2011-12 PPNA Achievements
2011-2012 PPNA Achievements
Economic Development, Housing, Transportation & Partnerships
- Partnered with the Greater Metropolitan Housing Corporation to distribute $61,000 to Powderhorn residents for Emergency Home Repair Grants.
- Completed the Façade Improvement Grant cycle (2 businesses supported in 2011) and the NRP Phase II funding cycle.
- Recommitted to partnering with the three business associations serving the Powderhorn Park neighborhood.
- Hosted a community meeting on the progress of the 17thAvenue Bike Way, seated a Powderhorn representative on the Midtown Greenway Coalition Board, and involved in the discussion on Metro Transit’s study of multi-modal options on Lake Street.
- Strengthened existing partnerships (i.e. Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and Pillsbury House + Theatre) and built/tended to new partnerships (i.e. East Phillips Improvement Council and the Carrot Initiative).
- Partnered with six other neighborhood organizations to form the SUN Project. Serve on the Steering Committee.
- Advocated with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board resulting in motorized handicap accessible entryways at the recreation center, $500,000 in path improvements in 2012, and $500,000 in additional site and playground improvements in 2013.
Community Engagement
- Granted $30,000 from the Minnesota State Arts Board and Metropolitan Regional Arts Board for the Powderhorn Art Fair and the CurbCulture project with the Pillsbury House + Theatre.
- Secured $13,000 (2010) and $15,000 (2011) for youth sports and arts activities at Powderhorn Park.
- Engaged residents by providing opportunities to participate in the political process and meet elected officials by hosting a candidate debate (61B special election), submitting letters and testimony on the redistricting process, community gathering on neighborhood demographic changes and inviting local officials to PPNA events and meetings.
- Organized first-time events such as Powderhorn Artist Mixer which attracted nine organizational sponsors and over 100 participants and Get Your Green On! which featured four presentations by partner organizations and a bike safety clinic by the Hub Co-op.
- Continued successful PPNA events and programs such as the 20th Annual Powderhorn Art Fair, the Fourth of July at Powderhorn Park, the PPNA Housing Fair, the PPNA Annual Meeting, the Earth Day Clean Up and monthly community gatherings.
Organizational Development
- Hired new executive director.
- Executed sale of the Firehouse Station Building to the Land Stewardship Project.
- Began to restore the trust and relevancy of PPNA with residents and businesses.
- Converted financial information to Quickbooks. Revised budgeting process to solicit more input from the Board and committees. Improved transparency and communication.
- Shored up the fiscal sponsorship agreement process with a revised agreement form. Signed agreements with two new organizations – six in total. Improved communication and service.
- Increased capacity of individual board members by providing orientation, ongoing training and mandatory leadership opportunities.
- Published quarterly PPNA newsletter delivered to 4,000 Powderhorn Park residences.
- Started ”This Week @ PPNA,” a weekly online communication tool for events at PPNA and in the neighborhood. Distributed to more than 800 members on E-Democracy and PPNA’s Facebook page. Received an exciting amount of positive feedback and thank yous.
- Approached by the founders of Powderhorn365 to take the project on as an official program of PPNA.
