[Mpls] REGARDING MY EARLIER POST:COMMENTS

[V.L. Freeman]

Hello JP! and List;

I guess I should clarify myself here. In no way did I mean that the 
Empowerment Zone helped or is helping the businesses named, Sorry if that's 
what appeared to sound like. I was just meaning instead of these type 
places. There should be other more positive businesses in the area, The 
Empowerment Zone, could do more outreach to those who are not aware of what 
and who they(EZ) are.

The usual suspects explain it as a way of putting more money in the existing 
big businesses, not investing into new or small. I think when these people 
(usual suspects)  address the issues of the EZ, one's expectation seems to 
be lowered in their thinking that EZ. Feeling like it's not for them. 
Hopefully the EZ can come out do it’d own education to the people  of what 
EZ is all about. Just my thoughts, as usual.

Vanessa Hawthorne



Innovation, everyday entrepreneurship, and creativity are the aims of 
collaboration."

Vanessa L. Freeman

Peter Keen




>From: Jhpalmerjp at aol.com
>To: vanessabucca at msn.com, mpls at mnforum.org
>Subject: Re: [Mpls] REGARDING MY EARLIER POST:COMMENTS
>Date: Tue, 5 Jul 2005 20:39:04 EDT
>
> >>vanessabucca at msn.com writes:
>At times  it seems as though more police would be needed. However, more
>police would not  be needed if the infrastructure of the area were more
>economically sound. Or if  the city’s empowerment zone would allow 
>dollars to those
>wishing to start their  own businesses, other than nails; liquor; knock off
>clothing stores, and corner  “hood” stores selling outdated WIC (Women 
>Infant‘s and
>Children), in addition to  selling cigarettes cheaper than any other place 
>in
>the  city.<<
>
>
>JP:
>I agree wholeheartedly with Vanessa.  A  clear connection can be seen 
>between
>the economic investment in a community and  the amount of crime and poverty
>that exists there.  The higher the  investment, the lower the other two 
>become.
>  Sound economic investment is  key to diminishing and ultimately 
>eradicating
>crime from areas.
>
>To that  end, while the Empowerment Zone has put funding into a number of
>businesses and  initiatives, it has never put money into "nails; liquor; 
>knock
>off clothing  stores, and corner “hood” stores selling outdated WIC 
>(Women
>Infant‘s and  Children)" to my knowledge. In my mind, that approach would 
>be
>counterproductive  to helping the community.
>
>What we have funded are places like Café Tata  Bunna, El Amin's Fish 
>House,
>Lucille's Kitchen, the Franklin Bakery, Siyeza and  a host of others.  We 
>also
>provide funds through the West Broadway Area  Coalition for West Broadway
>businesses to do façade improvements and we provide  free technical 
>assistance and
>small business loans to EZ business through four  providers: NRRC,
>WomenVenture, MCCD and Whittier CDC.  In fact in the  course of our 5 1/2 
>years, $10.4
>Million (of our $25.8 Million) has been  committed to 34 economic 
>development
>projects and initiatives, which have served  1,174 persons,  trained 170
>residents and created or retained 485 resident  jobs.  65 EZ business loans 
>have
>been processed and 441 EZ businesses have  received technical assistance.
>
>Many people are not fully aware of what  we do and don't do, I encourage
>people to check out our website  (www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/ez) or email me
>directly at work at:  jonathan.palmer at ci.minneapolis.mn.us with any 
>questions.  On
>our end, we're  trying to get the word out more of the resources we have to
>offer.
>
>In  addition, the City has a great Business Finance division which works 
>with
>  businesses to find resources and funding, they even put out a free guide 
>on
>how  to start a business.  Bob Lind heads that up, and is another great 
>person
>  to talk with.  Bottom line is that both the EZ and the Business Finance
>division are here to help and have been assisting people as they start up 
>or
>expand their business, primarily small businesses.  Many people are not  
>aware of
>the resources available to them, and I would encourage anyone to  contact 
>my
>office or other divisions for assistance.
>
>Jonathan  Palmer
>Victory
>