FIRST ROUND GRANT INFORMATION

2009 Hennepin Youth Sports Program Grant Recipients

Bloomington
$235,488
Red Haddox Baseball Field
Tournament baseball field

Brooklyn Park
$225,000
Edinbrook School Athletic Field
Convert a baseball field to soccer

Brooklyn Park
$210,000
Zanewood School Park
Convert a baseball field to soccer

Corcoran
$10,000
Corcoran Community Park
Two tee-ball fields

Hopkins-Minnetonka Joint Recreation Program
$187,500
Shady Oak Beach Community Play Area
Replace water play area with playground

Medina
$100,000
Hamel Legion Park
Field House for concessions, restrooms, and baseball field improvements

Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board
$40,000
Armatage Park
Irrigation for soccer and baseball fields

Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board
$130,000
Bottineau Park
Soccer and baseball field improvements

Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board
$150,000
East Phillips Park
Soccer and baseball field improvements

Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board
$225,000
Stewart Park
Multi-purpose field improvements

Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board
$75,000
Van Cleve Park
Baseball field improvements

Minnetonka Public Schools
$45,000
Groveland Elementary
“Green, Fit and Fun” recreational facility

New Hope
$48,945
New Hope Athletic Field
Football and softball field

Richfield
$240,000
Lincoln Athletic Complex
Four ball fields

Rogers
$50,000
Rogers Activity Center
Hockey locker rooms

Rogers
$44,000
Rogers High School
Baseball and softball field

St. Anthony-New Brighton Public Schools
$345,000
St. Anthony Village Central Park
Lighting two ball fields and spectator seating

Wayzata
$115,000
Klapprich Park
Portable board system, replacement of lighting, and new sidewalk

2009 Hennepin Youth Sports Program

Please review the resolution of the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners below and note that the grants will be made for capital projects to build, repair, renovate or expand youth and amateur sports facilities in Hennepin County and that youth sports organizations may not be direct recipients of these grants. Your organization needs to engage the support and partnership of a local unit of government such as a local park system, a city or a school district. It is through these organizations the grants for capital projects will be let.

We further recommend that you and your organization review the criteria to be considered in the evaluation of grant applications. It is suggested that work on leveraging non-Hennepin County funds and in-kind contributions begin as soon as possible so they may be immediately available for inclusion in your grant application. The discussions relative to the sustainability of ongoing operating funds should be had with the local unit of government you seek as a partner and that you strongly consider the inclusion of environmental improvements. 

The Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission looks forward to assisting your organization in this grant process and to the benefits it will provide to your members. 

Hennepin County Board of Commissioners

Resolution No. 09-0320R3

The following Resolution was offered by Commissioner Opat, seconded by Commissioner McLaughlin

WHEREAS, Hennepin County's Ballpark initiative included a provision allowing for equal amounts of excess sales tax proceeds for expanded library hours and youth sports activities in Hennepin County; and

WHEREAS, Minnesota Laws 2006 Chapter 257 authorizes Hennepin County to make grants for youth activities and youth and amateur sports within Hennepin County; and

WHEREAS, Resolution 08-0118 expanded library hours by committing to Ballpark Sundays, providing for 13 additional County libraries to be open on Sundays year-round; and

WHEREAS, board Resolution 06-4-238R2 directing staff to develop ballpark legislation specifically provided that "any monies derived for youth sports as part of the Resolution be divided equitably throughout Hennepin County"; and

WHEREAS, the County desires to ensure that residents in all parts of the county have the potential to benefit from county-wide sales tax proceeds; and

WHEREAS, it is in the County's interest to help develop physically active and healthy youth to maximize positive long-term health outcomes and reduce the incidence of illnesses related to obesity, Type II diabetes, and heart disease; and

WHEREAS, research indicates that sports and physical activity have great potential for promoting positive youth development, reducing crime and building self-esteem; and

WHEREAS, the Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission was created in 1987 by the Minnesota Legislature for the purpose of making grants for amateur sports facilities and has great expertise and experience developing requests for proposals, soliciting and aiding proposers, and managing many successful grant programs, including the successful Mighty Ducks grant program;

BE IT RESOLVED, that pursuant to Resolution 06-8-467 and Ordinance No. 26, Adopting a Sales and Use Tax for the County of Hennepin, and Minnesota Laws 2006 Chapter 257, the County Administrator be directed to negotiate a contract with the Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission (MASC) to develop and administer a process for capital grants to be made by the County Board;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the grants will be made for capital projects to build, repair, renovate or expand youth and amateur sports facilities in Hennepin County, and is hereby named the Hennepin Youth Sports Program

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that MASC staff will be responsible for:

  1. distributing information and applications for the program;
  2. providing technical assistance to proposers;
  3. collecting and evaluating all proposals seeking grants;
  4. developing and communicating preliminary recommendations for funding to the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners, which will make the final decision regarding grants.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the County Administrator will negotiate a contract with MASC for 2009 in an amount not to exceed $65,000; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that final grant recommendations will include only capital projects that do not require an ongoing commitment from the Hennepin Youth Sports Program; and that the grant recommendations evaluate proposals from agencies and programs countywide but place emphasis on the proposer's financial need when making grant recommendations; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners shall establish the maximum sum of money to be distributed in each round of funding, beginning with up to $4 million be expended for 2009, incorporating revenues in prior years; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that grant awards will range from $10,000 to $400,000; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that while local youth sports organizations may not be applicants, they are strongly encouraged to establish partnerships with eligible applicants, which shall be local units of government, local park systems, cities and school districts; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that these criteria will be among those considered in evaluating grant applications:

  1. need for the facility, including recognizing that many changes in youth sports and activities have occurred in the more densely populated cities in Hennepin;
  2. equitable distribution throughout the county;
  3. leveraging non-Hennepin County funds and in-kind contributions;
  4. sustainability of ongoing operating funds;
  5. inclusion of environmental improvements; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that on an annual basis, the grant recommendations produced by the MASC be forwarded to the County Board, which will make grant awards by resolution; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the County Administrator be directed to engage public affairs staff in prominently branding the facilities supported by the Hennepin Youth Sports Program.

RESOLUTION ADOPTED ON 7/14/09