[Music] Welcome to Agenda Edina, a program summarizing the actions taken at city hall that affect you most. I'm your host, Dorothia Marty. Even with road construction making it a little tougher to get around, Edina residents are encouraged to keep shopping and dining in the heart of the city. In midepptember, most Highway 100 ramps at Vernon Avenue and West 50th Street will be closed for the final major phase of the interchange reconstruction project. To help nearby businesses weather the disruption, the city is reminding everyone that shopping local matters. >> There's more than 2,000 businesses in Adina and the vast majority of those are locallyowned small businesses. Those local businesses depend on us to survive and thrive. >> To support businesses during this construction, the city has launched a district-wide loyalty program. Shoppers can collect stamps when they eat or shop at participating businesses in the Grand View or 50th in France business districts. Completed passports are entered into prize drawings funded through gift cards purchased from Grand View and 50th in France shops and restaurants with support from Explore Edina. The city also has promotions planned during restaurant week September 21st through 25th. Watch the city's social media channels for details and more chances to win. Families can also look forward to free activities at 50th in France each month until the highway interchange reopens in mid November. >> Projects like this one are a really great time for the residents to really come together and back our local business community. It's important to understand that where you spend your local dollars really does matter. >> A new program aims to help the people who work in Edina make the city their home. The Edina Housing and Redevelopment Authority has launched a pilot down payment assistance program called Edina Heroes. It offers loans of up to $100,000 to municipal and school employees as well as health care workers who earn the area's median income or above for families of three or more. The loans can be used on homes valued at $600,000 or less. Thanks to the housing foundation for uh creating this program. It reflects the need that we're hearing or the desire of the community to house people who work here and help people. So that's a good program. >> The HR committed $1 million from the Southdale 2 tax increment financing district to fund the program. The Dina Housing Foundation will manage the loans while the city's community development department will provide support and oversight. For close to 55 years, the Edina Crime Prevention Fund has channeled community donations into programs and equipment for police with the goal of keeping Edina a safe place to live, work, and learn. Now, the fund is looking to change its name. Edina TV shows us why this community supported nonprofit is rebranding and introduces us to its new president. >> Great food and fine crafts are guaranteed at the annual fall into the arts festival at Centennial Lakes Park. >> You want this? >> Sure. >> So are the giveaways. >> Yeah. And all that stuff is free, guys. >> This festival is a big fundraiser for the Edina Crime Prevention Fund and the Chamber of Commerce. >> Hi, how are you? Helping this year is the fund's new president, Rob Laughlin. >> See, you just got to get your name in the hat. >> An Edina resident for 34 years who first got involved with the nonprofit in 2020. >> And I asked a lot of questions. And when you ask a lot of questions, I got an invitation to join the board. >> Year after year, donations to the fund have supported things like new equipment and programs for the police department, including the canine program and the motorcycle unit. Often times we know that budgets uh get tight uh any given year and so where this fund has been invaluable to us is that they come in and help provide some relief and some extra funding resources and opportunities for us to buy some extra equipments. Uh come up with some new initiatives for the community also for our staff. >> A resource that in recent years has also supported the fire department. >> We took a look at uh saying hey you know what we should take a look at all of our first responders in the community. And so we made a decision with our board to to rebrand the organization from the crimerevention fund to the Dina first responders fund. >> A name change that won't officially take effect until next year. >> They found it important to recognize the prevention that can be done on the fire side as well and and staff recognition. So that was really welcomed by me. >> The annual safety awards banquet is only possible because of sponsors and the community support for the fund. We think it's important to recognize the difficult challenging situations that they go through that their families experience. >> Despite a little rain at the festival, the community building event was a success showing that the value of relationships between first responders and the community can't be damaged. >> I think at the end of the day, the opportunity to have service above self. Our mission is to serve those who serve us and to take a look at how you can get engaged in doing that. I'm Dan Carpenter. >> You're welcome >> for Adina TV. >> Yeah, thank you. >> Have a good day. >> You can learn more about the Edina Crime Prevention Fund and make a donation by visiting edina crimef fun.org. The police and fire departments have some big events coming up. Mark your calendar for the police department's open house Wednesday, September 17th from 5 to 7:00 p.m. Then on October 30th, celebrate the grand opening of the new fire station 2. These are two events you won't want to miss. Thank you for watching this episode of Agenda Edina. I'm your host, Dorothia Marty. [Music]