Economic Development

Don Co-chairs the Executive Committee of the Empowerment Zone Board, dramatically shifting the focus of those funds from South to North Minneapolis. Don consistently works to recruit quality employers to North Minneapolis. His greatest success was the arrival of Coloplast, which is bringing 600 jobs to the River Road in 2009, with an innovative program to train and hire Northside residents. In his role as a Council Member, he has helped direct funds to Empowerment Zone and Community Development funds to North Minneapolis–based employment services. He helped the city turn over its blight mitigation services from suburban contractors to Emerge, a Northside agency that puts the hard–to–hire to work. NEON. He also co–sponsored a “ban the box” resolution to restrict when the City of Minneapolis can ask applicants if they have been convicted of a crime, thus allowing qualified and rehabilitated ex–felon job seekers a greater chance of attaining employment with the city.

Northside Commercial Corridor Development Activity

2008 Highlights:

• West Broadway Alive plan approved

• West Broadway Alive plaza at Hawthorne Crossings planning underway

• YWCA project on West Broadway awarded $432,000 City Great Streets Grant will opening in 2012

• North Regional Library awarded $350,000 Great Streets loan to rehabilitate the historic building opening in 2010

• City acquired 1001 and will acquire 927 West Broadway for commercial redevelopment

• City acquired 1714, 1800, 1807, 1808, 1818, 1826, 1904, 1905, 1910, 1914, 1918, 1920, 1926, 2014, 2018, and 2022 West Broadway for housing redevelopment

• Penn–Lowry Crossings opens

• University of Minnesota purchases Plymouth–Penn Center of home of Urban Research Engagement and Outreach Center (UROC)

• Northend Hardware receives Empowerment Zone award of $145,000 in loans and grants

• Women Venture, NEON, Peace Foundation, and Victory Neighborhood Association receive Great Streets Business District Support Program grants totaling $69,500

• West Broadway Coalition and Harrison Neighborhood Association receive Great Streets Commercial Façade improvement grants totaling $65,000

• Minneapolis Public Arts program selects Penn–Plymouth for one of six public water fountains

• Coloplast North American Headquarters opens

• Impact Mailing expands

• City issues 6 small business loans totaling $183,500

2009 Projected Activities:

• West Broadway Alive plaza at Hawthorne Crossings construction underway

• Fire Points Building (former Delisi’s ) opens

• UROC opens

• Final building at Penn–Lowry Crossings opens

• City will acquire development property from Hennepin County at Penn-Lowry

• YMCA on West Broadway opens

• 1200 West Broadway redevelopment opens

2010 and beyond Pipeline Activities:

• 927 and 1001 West Broadway redevelop

• Juxtaposition Arts expansion opens

• West Broadway Curve housing project opens

• Penn–Plymouth commercial retail project opens

• Northpoint Health and Wellness Center expands including a new YMCA

• West Broadway Plaza opens with new YWCA

• Bassett’s Creek Redevelopment opens

• Penn-Lowry intersection developments completed