Update from the Mayor – March 7, 2005

March 7, 2005

1. Step-Up Summer Jobs Program

Last week I helped launch the second year of the STEP-UP Summer Jobs Program, part of the City's "Close the Gap" campaign. STEP-Up recruits young people from Minneapolis Public Schools and community organizations and matches students into summer job positions based on their interests, skills and experience. Participants attend 10 hours of work readiness training before starting their summer jobs with some of Minneapolis' biggest employers. Connecting Minneapolis's promising young people with the experiences and training they need to become tomorrow's skilled workforce is an investment in the City's vitality and future prosperity. Our 2005 goal is to place 300 students into jobs. Here is a link to an editorial from the Star Tribune detailing STEP-UP's mission and the great contributions that it is receiving from the business community: http://www.startribune.com/stories/561/5270006.html

2. Minneapolis: Top Tech City in America

Popular Science Magazine has named Minneapolis the Top Tech City in America, outpacing even Silicon Valley. The article cites our commitment to innovative transportation, energy technology, medical and bio-technical science and research, and our City's educated and forward-thinking populace as elements of what creates such a technology friendly atmosphere in Minneapolis. Thanks to all of you reading this who work in or support tech industry in Minneapolis - we're finally getting some of the recognition we deserve. It's a fun article, here's a link: http://www.popsci.com/popsci/generaltech/article/0,20967,1027220,00.html

3. Mayor's Constituent Open Houses

I continue to host my monthly Open Houses for constituents to meet with me to discuss whatever is on their minds. The last Wednesday of the month is always an Open House date, here in my office at City Hall, 350 S. 5th Street, Room 331. The walk-in hours start at noon and I meet with folks on a first-come, first-served basis.

Beginning last summer, I expanded my Open House schedule to host a second mid-month meeting. The dates and times of the mid-month Open House are always on my website.

This month I'm starting to host my mid-month Open House out in the community instead of my office at City Hall. The location will change each month, with info on my webpage. Here are the details for this month's Open Houses:

Open House - Friday, March 11th at Noon
Location: Global Dish Restaurant, 4016 Bloomington Ave. S.

Open House - Wednesday, March 30th at Noon
Location: Mayor's Office, City Hall Room 331.

Published Mar. 7, 2005