OVERVIEW
The Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) is a neighborhood based community driven economic and housing development program. The East Calhoun Community Organization (ECCO) began the NRP process in 1994 with community workshops. ECCO Residents worked for four years to produce the Phase One Action Plan. The Phase One Action Plan outlines which activities the neighborhood will undertake to achieve economic and housing development goals. These steps are projects that the NRP calls "strategies". Some ECCO NRP strategies include the tot-lot on the eastern shore of Lake Calhoun, home improvements, Uptown bicycle rack installation, and various traffic signals and pedestrian crossing enhancements.
Each neighborhood in Minneapolis participates in the NRP. Neighborhoods create action plans that outline its strategies to improve the general condition of the community. NRP funds Action Plan strategies from tax revenues generated from downtown developments of the 1980s and 1990s.
NRP is a multi-jurisdictional entity that has prescribed spending areas. The NRP Policy Board acts as the programs governing body. Representatives from neighborhoods, City Council, Hennepin County Board, School Board, Library Board, unions, and social service agencies sit on the Policy Board. According to enabling legislation, NRP must spend 52.5 percent of program funds on housing related strategies, 15 percent for schools, 7.5 percent for county related programs, and 7.5 percent for social services. The remaining 17.5 percent is at the neighborhood's discretion. The Policy Board approves Action Plan so that NRP spending meets the required criteria.
The Minnesota Legislature created the NRP for Minneapolis. NRP runs from 1991 to 2009 in two phases - 1991 to 2000 and 2001 to 2009. Not all neighborhoods, ECCO included, completed Phase One (1991 to 2000) in the determined time. The time frame is more of a guide than a rule.
For a neighborhood to move on to Phase Two it must conduct a review of the
first phase. This is done through the creation of a report that outlines the
neighborhood's progress and the lessons learned. The community reviews and
approves the report then it presents it to the Policy Board for approval.
After approval the neighborhood can begin to plan Phase Two and create a new
Action plan.
The program is set up to empower neighborhoods to determine appropriate programs that will lead to The East Calhoun Community Organization represents all who live, work, own property of business in the East Calhoun Neighborhood.
LEADERSHIP
ECCO NRP is a function of the East Calhoun Community Organization (ECCO).
The elected ECCO Board of Directors act as the ultimate determiner of neighborhood
level decisions. The Board oversee the implementation committee called the
"Steering Committee." Each chair of each NRP Committee, the Crime and Safety,
Environmental, Neighborhood Identity and Housing, Recreation, and Traffic
and Pedestrian Safety Committees, sit on the Steering Committee. The Vice President of the ECCO Board of Director serves as the Steering Committee Chair.
The current members of the ECCO NRP Steering Committee are:
Anne Chase, Chair
Leslie Modrack, Crime and Safety
Tim Norkus-Crampton, Environmental
Al Anderson, Neighborhood Identity and Housing
Robin Cook, Recreation
Gary Farland, Traffic and Pedestrian Safety