 Dear Neighbors, I hope this finds you and your family well. I’m writing today with a friendly reminder to join Rep. Winkler, Senator Latz, and me for a town hall meeting tomorrow, September 28 at 6:30 p.m. at the Recreation Outdoor Center (ROC) in St. Louis Park. No RSVP is required, and the event is free and open to all community members. Face coverings are not mandatory, but are encouraged. Hope to see you there!  Minnesota Mainstreet COVID Relief Grant Program- Application Deadline ApproachingThe deadline for grants made available via the Minnesota Main Street COVID Relief Grant program are due this Thursday, September 29. You can start the application process here. A total of $64,200,000 is available in grants for Minnesotan owned and operated businesses that can demonstrate financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This was a bipartisan program the legislature championed and was enacted into law recently. Businesses that are majority-owned by military veterans, women, and Black, Indigenous, and people of color individuals; employ 6 people or fewer; and/or did not receive previous assistance from other state relief programs will be prioritized in the selection process. Funding will be distributed in a 50/50 split between the Twin Cities metro area and Greater Minnesota. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions or need assistance. Legislator of Distinction I am humbled and honored to be one of eleven House members to have recently earned the Legislator of Distinction Award for 2021 from the League of Minnesota Cities. The LCM is a membership association dedicated to promoting excellence in local government. The League, governed by a Board of Directors consisting of local elected and appointed city officials, serves its more than 800 member cities through advocacy, education and training, policy development, risk management, and other services. Legislators of Distinction are annually approved by the League’s Board of Directors to recognize that to successfully serve commonly shared constituents, state and city officials must work together to meet the unique needs of rural, suburban, and urban residents across the state. As a former Hopkins City Council member, I’m grateful for the League’s advocacy in the legislative process. Our state and city partnership is a critical component to the results we deliver for the communities we serve in the Minnesota House of Representatives. Upcoming Community Conversations Hearing directly from you and our community members helps me bring District 46B’s voices to the State Capitol. I’m launching a series of Community Conversations this fall through February on Zoom and I hope you can attend! Here’s the schedule below:  Please RSVP with my legislative assistant, Eric Petersen at eric.petersen@house.mn, 24 hours in advance to receive the Zoom information to join. I look forward to connecting with you online. Keep in TouchPlease continue to reach out anytime at rep.cheryl.youakim@house.mn or at 651-296-9889 with questions or input. As remote operations continue in the Minnesota House, email is the quickest way to reach me. I appreciate hearing from you and having the opportunity to represent you in St. Paul. Be well,  Cheryl Youakim
State Representative |