In case you missed last week's conversation hosted by The Lake Street Council with Police Chief Arradondo, you can listen to the recorded Zoom session here. We understand that the City is also working on a FAQ sheet / checklist to help businesses prepare for any potential unrest during the trial of Derek Chauvin. More info to come.

Recording info: 
Topic: Trial Preparation: Lake Street Business Q&A with Chief Arradondo
Start Time : Feb 18, 2021 09:17 AM

Meeting Recording
Access Passcode: 9LW^!4Tv

Forever Ware is a Minneapolis startup offering a new type of takeout container that you can borrow and return from restaurants and grocery stores in the Twin Cities. This helps to reduce the amount of disposable packaging that comes with takeout. Hennepin County awarded Forever Ware a business recycling grant to fund the initial purchase of their reusable fleet and get the program kicked off with local businesses.

Participating is easy – you pay a $5 deposit to have your takeout orders packaged in Forever Ware when you place your order in-person, over-the-phone, or online at participating businesses. When you're finished, return your container to any participating vendor to get your deposit back or swap your container for free with your next order.
Forever Ware is currently available at Butter Bakery Café, Namaste Café, and Roots for the Soul in Minneapolis. 

Sign up for updates to learn more and to find out when additional businesses are added. For new vendor announcements from Forever Ware of follow them on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter. Interested businesses can contact info@foreverware.app.
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Forever Ware’s takeout container program is a great example of a project that would fit well with the Hennepin County business waste prevention grants.

Hennepin County is providing funding through a new grant program to support projects that prevent waste in the business sector. Areas of focus include replacing disposable packaging, dishes, utensils and cups with reusables, food waste prevention utilizing tracking software and putting food byproducts to greater use, eliminating the use of poly bags for shipping products, and innovative projects around research and development to prevent waste.

This year $300,000 is available for business waste prevention grants. Each applicant may apply for up to $50,000 toward a project, with a minimum of $5,000. Grants over $10,000 require a 25% match. Review the 2021 waste prevention grant guidelines (PDF) for details on this new grant program.

Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until Friday, November 12, 2021, or until the annual program budget is exhausted, whichever occurs first. Visit the business recycling web page to learn more and apply.


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Hennepin County is providing free resources and assistance for small businesses, non-profit organizations and multifamily properties to start or improve recycling and organics recycling. Applicants may select up to $3,000 worth of containers and compostable bags from the county's product list. Review the 2021 Business recycling bin and compostable bag grant guidelines (PDF) for details on container and bag options.

​Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until Monday, November 15, 2021, or until the annual program budget is exhausted, whichever occurs first. Learn moreVisit the business recycling web page to learn more and apply.

The EIDL grant is a form of small business relief providing up to $10,000 dollars in grants, i.e., completely free and non-repayable money, to select small businesses. The grant program was part of the initial CARES Act in 2020, but funds were exhausted within months. In December, Congress allocated additional funds for the program.  If you are currently in a payment plan to repay the EIDL Advance, you no longer need to pay it. Any payments made to your bank should be reimbursed back to you. Learn more about the EIDL Advance Grant.The EID loan (EIDL) program (30-year term loan with a 3.75% interest rate, 2.75% for non-profits) was unchanged by the recent legislation and is still open through December 31, 2021. Learn more about the EIDL program. ​