Business Support

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Keeping existing small businesses in the corridor and supporting their success is critical and central to this plan. Proximity to the Blue Line Extension (BLE) can be beneficial for small businesses by connecting a workforce and customers to these establishments. However, the construction and operation of the BLE may change business conditions in the corridor.

Small business support is intended to address potential challenges that may arise for small businesses located near the BLE to ensure they are able to stay in the corridor and experience the benefits of light rail. Below, readers can view the direct actions that will be taken to provide technical and financial support so that businesses within the corridor continue to thrive before, during, and after construction.


1. CONNECT businesses to anti-displacement efforts

Focused Navigation & Outreach:

Hennepin County has a dedicated navigator to provide focused support for corridor businesses through Elevate Hennepin. Partners will continue to provide outreach through navigators, community-based organizations and community networks within the corridor as well as invest in marketing to connect businesses to services. Outreach partners will engage businesses to ensure their voices are incorporated throughout anti-displacement planning and investment.

Status: In place
Owner: Hennepin County
(Before, during and after construction)

Business Canvassing:

The Metropolitan Council has conducted door-to-door business outreach throughout the duration of the project and will continue outreach efforts throughout the construction phase of the project to check in on the well-being of businesses and to provide continued support. Distribution of materials and connection to Navigators will be provided to existing small businesses about the resources available to them. The purpose of outreach efforts is to provide businesses with project information, find out how businesses may be impacted by BLE construction and to create relationships between project staff and corridor businesses.

Status: In place
Owners: Metropolitan Council
(Before and during construction)


2. PROVIDE technical and financial support.

Leverage Technical Assistance & Financial Support Programs:

Using feedback from community engagement, partners will learn about the unique challenges facing small businesses within the corridor, which will be used to target or adapt existing programs that offer technical and financial assistance to meet their needs. Continued community engagement will guide support and investment that is centered around the community’s voice and needs.

Status: See section below for programs in place
Owners: Metropolitan Council, Hennepin County, Cities, Partners
(Before, during and after construction)

Leverage Affordable Commercial Space Programs:

Several programs offer financial and technical assistance to develop or preserve affordable commercial space, which can help community members get the space they need to start or sustain their businesses.

Status: See “Community Investment” section for programs in place
Owners: Metropolitan Council, Hennepin County, Cities, Partners
(Before, during and after construction)


3. SUPPORT businesses impacted by construction.

Reduce Construction Impacts. Throughout construction, Metropolitan Council will take specific actions to reduce the impact of construction, including:

Advanced Notice: Metropolitan Council will require real-time, advanced notice of construction plans for residents and businesses, including street closures, sidewalk closures, parking impacts and options, utility shutoffs, and noise alerts.

Status: In development
Owners: Metropolitan Council
(During construction)

Access Maintenance: Contractors will be required to maintain adequate access for businesses during construction to ensure customers, employees, deliveries, and others are able to get to businesses. If for some reason access does need to be temporarily restricted, early notification and coordination with the business will be required to minimize negative impacts to whatever degree possible.

Status: In development
Owners: Metropolitan Council
(During construction)

Reduce Construction Impacts: Throughout construction, Metropolitan Council will take specific actions to reduce the impact of construction, including: Wayfinding and Communications Support: Accessibility to businesses along the BLE can be challenging during construction. The Metropolitan Council will work to communicate directly with businesses about road and sidewalk closures, alternative pathways, construction noise and other impacts. The Metropolitan Council could also provide signage and media messaging to businesses letting customers know they are open, and how to access information, parking options, and more.

Status: In place
Owners: Metropolitan Council
(During construction)

Financial Burden Halt or Deferment: Corridor businesses may benefit from local governments temporarily halting or deferring utility, tax or licensing fees for corridor businesses that are at risk of losing revenue during BLE construction. Potential halts or deferments are being explored across jurisdictions.

Status: Under consideration
Owners: Cities, Hennepin County, Metropolitan Council
(During construction)


For Business Owners and/or Commercial Property Owners

Technical Assistance & Financial Support Programs

Marketing, Legal, and Business Services:

Elevate Hennepin and Minneapolis’s Business Technical Assistance Program currently offer business development programs that can support marketing and business model adaptation to help corridor businesses prepare for and offset expected business impacts during construction. Services can help businesses with encouraging residents to shop in corridor areas, access free or reduced cost legal services, adapt their business model to changing conditions, or address other challenges.

Status: In place, may be eligible for ACPP funding
Owners: Hennepin County, Cities

Targeted Purchasing and Contracting Programs:

These programs develop and deploy policies and procedures to increase the competitiveness of small and historically disadvantaged businesses that may otherwise be unable to compete against larger, more established companies. Currently, the Metropolitan Council, Hennepin County, and Minneapolis each have active programs. These programs can be used to increase purchasing and contracting within the corridor so that local businesses continue to benefit from working with jurisdictions.

Status: In place, may be eligible for ACPP funding
Owner: Metropolitan Council, Hennepin County, Minneapolis

Commercial Façade Improvement Programs:

These programs provide funding for local businesses to repair and improve their building facades, maintaining an attractive local aesthetic that is authentic to the community and local culture. Minneapolis and Crystal each have programs, while other suburban municipalities may apply for funding through the County’s Business District Initiative. Minneapolis has also created a Façade Design Guide to inspire businesses and help them develop attractive storefronts beyond simple upkeep.

Status: In place, may be eligible for ACPP funding
Owners: Cities

Small Business Loans or Operating Subsidies:

Minneapolis, Brooklyn Park, and Hennepin County currently offer loans with zero- or low-interest for businesses to address commercial building issues. To address short-term challenges, forgivable or zero- or low-interest loans could help cover losses related to construction or operating costs such as rent, utilities, or taxes. Jurisdictions are considering partnering with community organizations to provide additional subsidies or favorable loan terms, similar to actions from the Central Corridor Funders Collaborative that were deployed during and after construction of the Green Line.

Status: Partially in place, may be eligible for ACPP funding
Owners: Hennepin County, Cities, Non-Profit Organizations

Business Development Loans:

Non-profit intermediaries, such as the Neighborhood Development Center and the Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers, manage and operate business development loans to assist businesses with their specific needs. These non-profits have experience with small business development, grassroots outreach, and “high-touch” support for neighborhood-based businesses, which can support businesses as they adapt to changing conditions during and after construction.

Status: In place, may be eligible for ACPP funding
Owners: Non-Profit Organizations

Keeping existing small businesses in the corridor and supporting their success is critical and central to this plan. Proximity to the Blue Line Extension (BLE) can be beneficial for small businesses by connecting a workforce and customers to these establishments. However, the construction and operation of the BLE may change business conditions in the corridor.

Small business support is intended to address potential challenges that may arise for small businesses located near the BLE to ensure they are able to stay in the corridor and experience the benefits of light rail. Below, readers can view the direct actions that will be taken to provide technical and financial support so that businesses within the corridor continue to thrive before, during, and after construction.


1. CONNECT businesses to anti-displacement efforts

Focused Navigation & Outreach:

Hennepin County has a dedicated navigator to provide focused support for corridor businesses through Elevate Hennepin. Partners will continue to provide outreach through navigators, community-based organizations and community networks within the corridor as well as invest in marketing to connect businesses to services. Outreach partners will engage businesses to ensure their voices are incorporated throughout anti-displacement planning and investment.

Status: In place
Owner: Hennepin County
(Before, during and after construction)

Business Canvassing:

The Metropolitan Council has conducted door-to-door business outreach throughout the duration of the project and will continue outreach efforts throughout the construction phase of the project to check in on the well-being of businesses and to provide continued support. Distribution of materials and connection to Navigators will be provided to existing small businesses about the resources available to them. The purpose of outreach efforts is to provide businesses with project information, find out how businesses may be impacted by BLE construction and to create relationships between project staff and corridor businesses.

Status: In place
Owners: Metropolitan Council
(Before and during construction)


2. PROVIDE technical and financial support.

Leverage Technical Assistance & Financial Support Programs:

Using feedback from community engagement, partners will learn about the unique challenges facing small businesses within the corridor, which will be used to target or adapt existing programs that offer technical and financial assistance to meet their needs. Continued community engagement will guide support and investment that is centered around the community’s voice and needs.

Status: See section below for programs in place
Owners: Metropolitan Council, Hennepin County, Cities, Partners
(Before, during and after construction)

Leverage Affordable Commercial Space Programs:

Several programs offer financial and technical assistance to develop or preserve affordable commercial space, which can help community members get the space they need to start or sustain their businesses.

Status: See “Community Investment” section for programs in place
Owners: Metropolitan Council, Hennepin County, Cities, Partners
(Before, during and after construction)


3. SUPPORT businesses impacted by construction.

Reduce Construction Impacts. Throughout construction, Metropolitan Council will take specific actions to reduce the impact of construction, including:

Advanced Notice: Metropolitan Council will require real-time, advanced notice of construction plans for residents and businesses, including street closures, sidewalk closures, parking impacts and options, utility shutoffs, and noise alerts.

Status: In development
Owners: Metropolitan Council
(During construction)

Access Maintenance: Contractors will be required to maintain adequate access for businesses during construction to ensure customers, employees, deliveries, and others are able to get to businesses. If for some reason access does need to be temporarily restricted, early notification and coordination with the business will be required to minimize negative impacts to whatever degree possible.

Status: In development
Owners: Metropolitan Council
(During construction)

Reduce Construction Impacts: Throughout construction, Metropolitan Council will take specific actions to reduce the impact of construction, including: Wayfinding and Communications Support: Accessibility to businesses along the BLE can be challenging during construction. The Metropolitan Council will work to communicate directly with businesses about road and sidewalk closures, alternative pathways, construction noise and other impacts. The Metropolitan Council could also provide signage and media messaging to businesses letting customers know they are open, and how to access information, parking options, and more.

Status: In place
Owners: Metropolitan Council
(During construction)

Financial Burden Halt or Deferment: Corridor businesses may benefit from local governments temporarily halting or deferring utility, tax or licensing fees for corridor businesses that are at risk of losing revenue during BLE construction. Potential halts or deferments are being explored across jurisdictions.

Status: Under consideration
Owners: Cities, Hennepin County, Metropolitan Council
(During construction)


For Business Owners and/or Commercial Property Owners

Technical Assistance & Financial Support Programs

Marketing, Legal, and Business Services:

Elevate Hennepin and Minneapolis’s Business Technical Assistance Program currently offer business development programs that can support marketing and business model adaptation to help corridor businesses prepare for and offset expected business impacts during construction. Services can help businesses with encouraging residents to shop in corridor areas, access free or reduced cost legal services, adapt their business model to changing conditions, or address other challenges.

Status: In place, may be eligible for ACPP funding
Owners: Hennepin County, Cities

Targeted Purchasing and Contracting Programs:

These programs develop and deploy policies and procedures to increase the competitiveness of small and historically disadvantaged businesses that may otherwise be unable to compete against larger, more established companies. Currently, the Metropolitan Council, Hennepin County, and Minneapolis each have active programs. These programs can be used to increase purchasing and contracting within the corridor so that local businesses continue to benefit from working with jurisdictions.

Status: In place, may be eligible for ACPP funding
Owner: Metropolitan Council, Hennepin County, Minneapolis

Commercial Façade Improvement Programs:

These programs provide funding for local businesses to repair and improve their building facades, maintaining an attractive local aesthetic that is authentic to the community and local culture. Minneapolis and Crystal each have programs, while other suburban municipalities may apply for funding through the County’s Business District Initiative. Minneapolis has also created a Façade Design Guide to inspire businesses and help them develop attractive storefronts beyond simple upkeep.

Status: In place, may be eligible for ACPP funding
Owners: Cities

Small Business Loans or Operating Subsidies:

Minneapolis, Brooklyn Park, and Hennepin County currently offer loans with zero- or low-interest for businesses to address commercial building issues. To address short-term challenges, forgivable or zero- or low-interest loans could help cover losses related to construction or operating costs such as rent, utilities, or taxes. Jurisdictions are considering partnering with community organizations to provide additional subsidies or favorable loan terms, similar to actions from the Central Corridor Funders Collaborative that were deployed during and after construction of the Green Line.

Status: Partially in place, may be eligible for ACPP funding
Owners: Hennepin County, Cities, Non-Profit Organizations

Business Development Loans:

Non-profit intermediaries, such as the Neighborhood Development Center and the Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers, manage and operate business development loans to assist businesses with their specific needs. These non-profits have experience with small business development, grassroots outreach, and “high-touch” support for neighborhood-based businesses, which can support businesses as they adapt to changing conditions during and after construction.

Status: In place, may be eligible for ACPP funding
Owners: Non-Profit Organizations

Page last updated: 26 Sep 2024, 01:53 PM