| A community benefits agreement, or CBA, is a | | | | benefited only to those who come to a |
| private contract between a developer and a | | | | community meeting. A 40/40/40 CBA would |
| community coalition that sets forth the benefits | | | | require that any developer in north Minneapolis |
| that the community will receive from the | | | | must alert all community members in 55405 and |
| development. Common benefits include living | | | | 55411 by using other than traditional means, which |
| wages, local hiring and training programs, | | | | includes Blogs, door-hangers, flyers and at least |
| affordable housing, environmental remediation and | | | | six (6) informational community gatherings before |
| funds for community programs. CBAs ensure that | | | | the project starts. Simply put, a detailed CBA |
| development is equitable and benefits all members | | | | would demand that developers (and others) use |
| of the community, eventually contributing to | | | | non-traditional means of communication to get all |
| stronger local economies, livable neighborhoods | | | | residents information. This means using |
| and increased public participation in the planning | | | | minority-ethnic media, door flyers and a planned |
| process. | | | | promotional campaign. (This is one area where the |
| For north Minneapolis, a "community benefits | | | | University of Minnesota's UROC has failed north |
| agreement" would establish goals for employment | | | | Minneapolis. Their decision to use Insight News |
| and participation by the City of Minneapolis, | | | | rather than inviting those to the table with more |
| Hennepin County or any developer including the | | | | assets is a clear "slap in the face" to north |
| facilitators of a planned project or considered | | | | Minneapolis. We allege, Insight News has never |
| project to build anything in north Minneapolis. | | | | been concerned with real issues but expounds old |
| There are challenges within the Black community | | | | news.) |
| organizations to maintain, write and administrate a | | | | In the case of the Minneapolis Public Schools, the |
| CBA. | | | | YMCA/YWCA and the Bottineau Transitway |
| For example, non-commercial radio station KMOJ | | | | Light-Rail, these projects must have a CBA from |
| moved into their new home in north Minneapolis | | | | and by community stakeholders that require all |
| as a "tenant" in a building that the station should | | | | projects have at least a $25 million bond that |
| of owned and been able to lease out space to | | | | reads, "Failure to achieve compliance in hiring goals |
| local businesses to create a positive cash flow. | | | | set fourth in this CBA to insure qualified, work |
| This had been one of the goals outlined in the | | | | ready participants for projects in zip codes 55411 |
| Corporation for Communication and | | | | and 55405 (community hiring priority 1) with |
| Development's Articles of Incorporation, which is | | | | community hiring priorities 2 given to area codes |
| KMOJ. | | | | 55405, 55406, 55407 and 55409 (Minneapolis) |
| A CBA with the City of Minneapolis, CPED, | | | | – will result in forfeiture of said bond making |
| Catalyst and the Akerberg group would have | | | | the bond payable to an appointed guardian |
| painted a clear picture of what was expected in | | | | account held in escrow for distribution for job |
| the developer/station relationship – but again, | | | | creation, capacity building in 55405 and 55411. A |
| no intellectual giants are in place. | | | | special committee of stakeholders, not affiliated |
| Another example of failed community benefits | | | | with any north Minneapolis 501(c)3 will develop and |
| would be the Northside Residents Redevelopment | | | | distribute requests for proposals within 60 days |
| Council (NRRC). NRRC has never been successful | | | | for ideas, suggestions and business plans to best |
| at authoring or insuring the residents of north | | | | put dollars to use in north Minneapolis for |
| Minneapolis a detailed CBA as shown by their lack | | | | long-term, job creation. If forfeiture is |
| of CBA agreements with the University of | | | | implemented bond dollars may not be delivered in |
| Minnesota and the UROC property. | | | | any form to a training programs, OIC, Educational |
| This was a clear opportunity to make demands | | | | facility or Human Services Agency." |
| to the U of M to provide a level playing field of | | | | North Minneapolis has seen no significant long-term |
| education opportunities, scholarships and | | | | job creation from any non-profit agency. Funds |
| employment goals pipelined to the community in | | | | must be directed to businesses to stimulate hiring |
| and around UROC. This includes another key | | | | in the community. |
| engagement missed by NRRC as it pertains to | | | | Secondly, At least 40 percent of workers on |
| the University of Minnesota/UROC and a CBA is | | | | these project sites would be residents of north |
| the U's Digital Divide Initiative, which builds bridges | | | | Minneapolis, skilled and unskilled. At least 40 |
| to opportunity through innovative partnerships to | | | | percent would be residents of the Twin Cities |
| bring technology to underserved populations. Truly | | | | metropolitan area outside the district. |
| if the U of M an equal opportunity educator they | | | | At least 40 percent of labor and trade personnel |
| would have known that to build bridges in the | | | | would be minorities and women. |
| "digital divide," you need to partner with someone | | | | The "catch 22" would be the 40% of hiring by all |
| other than a print media outlet in north Minneapolis | | | | of the above projects after completion. This |
| that provides "old news." | | | | compliance goal would be focused on community |
| It is no excuse to tell the community "you don't | | | | hiring priority 1 – residents of north Minneapolis. |
| know that much about computers." | | | | As of today, no social service agency has |
| The best Community Benefit Agreement would | | | | stepped up to draft or suggest a CBA for these |
| be a 40/40/40 CBA. | | | | projects. In order for north Minneapolis to create |
| A 40/40/40 CBA will make two things happen. | | | | a zone of empowerment, stakeholders and |
| First of all, developers will need to flex their public | | | | advisers must step to the plate with a |
| relations arm and provide full disclosure to | | | | Community Benefit Agreement. |
| community stakeholders with information usually | | | | |