State shutdown affects Tree Trust

Youth Conservation Corps
More than 600 youth were scheduled to start their summer jobs with Tree Trust’s Youth Conservation Corps program in June. These youth expected to participate in a nine-week program that would provide them with job skills, wages, and an opportunity to earn high school credits.

However, this plan was interrupted when an agreement on the Minnesota state budget was not reached.

Funding from the state and federal government accounts for approximately 85 percent of what is needed to operate the Youth Conservation Corps program. The lack of an approved state budget, subsequent funding agreements, and the shutdown of several state offices forced Tree Trust to make some difficult decisions.

We have gone to great lengths to minimize expenses and stretch available funding in order to provide a valuable summer work experience for as many youth as possible, and to ensure the completion of critical projects for our partners.

The state government shutdown has negatively impacted 500 of our youth participants who reside in the City of Minneapolis and suburban Hennepin, Dakota and Washington Counties. Here is how youth from specific areas have been affected:

• In Hennepin County, 317 youth began working before June 29, but most of their jobs were suspended by July 8. An additional 38 youth were scheduled to begin in June, but their jobs were delayed. If a state budget and adequate funding is not approved by July 27, these positions will not resume this summer. (84 of the Hennepin County youth who began working will continue through the summer, unaffected by the shutdown.)
•  In Dakota County, 23 youth began working the week of June 20, but were suspended on June 27. An additional 108 jobs were scheduled to begin June 27, but were delayed. A state budget and adequate funding must be reached by July 20 for Dakota County youth to participate this summer.
• In Washington County, 48 youth began working the week of June 27, but will be suspended on July 15. If a state budget and adequate funding is not approved by July 27, these youth will not resume working for the duration of the summer.
• In Minneapolis, 48 youth began working the week of June 20. If a state budget and adequate funding is not approved by July 15, these positions will be discontinued on July 29 for the remainder of the summer.
• At this time, the jobs for 32 St. Paul youth who began working in June have not been affected.

Tree Trust is hopeful the state budget will be resolved soon, and we are communicating with key partners, funders and officials to stay abreast of the situation. Affected youth and their parents have been notified, and we will contact them if a budget is approved and funding becomes available in time to resume programming.

Additional Tree Trust Programs
Like many nonprofits, the state shutdown has temporarily suspended the operation of some of our critical partners, and interrupted access to some government funds that have already been committed to our organization.

Tree Trust has been developing plans to minimize the impact on our operations if the state fails to reach a budget agreement in the coming months.

We remain committed to the individuals and communities we serve, and will continue to creatively and strategically guide the organization through this difficult time.

We could not make this commitment without the dedicated volunteers and donors who help to support our work. We ask that you continue to support Tree Trust in any way you can.

Minnesota Helps – Tornado Recovery Fund grant awarded

The Minneapolis Foundation and Greater Twin Cities United Way announced yesterday that Tree Trust was awarded one of 13 grants given to organizations that are assisting North Minneapolis residents affected by the May 22 tornado.

The $24,152 grant will allow Tree Trust to provide full-time employment for the rest of the summer for six recent graduates of its YouthBuild program. Without this grant their participation in the program would have ended on June 30.

“Organizations serving youth were among our funding priorities,” said Frank Forsberg, senior vice president of Community Impact, Greater Twin Cities United Way.

The six YouthBuild participants are residents of North Minneapolis, and will spend the summer repairing and rehabbing up to 33 homes and rental units in North Minneapolis neighborhoods. While they earn wages and sharpen their skills, they’ll provide ownership and rental opportunities for families who have been displaced from their homes or apartments from the tornado.

The 13 grants announced June 23 are the first to be awarded through an ongoing process by which nonprofits and public agencies providing services to North Minneapolis residents affected by the tornado are invited to request support from the Fund. Grant funds were raised through the Minnesota Helps – North Minneapolis Recovery Fund, established by The Minneapolis Foundation, Greater Twin Cities United Way, and GiveMN.org. More than $1.3 million has been raised so far from community donations and matching grants.

For more information about Tree Trust’s involvement in the North Minneapolis recovery efforts, please contact Tracie at 952.767.3881 or tracieh@treetrust.org.

State budget crisis delays summer program

On June 20, more than 450 youth started their summer jobs with Tree Trust’s Youth Conservation Corps program. However, the lack of an approved state budget and subsequent funding for this program caused the suspension of 270 jobs and the delay of 135 additional youth jobs that were scheduled to start within the next two weeks.

Those affected reside in suburban Hennepin and Dakota Counties.

At this time Tree Trust cannot predict when these youth will begin or resume work, since positions are dependent upon the state’s budget. Funding from state and federal government accounts for more than 85 percent of what is needed to operate the Youth Conservation Corps program.

Tree Trust is hopeful the state budget will be resolved soon, and that the program will run at the level intended for the 2011 summer. Tree Trust is committed to the youth and communities served by this program, and is communicating with key partners, funders and officials to stay abreast of the situation.

Affected youth and their parents have been notified, and will be contacted about their participation in the program as soon as the state’s budget crisis is resolved and Tree Trust receives word of funding for this program.

Please contact Felecia at 952.767.3884 or Paula at 952.767.3883 with questions.