The Business Community and Partnerships

Partnership and collaboration allow us to achieve more than we ever could on our own. As a business woman for more than twenty years, I recognize how important partnerships with the business community are to our City's development. By deepening productive relationships within the business community, City leaders can tap into the energy and creativity that drives successful enterprise as they seek innovative strategies for economic development.

As competition grows to attract new business partners to our community, it will be increasingly important to retain existing businesses, and maintain environments in which they can thrive.

Accomplishments

• I conducted an annual survey in the Third Ward business community and discovered that business owners in our neighborhoods are willing partners in our efforts to expand and create job opportunities in our ward.
• I supported a partnership between the American Indian Neighborhood Development Corporation and YWCA of Minneapolis which is resulting in a $70 million development project -- the YWCA West Broadway Athletic Center. This project is providing construction jobs and will bring permanent employment opportunities to the Hawthorne neighborhood.
• I helped the Hawthorne Area Community Council partner with the Tree Trust, LHB Corporation, and the Home Depot Foundation to redevelop a four block cluster near Lyndale and Lowry Avenue North known as Hawthorne Eco-Village. This $3 million project will provide much needed new housing to the area and gave us an opportunity to implement the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization storm water management plan.

Skott Johnson, President of the Dinkytown Business Association in front of the mural on the Autographics side of the building.The mural commemorates Dinkytown former resident Bob Dylan, a Minnesota-born, now music legend. Bob lived above the Gray's Drugstore in Dinkytown during the beginning of his career. Gray's was converted to the Loring Pasta Bar, a local favorite restaurant and bar.

I will continue to explore opportunities to strengthen existing business community partnerships and forge productive new ones.