$10 Million
Awarded in Main
Street Grants

Funding will support 20 redevelopment and construction projects in cultural corridors hit hard by COVID-19 and the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder.

Twenty redevelopment and new construction projects led by small businesses and nonprofits will receive more than $10 million in grants to help three key corridors in Minneapolis as they continue to rebound from the combined impact of COVID-19 and the destruction following the murder of George Floyd.

These grants, made possible by funding from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED)’s Main Street Economic Revitalization Program, are part of a $96 million public-private campaign of grants and loans led by the Minneapolis Foundation in partnership with LISC Twin Cities, Propel Nonprofits, and community-led advisory committees.

An additional $19.5 million in Main Street grants will be awarded in the next two years by the Minneapolis Foundation and its partners, and $14 million has been raised through the Minneapolis Foundation’s Restore-Rebuild-Reimagine Fund. The grants announced today will support projects around Lake St., 38th St. and Chicago Av. in South Minneapolis, and West Broadway Av. in North Minneapolis.

“We’re thrilled to see these awards go directly to the entrepreneurs who are building the future of our economy,” said DEED Commissioner Steve Grove. “We’re grateful to the Minneapolis Foundation for partnering with DEED to strengthen the business corridors of our state’s largest city – a key economic driver that will help our entire state’s economy grow stronger.”

Additional Main Street grants supporting projects along these corridors are still undergoing final review; those awards will be announced in the coming weeks.

One grant will support renovation of the building that will house Eat Street Crossing, a new multicultural food hall on Nicollet Avenue just north of Lake Street that will be owned and operated predominantly by women and people of color. “We are excited and hopeful to give back and be a part of enhancing social and economic vitality in South Minneapolis, which has been through many incredible challenges these past three years,” said Lina Goh, President and co-founder of the business. “We look forward to welcoming people to Eat Street Crossing and have worked to create a space that reflects the creativity, vibrancy, and diversity of the Whittier neighborhood that surrounds it. Coming together over great food and drinks is a vital part of what connects us, no matter our background, race, or gender. This project reflects our love and hope for this community.”

Another grant will support renovation of the Coliseum Building on Lake Street into affordable and market-rate commercial space. “The Main Street Economic Revitalization funding from the State of Minnesota is a crucial piece of funding for Redesign and our partners to be able to begin construction on the Coliseum Building restoration,” said Andy Hestness, Executive Director of Redesign, Inc. “The commencement of construction on the Coliseum project will be a sign of progress and hope for the recovery of the Lake Street corridor and Downtown Longfellow.”

• The Aliveness Project: $180,000 to support the expansion and redesign of its existing building near 38th and Chicago.
• Ariza Retail Services LLC: $153,299 to support the expansion of additional auto service bays at this Lake Street business.
• Blue Horn Properties, LLC: $750,000 to support the renovation of a 35,000-square-foot multi-tenant commercial building along Lake Street.
• Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center: $150,000 to support the renovation of its existing facility and new construction of a 500-square-foot adjacent structure near 38th and Chicago.
• Cultural Wellness Center: $750,000 to support construction of a 12,000-square-foot facility for cultural healing, career development, and business incubation near 38th and Chicago.
• Eat Street Crossing: $750,000 to support the renovation of 16,000 square feet of a multicultural food emporium near Lake Street.
• JADT Development Group, Inc.: $750,000 to support construction of Satori Lofts, a new mixed-use development of affordable and market-rate housing, office, and commercial space along West Broadway Av.
• Jakeeno’s Inc.: $60,750 to support exterior and interior renovations to its existing building near 38th and Chicago.
• John and Denise Graves Foundation: $750,000 to support construction of Calle Lake Cultural Center’s 9,500 square feet of new affordable and market-rate commercial space along the Lake Street corridor.
• Juxtaposition Arts: $638,729 to support renovation and new construction of a 40,000-square-foot art center, offices, and outdoor space on West Broadway Av.
• Midtown Global Market LLC: $374,367 to support the renovation of the Midtown Global Market on Lake Street and new construction of a beauty node within the market.
• New Rules GBC: $720,000 to support the renovation of 25 Bell Lofts apartments as a housing prototype and innovative hub for culture, wellness, and social change along West Broadway Av.
• North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems: $172,050 to support the renovation of commercial space along the Lake Street corridor to create an Indigenous kitchen and marketing space for entrepreneurs and expand community access to culturally appropriate foods.
• Project for Pride in Living: $750,000 to support construction of a new mixed-use development with 110 units of affordable housing and commercial condo spaces at 3030 Nicollet Av.
• Redesign Inc.: $750,000 to support the renovation of the Coliseum Building’s 85,000 square feet into affordable and market-rate commercial space for 25-30 entrepreneurs who are Black, Indigenous, or people of color.
• Riverfront Development Partners LLC: $750,000 to support construction of 71 units of affordable housing and four commercial units owned by African American and women-led businesses on West Broadway.
• Southside Community Health Services: $750,000 to support construction of a 20,000-square-foot Federally Qualified Health Center near 38th and Chicago that will provide free and low-cost medical services to the uninsured and under-insured.
• Urban Homeworks: $54,545 to support tenant improvement construction costs for its 2,079 square feet of new office space on West Broadway Av.
• Wado LLC: $18,701 to support renovation and landscaping of its existing building near 38th and Chicago.
• 1200 KMA Development LLC: $750,000 to support the redevelopment of ZaRah’s 28,000 square feet of commercial space (formerly known as the 1220 W. Broadway Building), which will include a range of affordable options for African American-led or -owned businesses and organizations.

These Main Street grants were awarded through a process that was developed with significant guidance from local stakeholder tables composed of residents, business owners, neighborhood associations, lenders, and nonprofits in each geographic area served. Each table set priorities to guide funding decisions and reviewed all pre-applications completed by grant seekers, making recommendations to the Minneapolis Foundation about which to advance in the application process. Final recommendations were made by the Minneapolis Foundation, LISC, and Propel and submitted to DEED for approval.

In addition to continuing to review grant applications that have been submitted for projects along Lake Street, West Broadway, and 38th and Chicago, the Minneapolis Foundation, LISC Twin Cities, and Propel Nonprofits will soon begin accepting applications for a second round of Main Street grants with funding from an additional DEED allocation that was announced this spring. This round will distribute up to $11.5 million in grants to six additional geographic areas that were hard-hit in the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder: East Franklin Av. in Minneapolis, the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood of Minneapolis, the areas around Penn and Lowry avenues in North Minneapolis, Brooklyn Center, and Brooklyn Park. The Metropolitan Economic Development Association (Meda) will also partner in administering this round of funding. Detailed grant guidelines and deadlines will be announced on Oct. 25 on the Minneapolis Foundation’s website.

All told, including the awards announced today, the Minneapolis Foundation will distribute $29.5 million in Main Street grants by December 2024.

“These projects demonstrate the commitment of nonprofit organizations and local businesses to rebuild their neighborhoods and continue to invest for a strong community,” said Kate Barr, President and CEO of Propel Nonprofits.

Visit this webpage to learn more about these Main Street grants.