MOORHEAD APPROVES CLIMATE RESOLUTION
MOORHEAD – Along with a number of cities throughout Minnesota and other states and countries, the Moorhead City Council passed a resolution on January 24 acknowledging and acting locally to address climate change and calling on the state and federal government for support.
“The City of Moorhead is already out front on efforts to be climate-friendly. In 2021 our City received the Minnesota GreenStep Cities Level 4 certification, which speaks to our efforts in sustainability and attention to preserving our environment,” said Moorhead Mayor Shelly Carlson. “Today’s resolution affirms Moorhead’s strong commitment to reducing the negative effects of destructive changes to our environment. We only have one planet – we better take care of it.”
Moorhead is now part of an emerging non-partisan group of Minnesota cities focused on the adverse impact climate change has on cities’ economic well-being and quality of life. The work of participating cities is facilitated by Great Plains Institute (betterenergy.org) with funding from the Energy Foundation and the McKnight Foundation. Notably, the five largest cities in the state are joining with smaller cities to draw attention to the damage caused by climate change and identify opportunities to begin to reverse it.
FREE TAX PREPARATION AT CONCORDIA
MOORHEAD – Free tax preparation is available on Concordia College’s campus with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program from 6-9 p.m. Monday, Feb. 7-Thursday, March 10, on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings in the Grant Center room 118. The site will not be open Monday, Feb. 28, Tuesday, March 1, or Thursday, March 3, when the campus is closed due to a break.
No one will be admitted to the building before 5:30 p.m., to minimize risk of virus transmission. Masks are required inside the building, safe distancing is encouraged, and masks will be provided for those who need them.
No appointment is needed and free parking is available.
VITA is a program supported by the IRS. IRS-certified student volunteers prepare basic tax returns. VITA offers a quick and convenient way to receive your tax refund through free e-filing. The mission of VITA is to provide free, basic tax-return preparation for low-to-moderate income (less than $58,000 a year) and elderly taxpayers. Things to bring: all W-2 forms and other tax forms, photo ID, and Social Security CARD. Also, a blank check or bank account and routing numbers for direct deposit of tax refunds. For married couples, BOTH spouses must be present.
THE CHAMBER SELECTED FOR NATIONAL WORKFORCE TRAINING PROGRAM
MOORHEAD – The Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber of Commerce is one of seven organizations selected by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) to participate in a new national program to help strengthen chamber of commerce partnerships with community colleges and community organizations to increase the number of adult learners of color who earn an industry-relevant credential or degree.
“We are excited to collaborate with our partners, the Kurdish American Development Organization, North Dakota State College of Science, and Minnesota State Technical College to address inequitable workforce challenges existing within our community,” said Chamber Workforce & Talent Strategist and Principal Investigator Jenna Mueller. “Together, we are ready to approach existing systemic challenges in a unique way that promotes meaningful change.”
Partnerships between chambers of commerce and community colleges have the potential to significantly increase the number of adult learners of color completing high-quality, relevant short-term credentials and degrees. Given the current spotlight on upskilling and the resources that are being reallocated to fund short-term credentials, now is the time to capitalize on the potential for these partnerships.
To support the development of these partnerships, and to increase the number of workers with in-demand credentials and degrees, Lumina Foundation has provided a grant to jumpstart progress. The ACCE Foundation (ACCEF) and American Association of Community Colleges identified a virtual cohort of teams from seven regions. Each team will be comprised of a chamber, a community college partner and an organization that directly represents minority communities.
The FMWF Chamber will team up with North Dakota State College of Science, Minnesota State Community and Technical College and The Kurdish American Development Organization to identify the barriers to credential attainment and create quick-win solutions to address those challenges. They will join teams from six other regions on monthly virtual convenings to gain access to national subject matter experts, receive customized technical assistance and engage in peer-to-peer learning activities to create a strategy for longer-term collaboration to build their momentum after the grant period ends.
“We are grateful for Lumina Foundation’s continued support for the catalytic leadership chambers of commerce provide in the communities they serve,” said ACCE President & CEO Sheree Anne Kelly. “Strong cross-sector partnerships are crucial to addressing workforce challenges, building resilient local economies and creating opportunities for everyone to thrive.”
Other communities participating in the program include:
Aurora, Illinois
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Cleveland, Ohio
Des Moines, Iowa
North Central Massachusetts
Tallahassee, Florida
FREE FINANCIAL COACHING AVAILABLE TO LOCAL VETERANS
FARGO – Local veterans can access financial coaching from The Village Financial Resource Center at no cost thanks to a new grant-funded program.
The Fargo-based Hector Foundation awarded The Village $5,000 to provide financial education and services to area veterans. The Village will use that funding to provide three free months of financial coaching to up to 20 veterans.
During financial coaching, a certified financial counselor helps clients assess their financial situation, set goals, and make a plan. Regular check-ins from the coach helps hold participants accountable. Three months of coaching has a value of $250 per client.
“Financial stress a common challenge faced by many veterans and military families,” said Tina Anim, program director for The Village Financial Resource Center. “There are some programs available to help veterans manage their finances, but the information can be confusing and overwhelming. That’s why we are excited to provide them this guidance. We are very grateful to the Hector Foundation for making it possible for us to give back to our veterans.”
To set up an appointment, veterans may call 1-800-450-4019. More information is available at
www.HelpwithMoney.org.
FARGO LIBRARY SEEKS WRITING SUBMISSIONS
FARGO – The Fargo Public Library is seeking submissions for its sixth annual “Northern Narratives” winter writing project for adults and teens age 13 and older. Submissions in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry will be accepted online only from Tuesday, Feb. 1, through March 31, 2022 at https://fargolibrary.wufoo.com/forms/northern-narratives-2022/. Writing categories and word counts are as follows:
Fiction: 1,000 – 6,000 words
Nonfiction: 1,000 – 6,000 words
Poetry: 1,000 words or less per poem
Selected submissions will be included in the library’s North Dakota Collection. All rules, guidelines, and frequently asked questions about the project are available on the library’s “Northern Narratives” webpage at http://fargond.gov/city-government/departments/library/adults/northern-narratives.
Material selected for the print publication will be announced in late spring, and all submissions must be original, unpublished, proofread, and edited works. All entries are final and stories will not be returned. The selection committee reserves the right to withhold publication at their discretion. Chosen selections shall be subject to “first rights” copyright. Any future publication unrelated to the Fargo Public Library shall require appropriate attribution.
This project is supported by the Friends of the Fargo Public Library.
Fargo Public Library events are free and open to the public. For more information about the library and a list of upcoming events, call 701.241.1472 or visit www.fargolibrary.org.
DRIED PLANT AVAILABLE FOR MEDICAL CANNABIS PATIENTS IN MARCH
Patients registered in Minnesota’s Medical Cannabis Program will be eligible to buy dried cannabis flower for smoking from the state’s medical cannabis dispensaries starting March 1.
In preparation for the change, registered patients interested in smokable cannabis can make an appointment for a consultation with a medical cannabis dispensary pharmacist beginning Feb. 1 so they will be pre-approved to buy pre-packaged dried flower and pre-rolls once available.
Minnesota’s medical cannabis dispensaries will offer pre-packaged dried flower and pre-rolls in a variety of strains and levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). Registered patients can get up to a 90-day supply of smokable cannabis.
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) expects patient enrollment to double or triple, based on the experiences of other states that added dried flower to their medical cannabis program. In an October 2021 survey by the Office of Medical Cannabis, enrolled patients were asked if they were likely to try smokable cannabis when it becomes available. Of the respondents, 71% said they were very likely or somewhat likely to try it.
To become a patient in the Medical Cannabis Program, a person must be certified by a participating health care practitioner for at least one of 17 qualifying medical conditions. More information on the enrollment process is available on the Office of Medical Cannabis website.
The Medical Cannabis Program will add another option for medicine later this year. Infused edibles (in the form of gummies and chews) will become a new delivery method in the program effective Aug. 1, 2022. This was approved during MDH’s annual petition and comment process to solicit public input on potential qualifying medical conditions and delivery methods for medicine.