all ethnicities to find common solutions to our common problems.
"What
are the goals of NRP?"
Answer: The
four primary goals of NRP are:
Build Neighborhood Capacity;
Redesign Public Services;
Increase Government Collaboration; and
Create a Sense of Community. (Robert Thompson)
NRP
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): "What
happened in Phase 1?"
Click here to see a list.
"Whats
happening in Phase 2?"
"Why is the NRP Phase 2 survey being done using a random sampling
method?"
Answer: In
order to create the NRP Phase 2 Action Plan for our community, we as
a neighborhood have created
six volunteer task forces (Business,
Education, Parks, Housing, Community & Safety and Communications)
charged with developing neighborhood improvement projects, strategies
and budgets for the next 10 to 15 years . Many of the future projects
are based on the successes of NRP Phase 1 (1995 to 2002), and the creative
ideas of task force members. Focus groups are also being organized to
determine the needs and priorities of selected populations within the
neighborhood who often are underrepresented in any neighborhood association
( e.g. Latinos, renters, youth, etc.).
An additional source of information for Phase 2 planning comes from
neighborhood opinion surveys. We could have sent a survey to each of
4000 homes, but experience has shown, in this neighborhood and others,
that the majority of residents don't send their surveys back. Typical
return is 5 to 10% if lucky. In addition, our limited volunteer base
made it prohibitive to followup with the other 90 to 95%. Finally, unless
a majority of surveys are returned with this neighborhood-wide survey
method, those who do send them back tend to be higher income and better
educated. The results would give us a skewed picture of public opinion.
Therefore, due to limited volunteer resources, the need to have an accurate
picture of public opinion and the need to stay within our agreed timeline
for Phase 2 planning, the October random sampling survey of the Field
Regina Northrop Neighborhood was chosen. The FRNNG Board of Directors
agreed with City's NRP office downtown that a properly designed random
survey would not only give an accurate picture, but would be easier to
implement. As of December 2002, over 40% have returned their surveys...an
extremely good return. The next step will be for our volunteers to call
or personally contact those who have not.
Link to NRP PlanNet
Some
NRP Projects which FRNNG has funded and worked on since 1994:
-
design and installation of a playground at Northrop Elementary School
-
redesign
and installation of the McRae Park playground in collaboration with
the Minneapolis Park Board
-
demolition
of blighted business structures at 46th St. and 4th Ave., and the
on-going development of a Senior Green Space.
-
establishment
of a Home Improvement Loan Program that has funding nearly $2 million
dollars worth of loans or grants to help FRNN residents ensure a well-maintained
housing stock.
-
collaboration
and implementation of the 8 annual Southside Housing Fair events that
draws over 3,000 people annually.
-
collaboration
and implementation of 5 annual Minneapolis Teen Job & Opportunity
Fair events that draws over 600 teens and over 30 Twin City businesses.
-
installation
of new windows to soundproof Field School to prevent disruption from
airport noise & improve energy efficiency.
-
hosting
12 successful annual neighborhood parade/festivals in collaboration
with FRNN businesses and the Minneapolis Park Board
-
establishment
of the Neighborhood Tutoring Project and annual recruitment of over
50 adult mentors to tutor children in reading and math at school and
church sites.
-
collaboration,
funding & establishment of the Senior Helpline to connect FRNN
elders with resources that promotes independent living.
-
continuation
of the bi-monthly Close to Homeneighborhood newsletter serving 4000
FRN households & over 60 businesses since 1993.
-
design,
production and delivery of Welcome New Neighbor Packets to 150 new
FRNN residents annually since 1998.
-
development
& implementation of the FRN Commercial Grants Program to provide
funding and promotion for exterior improvement of over 20 FRNN businesses.
-
successful
petitioning campaign to install pedestrian level lighting in the Field
and Regina areas of FRNN (no NRP dollars for lighting itself).
-
recruitment
and support of Neighbor to Neighbor Walking Groups to promote communications,
exercise & safety awareness.
It
goes without saying, that it is the neighborhood residents and business
people of FRN Neighborhood who are the driving force behind all of our
projects and programs. In February 2002, FRN Neighborhood was organized
and poised to begin the planning process for NRP Phase II.
Phase 1 full overview of the expenditures
Phase II
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