By Rich Larson, News Director
On Tuesday, US Senator Tina Smith introduced a pair of bills to address mental health needs and
substance use disorders during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The bills, co-sponsored by Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, would authorize federal grant funding for States, Tribes, Tribal organizations, and community-based entities to address behavioral health needs during the pandemic.
In a conversation yesterday with Jeff Johnson on the KYMN Morning Show, Senator Smith said research shows that over the last 10 months at least 30-40% of adults have struggled with some sort of behavioral health issue, and overdoses have skyrocketed. This bipartisan legislation is designed to offer immediate help as part of the larger Covid-19 relief package.
The Senator went on to say that, because she sits in the seat once occupied by Northfield’s own Senator Paul Wellstone, she feels a strong sense of purpose to carry on the work he began in the area of mental health.
“One of the things we know about good mental care that Paul understood is that for many people it is important that it’s connected to your culture and your community. That is one of the values that Lisa and I bring to these pieces of legislation.”
Senator Smith said the effort to pass the President’s proposed Covid-19 relief package is just getting underway. While bi-partisan support would be nice to pass the bill, she said, it is not necessary. What is necessary is for the government to act swiftly to bring massive help to the country.
Senator Smith’s full conversation with Jeff Johnson can be heard here.
Carleton and St. Olaf make gifts to Northfield
St. Olaf and Carleton Colleges both made a donation of $80,000 each to the City of Northfield
during the City Council meeting on Tuesday night. St. Olaf Vice-President and CFO Jan Hanson and Carleton Vice-President and Treasurer Eric Runestad both appeared during the virtual meeting to express their gratitude to the City of Northfield and discuss how all three entities are inter-related.
The contributions are made annually and voluntarily by the schools. In discussing the long, shared history between the two schools and the city, Vice-President Hanson pointed out that Carleton and St. Olaf were the first two schools in the country to make such contributions to their host city.
Both Administrator Ben Martig and Mayor Rhonda Pownell expressed their gratitude to the
schools for everything they do.
In his remarks during the meeting, Vice-President Runestad said he has only been in Northfield a few months, but it is clear to him that St. Olaf, Carleton and Northfield all, as he put it, grew up together, and the long relationship is a unique one.
Applications available for EDA Facade Improvement Grants
The Northfield Economic Development Authority, as a part of its Downtown Revitalization strategic plan, is now accepting applications for Façade Improvement Grants.
The grants will match any private investment into the exterior of a building up to $10,000.00
This is the second in a three-year pilot program designed to encourage downtown building owners to take a look at their buildings and make improvements to them in an effort to both extend the lives of the buildings and enhance the aesthetics of Downtown Northfield.
Economic Development Coordinator Nate Carlson said programs like this are very important to the health of Northfield’s downtown area.
“The Northfield EDA is dedicated to investing in our historic downtown. EDA incentives like the Façade Improvement Program are vital to the long-term economic health of Northfield, especially during this devastating pandemic. The Northfield EDA welcomes the opportunity to work with community members to build Northfield stronger.”
Last year, the program granted Games ‘N’ Geeks $10,000, which bolstered a project that ultimately spent $33,650.00 to spruce up the old City Hall building at 302 Division Street.
Applications will be accepted until March 15. For more information, visit the EDA grants page on the City of Northfield website here.
