ANNOUNCEMENT: Wood Waste Grant for $250K

Here's a little bit more about one of the grants EPNI recently received to build outdoor farm infrastructure with recycled wood waste on top of the Roof Depot parking lot, and hire on some youth apprentices from the neighborhood! 🪵

In total EPNI, has $900,000 in grant funding to spend on remediating the perimeter of the Roof Depot site, starting our outdoor farm efforts, creating rain gardens and more, with community engagement and free teachings for anyone who wants to learn woven throughout.

But, we can't do any of this work until the city of Minneapolis accepts the $10.2 million offer that EPNI sent on June 27th to purchase the Roof Depot this fall. You can read more in our recent posts about how an unexpected loss of state funding that was set aside for this project has impacted our negotiations with the city this summer.

The established September 15th purchase agreement deadline is fast approaching. Closing on a deal this big and complex takes time, and the longer EPNI waits for a response, the harder that deadline becomes to meet.

Stay tuned for a rally happening at the Roof Depot site in mid-August to make sure that this project, and all of the incredible, already funded work we have ahead of us, can continue on 💫

“With these funds, we will recycle wood waste from local downed trees for fences, benches, compost bins, natural structures, and our raised hügelkultur garden mounds. This will trap carbon will reusing the precious materials that the earth gave us. We will also be able to hire young apprentices from the neighborhood to learn about farming, woodworking and other skills. But, we won't be able to make any of this a reality until the city accepts EPNI’s purchase offer, and finally gives East Phillips access to the Roof Depot site”- Forest Hunt, EPNI Lead Educator & Farm Steward