2020-00584 – Great Streets Program changes

2020-00088 - Great Streets Program Eligible Areas

2017-01284 - Great Streets Program Areas Categorization

2017-00366 - Great Streets Program changes

The Great Streets Business District Support (BDS) Program provides grants to local business associations, community development corporations, neighborhood groups, and other not-for-profit organizations working on commercial district health. This report recommends awarding $671,275 to 23 organizations.

The Business District Support Program began funding business district revitalization strategies on an annual basis in 2008, to help improve the economic health of the City’s business districts. The design of the BDS Program offers a customizable approach to assisting commercial districts. The program intentionally supports a variety of initiatives, some new and innovative, others the bread and butter of grassroots business organizations. All share the foundational goal to support commercial vitality and strengthen small businesses and overall district success.

The program sought proposals for a wide range of activities with the overall goal to strengthen the economic vitality of a business district or group of businesses, enhance the cultural identity of a district, or expand a culture’s reach in the community; particularly those that support the work of Black, Indigenous or People of Color (BIPOC) businesses, that assist businesses with economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and civil unrest, that uplift cultural identity of districts, and that support work in the City-designated Cultural Districts.

Great Streets Eligible Areas

The Great Streets Program began in 2007 to provide funding tools for commercial district revitalization. Great Streets consists of three primary tools: (1) Façade Improvement Matching Grants, (2) Business District Support Grants, and (3) Real Estate Redevelopment Gap Financing Loans. The City partners with community organizations to implement the program across Minneapolis. Great Streets resources are limited to the geographic areas in the City that are guided for commercial uses in the City’s comprehensive plan.

The program also categorizes the eligible areas according to an areas’ relative economic health. In May 2020, the City approved the approach to eligible area categorization based on four existing designations to identify parcels in one of two categories: eligible and priority eligible.

If an eligible parcel is within one of four designated areas listed below, it qualifies as a “priority eligible” parcel. All other eligible parcels would simply be “eligible.” Priority eligible parcels are those that lie within one of the following areas of the city:

1. Cultural Districts
2. Green Zones
3. Areas of Concentrated Poverty where 50% or more of residents are people of color (ACP50)
4. Promise Zone

This approach uses existing data analysis and aligns with existing City designations.

An online map shows all the eligible areas in blue, orange or purple. The blue parcels are simply eligible parcels. The parcels in orange are those within one of the four designated areas and are priority eligible. The purple parcels indicate City-designated Cultural Districts.

Notice of Funding Availability

Proposals for BDS grants are solicited on an annual basis through a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) process. As outlined in the NOFA, there are four evaluation criteria: (1) service area; (2) proven need, clear outcomes, and significant impact; (3) capacity of organizations, connection to engaged partners, and readiness to proceed; and (4) amount of leverage and reasonableness of budget.

Staff issued the NOFA on September 21, 2022, with proposals due November 21, 2022. CPED received 27 proposals requesting a total of $1,501,238. The proposals were reviewed and evaluated by a team comprised of representatives from CPED Business Development and Small Business Team, Hennepin County, LISC, and the City of St. Paul. This team scored the proposals based on the evaluation criteria outlined in the NOFA.

Recommended for Funding

The review committee and staff formulated recommendations based on the highest scoring proposals and the most impactful strategies. As a result, staff recommends partially or fully funding twenty-three proposals, and not funding four proposals. The staff recommendation is shown alphabetically in the chart below. Administration expenses are capped at 15% of the total award.

Audubon Neighborhood Association $17,510

The Audubon Neighborhood Association proposes to create a business network that would provide equitable access to marketing, cross-promotion, and events to all businesses in the neighborhood. This would include a variety of activities such as: organized public business district events to promote business members; including a “passport” event, a business expo in the newly renovated Hollywood Theater event center, cross-promotion between businesses and Audubon Farmers Market, and the creation of blog/newsletter updating network members of important resources, legislative policies, or changes. They also plan to cooperatively create a marketing and advertising plan. This would be promoted on their website and social media. The second component of their proposal “Create an Emerging Farmer/Emerging Food Entrepreneur program with the Audubon Farmers Market and Audubon Market Garden” did not have a strong connection to the business district and concentrated the activities with the local school, promoting healthy food and farm entrepreneurs. Funding for this activity is not recommended because it was not focused on the business district.

Camdentown (fiscal agent: Minneapolis Regional Chamber Development Foundation) $24,000

Camdentown has received Great Streets BDS funding over the last few years for a variety of marketing, business recruitment and placemaking activities. This year’s proposal revisits a successful event, last held in 2019. In 2023, Camdentown will bring back the Blues & Barbecue Festival after its COVID-related hiatus. The first event attracted hundreds of community members for a day-long celebration of Black culture and Black joy, brought to life through local music and food. Great Streets Business District support will help Camdentown: plan for and execute a dynamic and safe event; build capacity to generate additional resources through sponsorship, in-kind donations, and volunteerism; hire local musicians, entrepreneurs, and artists; and offer a market to feature Black-owned business. The review committee was supportive of events that increase the vitality of the business district but suggested lowering the amount awarded for a single event.

Comunidades Latinas Unidas En Servicio (CLUES) $28,175

In their last contract, CLUES received funding for public art with a Latino artist to encourage residents and businesses to work together through mural co-creation; community-involved arts and cultural workshops; and events celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month and Day of the Dead. This time CLUES is proposing to continue to restore community vitality through cultural engagement, arts programming, workshops, public arts creations, education, and celebrations of cultural holidays. They will involve local businesses and the community in creating and celebrating culturally specific art. They will partner with area businesses for a celebration of Day of the Dead, bringing together street theater, community altar creation, installations, and community art activities. Business partners, including La Mexicana and Midtown Global Market, will partner with CLUES again in 2023. CLUES will also partner with Queer and Trans artists. The review committee was supportive of the proposed projects and would like to see the organization highlight their connection to the business district further. The recommended funding is in line with last year’s award.

Corcoran Neighborhood Organization dba Midtown Farmers Market $31,000

Great Streets funding would assist the Midtown Farmers Market (MFM) as it transitions back to its home location at the intersection of East Lake St and Hiawatha Avenue. With this funding, MFM can strengthen existing relationships between vendors and residents as well as forge new ones with the market’s neighboring businesses. They will engage neighborhood residents, organizations, and business owners to execute the following projects: (1) community outreach and promotion which includes success stories from local businesses, (2) arts and culture programming which will include six themed market days and cooking demos, each of these days will encourage participation from local artists and businesses, and (3) food access and healthy living programming which includes yoga/Zumba classes and a bike rewards program. The review committee was supportive of the first two activities and staff agreed that the outreach efforts would engage the local businesses and encourage residents to come out and support the local economy.  The third area of activities is not recommended due to the lack of correlation to the business district.

Jungle Theater $28,500

The Jungle Theater proposal requested funds for the LynLake Street Art Series (LLSAS), which is currently planned for July 15-16, 2023. This is a free community festival that celebrates aerosol arts in the public realm, uplifts artists, employs skilled laborers, supports local small businesses, and promotes connection and commerce in the LynLake commercial corridor. Through collaboration with LynLake property owners, the LLSAS invites local and national aerosol artists to paint murals and write traditional letterforms on LynLake buildings, alleys and “spaces between the places.” Over the weekend, the event activates the public realm as visitors watch live visual art in progress, explore LynLake businesses and discover hidden murals from previous years’ festivals. During the festival, they also host an indoor gallery exhibit featuring street artists’ “Black Book” drawings. Drawings are for sale with 50% of proceeds benefit the artist and 50% supports future festival operations. The review committee supported artists undertaking this effort and felt it would increase foot traffic for neighborhood businesses resulting in a positive economic impact that may extend beyond the dates of the event. Due to the overall ranking of this proposal, staff recommends funding all the activities but removed the portion that would pay per diem and lodging expenses for out-of-town artists.

Lake Street Council $75,000

Lake Street Council (LSC) proposed activities that will serve not just the immediate needs of the small business community but support the businesses to thrive and grow for the long term. The proposal includes two activities. The first, “You Belong Here” marketing campaign, will build on the successes of the 2021 “Day in the Life” campaign and the 2022 “Lake Street Moving Forward” campaign to increase the reach of positive stories about Lake Street, and drive traffic to small businesses along the corridor. LSC will utilize digital marketing and traditional advertising to showcase the best that Lake Street has to offer. The primary goal will be to retain and attract new customers to Lake Street, as well as reaffirm Lake Street loyalty for everyday necessities, cultural eats and services. The second activity will support and evolve “Lake Street Reimagined”. With the success of their creative placemaking program in creating community art and murals over the past two years, LSC believes there is a clear need to connect the events and art being created along Lake Street to the broader narrative of the corridor. In tandem with the You Belong Here marketing campaign, they will uplift cultural and artistic assets to highlight Lake Street as a cultural destination. The review committee gave high scores to this proposal and staff recommends fully funding both activities.

Latino Economic Development Center $34,500

The Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC) received funding for a taco tour event in 2022 which was a success with over 6,000 in attendance. LEDC surveyed the participating businesses and determined that they would benefit from continuing the Taco Tour in 2023. This event has two goals: 1) support Latino-owned small businesses on Lake Street and 2) celebrate Lake Street’s greatness through a free, fun, and family-friendly community event that will bring people to the corridor. LEDC wants to drive traffic to the area, to bring customers back to support the businesses and foster positive perceptions of the Lake Street area. They believe an in person, community-focused and accessible event is a way to help achieve these goals. The proposal also requests additional funds for marketing leading up to the event and additional signage during the event. LEDC is working with other area business associations to promote the proposed event and increase business participation. Staff recommends funding the event and marketing, albeit at a reduced level due to the overall scoring of the proposal, because they engage both the local businesses and the community.

Longfellow Business Association $17,900

In the previous BDS round, the Longfellow Business Association received funding for additional outreach for the prior round’s safety and security project and a program aimed at providing short-term resident artists within existing businesses. Their proposal this year included, (1) Streetlight banners, (2) Business Directory update, (3) Solace at the Palace event, and (4) Food and Drink passport business marketing. The review committee felt that some components of this proposal were innovative. Staff is recommending funding for Solace at the Palace event and the business marketing efforts. The proposal for streetlight banners and the updated business directory were not supported by the review committee because the organization did not articulate a plan to get permits for the banners and the proposal did not show how these activities benefited the business district.

Lyndale Neighborhood Association $16,950

The Lyndale Neighborhood Association received funding for a series of four events in 2022. Their current proposal is to coordinate a series of four events in cooperation with the Kingfield Neighborhood Association. While both groups are planning for growth along the Nicollet Avenue corridor and some storefronts have attracted new businesses, they both want to use every opportunity they can to continue to get feedback about what is still missing in their community, while also working to build resident connections to these new establishments. Staff recommends partially funding the application for three events that are currently planned with existing businesses. The proposal request for 3 murals on the 43rd & Nicollet node is not recommended because the proposal did not address how the community or businesses would be involved in designing or creating the murals or if the building owners were supportive of the project.

Midtown Greenway Coalition $12,000

In the previous BDS round, the Midtown Greenway Coalition (MGC) received funding to continue their Midtown Ambassadors Program. This program brings eyes to the street to improve the actual and perceived safety in the Lake Street business corridor. Their current proposal is to further fund the Midtown Ambassadors Program, which has volunteers walking and biking in the Lake Street Business District in Midtown (between 35W and Hiawatha/55) every week, all year long. Staff recommends funding the Midtown Ambassadors Program, which is supported by businesses in the area, but at a reduced level. This is the third year that the BDS program has funded the activity and it should begin to be more self-sustaining.

Minneapolis College of Art & Design $35,000

Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) in partnership with Whittier Neighborhood Alliance (WA) proposes to activate and beautify the former Kmart site, while bringing members of our community together in creative ways. Over several months, they will team up with residents, businesses, and nonprofits to create a physical-digital public art installation. With the help of local artists, including MCAD faculty and students, MCAD and Whittier Alliance are proposing to paste large scale photo portraits of individuals along with their stories in their own words, along the fenced perimeter of the site. A digital companion of the project will be created as a repository for the portraits, stories, and installation progress over time. MCAD will need a license agreement to access the site and install the portraits.  The second action in this RCA provides for that agreement. MCAD also proposed a community festival, featuring local food, small businesses, community organizations, performance and visual arts, and a futsal tournament at the site. This portion of the proposal provided few details as to when and how the event would be held or how the organization would obtain the appropriate permits to host the event. The review committee found this part of the proposal had too few details to recommend it for funding. Staff recommends funding the photo installation at a level to assists with costs associated with the artist fees, supplies and marketing, but requires additional leverage from MCAD and the Whittier Neighborhood Alliance in the form of their staff costs.

Minneapolis Foundation – Farmers Markets of Minneapolis $17,190

The Farmers Markets of Minneapolis offer an economic marketplace for local producers and access to affordable, healthy food for residents. They are proposing two projects, (1) Planning for Sustainability and Economic Vitality and (2) Collaborative Campaigns - District-wide marketing and promotion. The Farmers Markets of Minneapolis believe the collaborative marketing campaign will drive more customers and businesses to the West Broadway, Four Sisters, East Isles (in Uptown) and Midtown Farmers Markets and the other collaborating farmers markets. The review team agreed that the marketing strategies will support neighborhood markets and vendors who offer local nutritious food to the community. Staff doesn’t recommend funding for the planning activity but recommends the marketing campaign as it supports many business vendors who participate in the various farmers markets and the business districts in which the markets occur.

Native American Community Development Institute $30,000

The Native American Community Development Institute (NACDI) requested funds for management and marketing of their Four Sisters Farmers Market (FSFM) on Franklin Ave. The FSFM will continue to support new and emerging vendors by providing accessible and free space and a place to grow their entrepreneurial skill. The market provides services to the community such as being able to accept SNAP benefits, S/FMNP vouchers, and “Market Bucks”. NADCI plans to expand signage and media exposure to highlight the vendors and increase attendance by 20%. The Great Streets program has supported the market in the past and it is now able to leverage other funds to support over seventy percent of the market costs. The review team recommends funding to continue the growth and offerings of this market on this Cultural Corridor.

Northeast Minneapolis Chamber $48,500

The Northeast Minneapolis Chamber received funding for “Mural Central,” a project that installed temporary and permanent murals in partnership with the community, businesses, artists, and students over the past two years. Their current proposal is to build additional activities on to the Mural Central project with (1) creation of a website highlighting the outcomes of the project; (2) 30-Day Bike Challenge/Scavenger Hunt (3) the design and installation of branded banners for the district; (4) Artist talks highlighting the murals on the corridor; (5) Walking Art and History Tours/Placards Walking tour; and (6) Translation of City program materials. Staff supports the strategic partnerships they have developed for the project and recommends funding the newly proposed activities, however, does not recommend funding the creation of a website, artist directory, best practices guide and streetlight banners because they were funded in 2022.

Open Streets Minneapolis $36,000

Open Streets Minneapolis is proposing to host 5 "Open Streets" events in 2023. They aim to increase equity, diversity, and accessibility at the events. With the Great Streets funding, they would implement the following strategies: 1. Hire culturally competent organizers to conduct outreach in neighborhoods and business districts along the event routes to increase participation among diverse groups. 2. Provide tents and tables for 40 Artisan Market Vendors at each event, reducing a significant asset barrier to vendors and emerging businesses. 3. Pay LGBTQIA2S+ and BIPOC artists, healers, and community activators to create programming at each Open Streets MPLS event. The review committee thought the events were a good opportunity for businesses to interact with residents and area visitors and was supportive of funding three of the five events. The three events that received support are Open Streets Cedar, Open Streets Glenwood, and Open Streets West Broadway. Staff recommends reducing the event funding to the amount which would cover the costs allocated toward reducing the barriers for emerging business participation and the fees for community artist participation and programing costs.

Pillsbury House and Theatre $21,500

Pillsbury House + Theatre is proposing to host the 2nd annual INSIDE OUT Block Party to highlight, celebrate and promote 4 social enterprises, 3 independent caterers, 4 arts/community organizations and 20 independent artists who live and/or work in their service area – the Bryant, Bancroft, Central and Powderhorn Neighborhoods that converge at 38th Street and Chicago Avenue/George Floyd Square. The theme INSIDE OUT reflects the many opportunities these resources create which may be invisible out in the neighborhood but are community anchors that help define the character of the area. After nearly three years of reduced activity due to the overlapping pandemics of COVID-19 and racial injustice, Pillsbury House + Theatre is committed to supporting these primarily BIPOC independent, small, and nonprofit businesses to remain anchored in the neighborhood and be part of shaping its future. The review committee was supportive of the efforts to highlight the various businesses and artists at this community event. Staff recommends funding to support the marketing, supplies and a portion of the planning and consulting fees needed to host this event.

Pillsbury United Communities $21,000

Pillsbury United Communities (PUC) is proposing two projects, (1) Cedar Riverside Multi-Cultural Exchange project and (2) Cedar Riverside Breakfast Club. The Exchange project will celebrate the rich history and diverse cultures of the Cedar Riverside neighborhood to build awareness, understanding, and connection. PUC would host four cultural exchange workshops and a multicultural dinner at the Brian Coyle Center. Each of the cultural exchange workshops will bring together two or three different communities to tell stories, share cultural traditions featuring local performers, and enjoy food from local restaurants with each other and with the community at-large. In addition to the workshops, the Cedar Riverside Multicultural Dinner will again bring together neighbors and businesses to enjoy food and entertainment that reflects the many cultures of the Cedar Riverside neighborhood.  Staff recommends funding for the four workshops and multicultural dinner.  Staff does not recommend funding for the Breakfast Club. While the review team acknowledged the need for these services, they didn’t see that it was an eligible activity for the BDS program.

Seward Civic & Commerce Association $10,500

The Seward Civic & Commerce Association proposal is requesting funding for (1) Murals, (2) Harm Reduction Business Support, (3) Membership engagement and (4) Website, Logo & Marketing Materials. Most of the funding request was for murals, but the mural sites, artists and community involvement were not identified in the proposal. The budgeted amount, $59,500 for 2-3 murals, is also higher than what the BDS program has supported on past mural projects. The second activity proposed to distribute toiletry kits to businesses who could give them to those in need. These two activities did not receive support from the review committee. Activities 3 and 4 assist Seward Civic & Commerce with their outreach efforts to local businesses and will highlight the cultural diversity and vibrant businesses in the area. Staff recommends funding the membership engagement activities along with the website update, logo, and marketing materials.

Upper Northside Business Association with fiscal sponsor: The ANIKA Foundation $24,000

The Upper Northside Business Association requests funding for (1) Vision4Ward marketing and engagement campaign, (2) Vision4Ward Business Crawl, (3) Neighborhood Night Out and business sector spotlights, (4) Jumpstart – youth engagement to teach life skills and employment matching with area businesses. The review committee acknowledged the need for business marketing in the area and recommended funding for activities 1 and 2, which aim to increase awareness of local businesses among residents and area visitors. The Neighborhood Night Out and Jumpstart program were not seen as a fit for the BDS program because the activities are geared towards residents and local youth versus the business district.

Uptown Association $20,000

The Uptown Association requests funding for the annual Uptown Art Fair that is held over a 3-day period in August. They feel the event is needed in their district for many reasons. Existing businesses near the footprint of the event indicate that the event brought in the most customers and income they would see all year long. It continues to change the narrative of the current negative perception of lack of safety in the community and lack of vibrancy and traffic and visitors. The 2022 return of the event brought something positive to talk about and generated positive media attention. The cost to host the event has risen dramatically over the last few years, which has required the Uptown Association to pursue additional funding. The review committee acknowledged the importance of the annual event but suggested that future proposals should highlight the additional work that the Uptown Association does on behalf of businesses outside of the Art Fair. Staff recommends partial funding for the event.

Webber Camden Neighborhood Organization $15,000

The Webber Camden Neighborhood Organization received funding in the previous BDS round for a business fair located in the Webber Camden neighborhood to increase traffic to local businesses, build community relationships, and help further their business engagement efforts. Their current proposal is to create a Phase I Urban Business District Plan for 44th Avenue North in the Webber Camden neighborhood. This plan would be created by local businesses, residents, youth, and other related community entities who will all benefit from the collaborative product in terms of improved quality of life and neighborhood identity. Potential components of a plan might include strategies for accessible and attractive streetscaping, equitable ecological strategies, effective community marketing and branding, expanded employment opportunities for community youth and other residents, highlighted cultural identities through art or cultural activities. Staff recommends funding the application at a reduced level to support the organization’s planning activities that relate to the marketing and branding for the business districts throughout the Webber-Camden neighborhood.

West Bank Business Association $49,550

The West Bank Business Association (WBBA) again proposes a wide variety of activities to activate the business district and showcase the arts, entertainment, and diversity of the area. Those activities include (1) West Bank Ride, (2) West Bank Marketing Video, (3) Summer and Fall Weekly Outreach Events, (4) Feasibility Study of Social Enterprise Business, (5) Restorative Justice Trainings, (6) Dural Quba Mural, (7) Shade Sculpture, and (8) Dania Hall Community Build and Game. Staff recommends funding five of the eight proposed activities (1-3, 6, 8) to focus on those that have the most potential to impact the vitality of the business district.

West Broadway Business and Area Coalition $57,500

The West Broadway Business and Area Coalition (WBBA) submitted a proposal for three initiatives: (1) Minneapolis Black Business Week, (2) West Broadway Business Partnership Program and (3) Warm Up on West Broadway Pop ups. The Minneapolis Black Business Week will feature an exhibition of Black-owned businesses in Minneapolis. This activity has been successful in the past and received support from the review committee. The West Broadway Business Partnership Program would offer discounts to participating businesses when they patronize fellow member businesses along West Broadway Avenue. Warm Up on West Broadway would include events in the fall and winter months that would encourage people to gather in spaces along the West Broadway corridor. The review committee was supportive of the Warm Up on West Broadway events but was unsure of how impactful the West Broadway Business Partnership Program would be on business vitality. Staff recommends funding activities 1 and 3.

Not Recommended

Four proposals are not recommended for funding this year. The chart below lists the activities proposed. These proposals had activities ineligible for the BDS program, were lower scoring or didn't meet the overall program goal of strengthening neighborhood business districts.