[Mpls] Welcoming Business

[Barbara Lickness]

Vicky, I can say with all certainty that my neighborhood of Whittier has welcomed businesses in. Whittier used it's NRP funds to create an entire identity around our place in the world as the international marketplace. Whittier provided start-up loans to small businesses and invested funds to address 3 major "blighted" commercial areas. NRP funds cleared a 1/2 block of land for job creating industry. The Nicollet Avenue Business Association used NRP funds to do the streetscape on Nicollet and improve the look of the corridor and create a Special Services District.
 
The Phillips neighborhoods have worked with the Midtown Exchange redevelopment project from it's inception as did Powderhorn. Between the relocation of Wells Fargo Mortgage and Allina, over 3,500 jobs will be added to Midtown Phillips and Phillips West. 
 
Powderhorn provided substantial funds for development along Lake Street, in the Midtown Exchange and have investments in the successful Mercado Central and the new redevelopment of the Antiques Mn. building. 
 
Ventura Village neighborhood, American Indian Neighborhood Development Corp. and the Franklin Avenue Business Association used NRP funds to redevelop dilapidated commercial buildings and to prepare a Master Development Plan using it to seek out business investment along Franklin. Everyone is talking about the renaissance on Franklin. That did not happen without significant citizen involvement or without NRP funds as a major catalyst.
 
Longfellow used it's NRP funds to provide a catalyst to people to redevelop 27th and Lake Street and other areas along Lake St. 
 
Corcoran, Longfellow and Powderhorn provided NRP funds to assist and work with the YWCA development on Lake and 21st. Both Corcoran and Longfellow used NRP funds to provide small businesses with "fix and paint" funds.
 
East Harriet used it's NRP funds to help the small businesses on it's 3 small commercial nodes create interesting and welcoming facades in addition to helping with structural issues on some of the buildings.
 
The themes running through the modest but mighty North Loop NRP plan is all about attracting more businesses to the North Loop and connecting those that are already there. 
 
My experience in working with NRP groups is that they have been very welcoming to business interests. 
 
You can go to www.nrp.org and look at what other neighborhoods have done to assist business development throughout the city. 
 
Barb Lickness
Whittier


"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.  Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." -- Margaret Mead