Strengthening our Local Economy for Business and Workers

Minneapolis has historically created barriers for Black and Brown business owners. Symbolic gestures like cultural corridors mean nothing if they don’t come with significant investments and support for local businesses.

In my first term, I have:

• Led colleagues in allocating $700,000 in assistance for small businesses along cultural corridors impacted by 2020’s civil unrest.

• Door knocked East Lake Street, helping small business owners navigate incoming transit development and access business support services. 

This term, I will:

• Keep our local businesses in the neighborhoods they serve: Pass ordinances for Commercial Rent Control and Advance Notice of Commercial Sale and support the creation of Commercial Property Trusts.

• Establish a municipal bank to provide loans and access to credit to local businesses, check cashing and financial services for residents, support cooperatively owned projects and reduce interest rates paid by the City.

• Expand access to City of Minneapolis union career pathways for Black and Brown Minneapolis residents.

• Reform city procurement practices to reduce barriers for small local companies to do business with the city.