NEWS RELEASE
Rep. Hodan Hassan
Minnesota House of Representatives
District 62B – 651-296-0294 – rep.hodan.hassan@house.mn.gov
597 State Office Building, St. Paul, MN 55155
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Marlee Schlegel
651-296-9873 or marlee.schlegel@house.mn.gov
March 1, 2023
Legislation to invest in the East Phillips Indoor Urban Farm Project receives first committee hearing
SAINT PAUL, Minn. - Today, the House Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee passed legislation to invest $20 million into the East Phillips Neighborhood Institute for the East Phillips Indoor Urban Farm project.
The bill is authored by Rep. Hodan Hassan (DFL – Minneapolis).
“The East Phillips neighborhood has been burdened with severe environmental racism and injustice for years, with high levels of pollution causing measurable adverse health effects to residents,” said Rep. Hassan. “With a third of East Phillips residents living below the poverty line, the community is in great need of affordable housing, investment in jobs and infrastructure, and sustainable development. This legislation would provide the community the opportunity and resources to further negotiate with the City of Minneapolis on EPNI’s plan to repurpose the Roof Depot into an urban farm complex, creating jobs, housing, and sustainable food sources. I am confident that an equitable and environmentally sound and sustainable agreement can be met, putting this investment to good use in the East Phillips neighborhood.”
Current city plans to demolish the building and use the site for a Public Works facility are on hold after a Hennepin County District Court Judge ordered an injunction so the Minnesota Court of Appeals can further review the situation. The EPNI and the City of Minneapolis have not yet reached an agreement, but optimism remains that negotiations will be successful and the Indoor Urban Farm project can proceed.
House File 2093 has been referred to the Captial Investment Committee.
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