West metro briefs: Plymouth adopting program to assist small businesses

That's the message the city gave in its announcement of a new program launched to boost small businesses in the west metro suburb by providing free consultations to entrepreneurs and other small business owners.

The Minneapolis-based program, "Open to Business," is already being used in 19 other Hennepin County cities. The program is a partnership between the city, county and Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers.

In Plymouth, the program will help "mom-and-pop shops become established and bring a lot of uniqueness to the community," Economic Development Manager Danette Parr said in a statement. "We're excited to make these resources available in Plymouth."

Under the program, advisers meet with entrepreneurs to assist with things like business plan developments, marketing and financing.

Over the last year, Plymouth has combined several strategies into a formal effort to increase economic development: hiring a dedicated economic development manager, scheduling meet-and-greets with existing businesses and creating a "Plymouth Proud" program to bolster visibility of local companies.

Kelly Smith

The Carver County attorney's office will add an additional victim's witness coordinator, thanks to a $70,000 crime services grant from the state.

"We are pulled so thin with all the cases we have," said Carver County Attorney Mark Metz.

The additional victim's witness coordinator will work as a liaison between the prosecutors and victim, Metz said.

The grant, called the Crime Victim Services Prosecutorial Grant, was awarded by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety's Office of Justice Programs. The county will have to match $13,067 for fiscal year 2017.

Beatrice Dupuy

Hennepin County is looking for 50 households to join a yearlong "zero waste challenge."

For more details, go to hennepin.us/zerowastechallenge.

Kelly Smith

Hennepin County will host a Fix-It Clinic will be held Sunday, Aug. 14, giving residents a chance to get free guided assistance in repairing household items.

Participants can bring small appliances, clothing, electronics, mobile devices and other items to the clinic, where experts will help them take apart, troubleshoot or repair the items.

The clinic will be open from noon to 4 p.m. at the Champlin Ice Forum, 12165 Ensign Av. N., Champlin.

Kelly Smith

Robbinsdale residents are continuing their fight against redevelopment plans that would tear down the 1950s-era Terrace Theatre to build a Hy-Vee grocery store.

Last week, the City Council gave preliminary approval to the redevelopment plans, moving the project forward.

More than 1,000 people have pledged to boycott all Hy-Vee stores to protest the plans, unveiled last month in the northwest metro city. The group leading the effort to save the theater said they're boycotting all Hy-Vees because the city's plans would demolish the historic theater, replace it with a big box store and add 700 nonunion jobs to the city.

But developers and the city say the theater, which closed in 1999, has structural issues and the plans would revitalize a largely vacant, blighted corner off 36th Avenue and West Broadway. The redevelopment would also tear down the north side of the divided Terrace Mall.

The next step will be a city meeting Wednesday to discuss tax-increment financing, followed by another public hearing Aug. 23.