Growing Minneapolis: News from the City of Minneapolis Community Planning and Economic Developmnet

Growing MPLS

November 2016

CPED's Mission: Grow a vibrant, livable, safely built city for everyone. 

Events

Fix It Tech Event 

Saturday, November 19
10 am - 2 pm 

University of Minnesota Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center
2001 Plymouth Ave N, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55411

A free community technology education event providing computer hardware repair, education and tech support.
Bring laptops, desktop towers, AND power cords to work with volunteers to repair your device. Learn troubleshooting, get advice and help with smartphones and tablets based on capacity. 
Computer not working right? 
Get a FREE TUNE-UP!
Get patches, anti-virus installed and much more. First come, first served
Labor is FREE. If parts are needed, volunteers will 
provide consultation on items and various sources. 

More information

Do It Green! MN Green Gifts Fair

Saturday, November 19 
10 am - 5 pm 

Midtown Global Market 
920 E. Lake St., Minneapolis, MN 55407

Shop 80+ eco-friendly vendors for holiday gifts, eat free samples and lunch or dinner at one of 30 global restaurants, and celebrate with a Heart of the Beast puppet show, local musicians, nature activities sponsored by Peace Coffee all day and more!

More information

Northside Holiday Boutique

Monday – Friday
8:30am – 5:00pm
Nov 25th – Dec 23rd, 2015

Gaiviidae Common - Suite 221
651 Nicollet Mall 
Minneapolis, MN 55402

The West Broadway Business and Area Coalition (WBC) will host the second annual Northside Holiday Boutique  showcasing unique vendors and artists from the community of North Minneapolis. Last year, this  pop-up store generated $20,000 for Northside entrepreneurs of all backgrounds and trades. 

No Coast Craft-O-Rama 

Friday, December 2 
3 pm - 8 pm

Saturday, December 3
9 am - 5 pm  

Midtown Global Market 
920 E. Lake St., Minneapolis, MN 55407

The Holiday No Coast Craft-o-Rama is a modern craft show that’s been held annually since 2005.

More information

Seward Winter Frolic

December 2nd, 3rd and 4th

The Seward Art Crawl is one of many events during the Seward Winter Frolic & Art Crawl  All day long businesses will be offering specials and local artists will display their work at several venues. 

More information


News


New & Expanding Businesses

Food/Beverage

Retail

Health/Fitness

Service


Contact CPED

612-673-5001 or 311
Staff Directory
Website

Crown Roller Mill
Executive Administration
105 Fifth Avenue South
Suite 200
Minneapolis, MN 55401

Public Service Center
Development Review
Customer Service Center
250 South Fourth Street
Room 300
Minneapolis, MN 55415
Map and Parking

City Hall
Business Licensing
350 South 5th Street
Room 1C
Minneapolis, MN 55415

Business Profile: NewPublica

Photo of NewPublica Owners, Alberto Monserrate and Melisa Franzen
NewPublica Co-Founders Melisa Franzen and Alberto Monserrate in their Uptown Office (2909 Bryant Ave S).

NewPublica is a full-service public relations and communications agency founded in July 2014 by Alberto Monserrate and Melisa Franzen. Proudly Latino-owned, NewPublica focuses on new and underserved audiences.  Their services include mainstream and ethnic media relations, community relations in audiences of color, media development, event planning, and graphic design.

Although NewPublica works with all types of businesses, they specialize in work for clients with civic motivations. They’ve worked with local nonprofits and organizations including Comunidades Latinas En Servicios (CLUES), The Minneapolis Foundation, and the Latino Economic Development Center. In addition, NewPublica has provided marketing support for a range of City programs including the Business Technical Assistance Program (B-TAP), the Co-Op Technical Assistance Program (C-TAP), and the Minority and Women Owned Businesses Opportunity Fair.

While NewPublica is happy remaining a small but tight-knit agency of 12 employees, they predict they will experience a natural growth and have plans to begin working with international clients.  


Open House Events Help City Gather Feedback for Minneapolis' Updated Comprehensive Plan

3-photo Collage of Minneapolis 2040 Events
Top: A child participates in an artist station at the North Commons Park Open House, Bottom Left: Stations at Midtown Global Market Open House, Bottom Right: Artist Eric Avery (Right) hosts an artist station at the North Commons Park

Last month, the City held two open houses to gather community feedback for Minneapolis 2040, an update to the City’s Comprehensive Plan. The events were held at Midtown Global Market on October 25 and North Commons Park on October 27, where attendees participated in a variety of interactive, artist-designed stations that reflected elements of the plan including transportation, jobs, housing, the environment, and equity.

The planning process for Minneapolis 2040 kicked off in April at the City’s Community Connection Conference. Since then, City staff have participated in nine events and festivals to raise awareness of the Comprehensive Planning process. Currently, the engagement focus is shifting into more in-depth policy questions. In addition to the open house events, City staff has participated in other community dialogues and surveys to help City staff draft policy framework, which will be brought back to the community for discussion in Spring 2017. The final Minneapolis 2040 Comprehensive Plan will be submitted to the Metropolitan Council in 2018.

For more information or to leave your feedback for Minneapolis 2040, click here.

To stay up to date on the latest Minneapolis 2040 news and event information follow us on Twitter @Mpls2040 and share your feedback using the hashtag #MplsBigIdeas 


Business Profile: New French Bakery

Mayor Betsy Hodges at New French Bakery
Mayor Betsy Hodges (Left) speaking at New French Bakery

New French Bakery was thrilled and honored to welcome Mayor Hodges for a visit on Friday, October 14th. Mayor Hodges commended New French for the pride employees take in exceptional quality – not only in bakery products, but also in a highly diverse, supportive workplace culture.

Established in 1995, New French Bakery quickly became a leading provider of artisan bread products throughout the Twin Cities area.  Over the past five years, New French Bakery experienced enormous growth throughout the country. Manufacturing at two Minneapolis locations, the recent surge in product demand resulted in the addition of over 300 full-time positions across both Minneapolis plants.

To fill openings, New French Bakery works proactively with City of Minneapolis Employment and Training division, a division of Community Planning and Economic Development (CPED).  During a recent, one-day on-site hiring event, the company met its hiring goals and attained an 80% diversity rate through this hiring partnership. 

Diane Erdman, Director of Human Resources, stated, “I have worked in HR and recruited for over 15 years in multiple states and suburban areas. Minneapolis has been one of the best recruiting sources for finding new employees who are available and want to work.” 

The City has also provided loan and bond financing for development of their facilities through its Business Development programs


Dislocated Worker Reaches Career Success

Photo of Barbara

Barbara worked at Ameriprise Financial for 14 years as a mail room machine operator when her Eagan worksite was outsourced.  With little education, Barbara didn’t have many job choices so she decided to change careers. She paid a visit to the Minneapolis South WorkForce Center and learned she was eligible for the Dislocated Workers Program.

Barbara worked on a career plan with Workforce Center counselor Abdirashid Isse, who helped her write a resume, set career goals, and find college funding. He also offered encouragement and lots of positive advice. 

Barbara decided that she wanted to work in a hospital setting and found a certificate course for surgical technician. The WorkForce Center helped her with funding to attend a six month course which she successfully completed with a 3.75 GPA.

During her internship, Barbara received two job offers at very good pay. Barbara said that she would never have been able to attend college without the help of the Minneapolis South WorkForce Center.


Cedar Riverside Opportunity Center Set to Open this Spring

On October 28, community leaders and residents gathered to celebrate the groundbreaking for the Cedar Riverside Opportunity Center scheduled to open in spring 2017. The Center is located in the new Five 15 on the Park apartment building.

Key goals of the Center include tackling the neighborhood’s high unemployment rate and increasing the East African community’s access to educational programs.

According to Minneapolis City Council member Abdi Warsame, whose ward includes the Center, “We need every resident here to have a good job with a livable wage, and this Opportunity Center will help us get there.”

Anchor partners include EMERGE Community Development, Minneapolis Community and Technical College, Hennepin County Workforce Development, Hennepin County Library and the City of Minneapolis.

Employers with a recruiting presence at the Center will include Hennepin County, Fairview Health Services, Hennepin County Medical Center, the City of Minneapolis, the University of Minnesota, Augsburg College and St. Catherine University.

News Release


City and Park Board Recieve Redevelopment Submission for the Upper Harbor Terminal

On Friday, October 14, 2016, the City of Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) closed their request for qualifications period (RFQ) for submissions for the Upper Harbor Terminal Phase 1 redevelopment. The City and MPRB have goals to redevelop the site (located on the west bank of the Mississippi River from 33rd Ave N to 40th Ave N) from its original use as a barge shipping terminal to a combination of riverfront parkland and inland private development.

The City and MPRB received one “master developer” submission from a team comprised of United Properties, THOR Development and First Ave Productions, which was shared at a community input meeting on Thursday, November 3. A City/Park Board Recommendation Committee will review community feedback from the meeting an and online survey to help them make a recommendation to City Council and the Park Board to determine whether the development team will be selected to enter a collaborative planning process with the City and MPRB, which may begin by March of 2017.  

For more information about the site, goals and RFQ process, click here.