Rebuilding Our
Community in 2021
Small businesses in Minneapolis were shaken to the core by the pandemic and the destruction following George Floyd’s murder.
In response, people across our community came together to help them recover from uninsured damage estimated at more than $200 million. Since the summer of 2020, we have been part of this unprecedented coalition, which includes large and small nonprofits, large and small businesses, and many community organizations and individuals. All are supporting the vision of a community that is stronger than ever.
Our 2021 Highlights
OneMPLS Fund – Our OneMPLS Fund continued to support local communities that have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic and the destruction following George Floyd’s murder. Since 2020, the OneMPLS Fund has distributed more than $5 million for COVID-19 relief, small business recovery, and nonprofit capacity building. Learn more about our latest OneMPLS grants >
Main Street Grants – We partnered with Propel Nonprofits and LISC Twin Cities to apply for state funding that will fuel small business recovery and rebuilding in three of the Minneapolis business corridors worst hit by the events of 2020. In October 2021, we received notice of a significant allocation from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED)’s Main Street Economic Revitalization Program. Thanks to this funding, we are now in the process of distributing $18 million in grants to businesses, property owners, developers, and nonprofit organizations advancing renovation or new construction projects along Lake Street, 38th Street, and West Broadway Avenue. In May 2022, DEED announced an additional $16.75 million that will enable us to expand the program to serve additional corridors in Minneapolis, Brooklyn Center, and Brooklyn Park. Learn more about our Main Street grants >
InvestMPLS – Our InvestMPLS loan fund invested $1 million in the Community Asset Transition (CAT) Fund. Launched by Hennepin County and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), the CAT Fund provides readily available funds to help buy commercial and residential properties affected by the destruction of 2020, and to help ensure ownership of those properties is transferred to existing businesses, residential tenants within the community, and community-based owners. Read more in our InvestMPLS 5-Year Report >
Restore-Rebuild-Reimagine Fund – We set up the Restore-Rebuild-Reimagine Fund, a fundraising effort spearheaded by a coalition of businesses and nonprofits to help Minneapolis and St. Paul small businesses reconstruct their operations. Started with a challenge grant from the Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation, the Fund has raised more than $14 million to date, including major support from Target Corporation, the Donaldson Foundation, and Mortenson. The Restore-Rebuild-Reimagine Fund supports work ranging from minor repairs to store façades and more. Watch the brief video below to hear from a local muralist who received support from the Restore-Rebuild-Reimagine Fund.
