Funding Update & Call to Action

Rendering of the East Phillips urban farm and community hub at the former Roof Depot site by DJR Architecture.

News of a recently passed funding deadline for the purchase of Roof Depot site has generated some concern and confusion. So, we want to clarify things and let you know how you can help in this moment.

What happened on July 15th?

The passing of a July 15th deadline triggered a 60-day period for EPNI to finish pulling together the funding outlined in the terms of the purchase agreement made last year between EPNI and the city of Minneapolis.

The Bigger Picture of the Purchase Agreement

After halting demolition of the Roof Depot site, EPNI secured $6.5 million ($4.5 million and $2 million in different pieces of legislation) from the Minnesota state legislature during last year’s legislative session, and secured $3.7 million on it’s own to go toward the purchase of the site. An additional $5.7 million from the Minnesota State Legislature, to be appropriated in this year’s legislative session, was the final portion of funding in the agreement.

However, on May 20th, the $5.7 million guaranteed by the state legislature, unexpectedly fell through. The bonding bill containing that money - and funds for other infrastructure construction projects across Minnesota - had the necessary political support but could not pass simply because the vote went 30 seconds over the constitutionally-mandated midnight deadline for this year’s legislative session.

EPNI did ask the city to push back the initial July 15th closing deadline after the failure in the State Legislature, but they refused. So EPNI is now working within the 60-day “cure period” that has been part of the purchase agreement from the start. This ends September 13th, 2024.

The city knows about this setback, and knows EPNI is actively collaborating with elected officials and city leadership on a new pathway to recoup that $5.7 million of funding in time to close on the building.

These elected officials and supportive constituents see how this project will bring good jobs, fresh food, and overdue justice to East Phillips. Beyond that, a year round urban farm and warehouse full of small businesses, local organizations, and shared communal spaces will serve Minneapolis and Minnesota as a whole for generations to come.

Where does this leave us?

Well, very little has changed. After the bonding bill failed, we knew it would be difficult to meet July 15th deadline. However, we have a plan in motion to pull together the funding lost at the State Legislature, with the support of elected officials who believe in this transformative project.

There are so many exciting elements of this project already in motion - from monthly community meetings discussing different of this project, to grant-funded cooperatively-owned solar planning, to developing a novel community ownership model with multiple pro-bono law firms and community leaders in East Phillips.

This community has faced plenty of hurdles before this one, and we are determined as ever to see this project through.

EPNI will share more details about our partners and next steps at a press conference on August 6th at 3pm. In the meantime, we’re asking for your help!

CALL TO ACTION

We know that every win in this decade-long fight was fueled by moments like this when people like you spoke up. What aspect of this urban farm and community hub are you most excited about  - Free spaces to gather, cook and celebrate together? The cooperatively owned rooftop solar array? Workshops about growing food? Good jobs for our community? Local production of nutritious and culturally appropriate vegetables and fish? 

Please tell your elected representatives why you care about this project, share gratitude for their support so far and encourage them to keep collaborating with EPNI this summer as we work together to swiftly finalize funding.

Below is a sample script, but it’s even better if you can put things in your own words! Find this script and contact information for all elected officials here.

Dear Council Member / Commissioner / Senator / Representative

I am writing to you as a constituent to express my continued, enthusiastic support for the East Phillips Urban Farm project. Our communities need shared communal space, good jobs, economic opportunity for local businesses and year-round access to fresh affordable food.

For generations, East Phillips has fought against countless proposals to bring more pollution into this overburdened neighborhood. For the last decade, this community worked tirelessly to win the ability to buy back the Roof Depot site and begin a process of healing and regeneration here.

I can’t wait to see this vision become a reality that brings overdue justice to East Phillips and countless other benefits to Minneapolis and Minnesota at large.

Thank you for everything you’ve already done to make this happen. Now, as the East Phillips Neighborhood Institute works to finalize funding to purchase the Roof Depot site, I ask that you help see this process through to the finish line.

Best,