Minneapolis Forward

We are investing in small and people of color owned businesses committed to our neighborhoods. Local ownership builds wealth and makes communities stronger.

Learn how we supported the dream of two African American men renovating a building and creating opportunity in North Minneapolis.

From its launch in 2020 through the summer of 2023, the Ownership and Opportunity Fund awarded $13,495,000 to 27 different projects.

The  Ownership and Opportunity Fund   (formerly the Commercial Property Development Fund "CPDF") provides long-term, forgivable loans for commercial real estate projects for areas that need it most. Through July 2023, the fund committed support to 27 projects, with an average investment of about $500,000.

We are providing hands-on support to real estate developers and entrepreneurs of color. This support enables them to grow their businesses and build generational wealth for their families.

Meet Abe Demmaj, a Minneapolis developer who, with help from  DTAP (Developer Technical Assistance Program) , rebuilt an older building that now has new space for growing local businesses.

From its relaunch in 2022 through the summer of 2023, DTAP has provided more than 1,900 hours of support, primarily to clients of color.

We relaunched and expanded DTAP in the beginning of 2022. Through this program, emerging developers receive training and one-on-one guidance working on Minneapolis based projects. Projects have included spaces for small businesses as well as apartment buildings.

Find out how a local realtor and business owner was able to access our support and turn an empty lot into an apartment building with retail space.

A change in the City's pre-application process for Metropolitan Council grants in Minneapolis has opened up over $500,000 annually to projects like Rodeo Plaza.

Beginning in 2021, we opened up pre-applications for the Met Council Local Communities Grant to include property owners affected by civil unrest. In 2023, we expanded eligibility criteria to include participants in DTAP. As of mid 2023, projects in Minneapolis have received $1.7 million in predevelopment funding following this change.

Most development projects in Minneapolis move forward without direct financial support from us. All development project teams do have to interact with our staff for plan review, permits, and more. Staff bring their time, dedication, and expertise into helping all projects move through the required processes.

Meet a developer who had big plans and a lot of questions but found the help needed was only a phone call away.

The City has permitted an average of over 3,000 homes per year through new construction projects from 2013 to 2022.

Our city has seen big population growth in recent years, adding more than 47,000 people between 2010 and 2020. Smooth development review has helped developers build new housing to meet that growth. Forward-looking planning has shown where it's needed; along transit, in commercial areas, and more.

Take a tour of one of the country's only Black-owned distilleries and find out why they chose Minneapolis as their home and what they're doing to help the community.

"We had a ton of support from the City and we knew that we were wanted, and we didn't really get that from any other location."

Du Nord Social Spirits owner Chris Montana highlights how we strive to bring in businesses that give back. We offer a variety of  support to business owners  starting or growing their businesses in Minneapolis. This support includes technical assistance, site selection, financing tools, and more.

We continue to work with community-based organizations so we can create an inclusive economy together.

Learn about the women who, with a little help from us, are transforming the historic Coliseum building to its original glory with plans for community space, a business incubator, dining options, and more.

Through July 2023, project partners have put in six dollars for every one invested through the Ownership and Opportunity Fund.

Projects like the Coliseum need many sources of funding, both private and public. Early commitments from the fund enable more funders to jump in, keeping projects local. Our commitments of $13.5 million through July 2023 are only a small part of the nearly $100 million committed to those projects.

We are making historic investments in creating more affordable housing, especially in the areas hardest hit by the pandemic and unrest.

Learn how our financial support helped a beloved south Minneapolis church and non-profit developer expand the church's community outreach and add affordable housing.

In 2022, the year Calvary was funded, the City closed on the financing of over 900 new affordable rental housing units, a historic high.

We continue to prioritize creating new homes affordable for low-income families. Of these over 900 homes, almost a third will be affordable to our households most in need, who make 30% of area median income or less. That's $37,260 for a family of four in 2023.