Funds Available to Encourage Urban Agriculture
Deadline: Thursday, January 12, 2023
Businesses, schools, nonprofits, local governments, and tribal entities seeking to promote urban youth agricultural education and urban agricultural community development can apply for the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) Urban Agriculture Grant.
Proposals must be submitted before Thursday, January 12, 2023, at 4 p.m. Visit the AGRI Urban Grants web page for more information, including detailed information about how to apply. Summaries of past projects are listed on the webpage.
Apply for an Appointment to a State Board or Commission
The Governor and Lieutenant Governor are seeking qualified and diverse individuals who are passionate about using their knowledge, skills, and lived experiences to serve the state of Minnesota. State boards and commissions do important work that includes protecting the public, licensing and regulating professions, and advising policymakers. With over 100 boards and commissions covering topics from architecture to the zoo, there are hundreds of opportunities annually. A list of boards and commissions, including open positions, can be found on the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website. Please contact the Governor’s Office with any questions. See below for examples of boards that currently have vacancies.
The Board of Dietetics and Nutrition Practice board licenses dietitians and nutritionists, investigates violations, conducts hearings and adopts rules. More I information can be found on the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website. The board has 2 vacancies:
• 1 licensed nutritionist
• 1 public member
The Emergency Medical Services Regulatory Board certifies emergency medical services personnel, licenses and inspects ambulance services, and approves and audits education programs. The Board also investigates all complaints and allegations of misconduct involving those individuals and entities subject to the Board’s jurisdiction. More information can be found on the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website. The board has 2 vacancies:
• 1 vacancy for a public member
• 1 local board of health representative
Bivalent COVID Boosters Available Now
People ages 5 and older are now recommended to get an updated bivalent booster dose at least 2 months after their final primary series dose or last booster shot. Bivalent vaccines are updated booster vaccines that protect against the original strain of COVID-19 and the Omicron variants currently circulating (BA.4 and BA.5). Updated COVID-19 boosters can both help restore protection that has decreased since previous vaccination and provide broader protection against newer variants.
People in Minnesota can make appointments at state-run vaccination sites:
• Mall of America Community Vaccination Site
• St. Paul Midway Community Vaccination Site
• Duluth (DECC) Community Vaccination Site
• Moorhead Community Vaccination Site
• Rochester Community Vaccination Site
The state’s Find Vaccine Locations map can be used to find vaccine providers. Providers will update their information as appointments are available. Vaccines.gov can also be used to check for appointments and search appointments by vaccine type (e.g., Pfizer, Moderna).
November 8 Election Resources: Website, Hotline, Translated Videos
With just over a week to go before the November 8 General Election, eligible Minnesotans are encouraged to vote. Minnesota registered voters can still request an absentee ballot to vote from home at the Secretary of State’s website, vote early with an absentee ballot at a local election office, or vote on Election Day at their polling place. The deadline to pre-register to vote has now passed. Eligible Minnesotans can still register when they go to vote at their polling place on Election Day with a proof of residence.
A new call center has been created to help answer questions from voters ahead of the November 8 Election. The call center is available Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
An American Sign Language (ASL) Hotline is available at 612-293-4288 (VP) through a partnership with the Minnesota Commission of the Deaf, DeafBlind & Hard of Hearing (MNCDHH). The hotline is available Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
A few exciting events happened this past week. On Saturday, Vice President Kamala Harris visited Minnesota, joining Lieutenant Governor Flanagan and host of the She Pivots podcast, Emily Tisch Sussman, for a discussion on reproductive rights. The conversation is available on YouTube.
Finally, last Thursday and Friday, the Minnesota Capitol welcomed goats and sheep to the complex to eat invasive species of vegetation. MPR reported that the animals are owned by Minnesota Native Landscapes. I encourage you to learn more about this conservation tactic, as well as view MPR’s interview with a goat.
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