 Left to right: quilts and pillows each with a unique pattern and color sequence, owner Ly Vang posing in front of his store, a handmade blanket embroidered with the nation of Laos. (Source: The City of Minneapolis)
Hmong
Handicrafts, located in the Midtown Global Market, is a colorful business
with beautiful items that have the Hmong culture woven in every stitch of
fabric. In addition to the unique arts and crafts, you will find the owner Ly
Vang is happy to share the history of the Hmong culture. This family-owned
business has a history of its own: over 25 years ago, Ly began helping his
mother create and sell Hmong crafts and homegrown vegetables at the Saint Paul Farmers Market. To this day, Ly, along
with his brother and sister, sell his handmade crafts and their vegetables at
the Farmers Market on the weekends.
In 2016, City of Minneapolis Business Technical
Assistance Program (B-TAP) partner, Neighborhood
Development Center (NDC) worked with Ly to find space at the Midtown Global
Market and assisted with leasing and financial planning.
Some of the popular Hmong handicraft items in the Midtown
Global Market are purses, backpacks, and clothes created with recycled
traditional Hmong clothing; and each item of clothing is from one of the vastly
different regions of Laos.
 Easy access to the Minneapolis Business Portal via computer and phone. (Source: The City of Minneapolis)
The City of
Minneapolis is excited to announce the launch of an online platform designed to
make it easier for entrepreneurs and small business owners to do business in
Minneapolis. The Minneapolis Business Portal
is aimed to connect these individuals to the information and resources needed
to plan, launch, and grow a business.
Some of the features include:
- Comprehensive checklists for starting a business
- Starter Guides for common business types
- Centralized information on the regulatory process
- Library of business support organizations and programs
Whether
looking for funding opportunities or information on applying for a business
license, this online tool prepares entrepreneurs for the steps in starting or
growing their business in Minneapolis.
 Tomme Beevas and Zoe Thiel next to the Pimento Jamaican Kitchen food truck. (Souce: The City of Minneapolis Small Business and Innovation team)
The
process to start and grow a business can be difficult. However, with the help
of several City programs aimed at small business development, the owners of Pimento
Jamaican Kitchen restaurant were able to successfully achieve their dreams.
In
2014, Tomme Beevas needed help getting his restaurant started. The City’s Business Technical Assistance
Program (B-TAP)
provided that support through consultants at Small Business Development Center
(SBDC)
and Metropolitan Economic Development Association (MEDA). The team helped Tomme
and his partners find and negotiate the future home of his restaurant space, located
at 2524 Nicollet Ave. S on Eat Street. To improve the building’s appearance and
functionality, Tommee also received a facade matching grant from the
City’s Great Streets program and he received a 2% Loan from the CPED’s small business
financing program to help build out the space.
In 2017,
Beevas and co-owners Rohand Hugh and Yoni Reinharz decided they were ready to
expand. The City’s Small Business Team helped them in
navigating the regulatory and permitting process as they worked to add a patio
in the back of the restaurant and determine how they could open a Jamaican rum
bar in the space next door to the eatery. Learn more about Pimento’s work with
the City.
 Pozole from the food vendor, La Perla located inside Mercado Central. (Source: Becca Dilley / Heavy Table)
The City of
Minneapolis Great Streets Business District Support program provided funding for Lake Street Council
to hire Heavy Table, a creative
magazine, to generate more positive press attention, specifically highlighting the corridor's rich diversity of eateries. One of Heavy Table’s recent articles is a review of the many unique restaurants inside Mercado Central:
“Chilaquiles!” The yell came from one of the many food vendors lining the hall that extends from the main dining area of Mercado Central. We were camped out at one of the tables there eagerly awaiting our call. “Pupusas revuelta!” came another yell. Sun poured into the bright, airy room. It was late morning on Saturday, and the place was abuzz with patrons shuffling trays filled with assorted Latin American fare, scooting chairs in and out as they jumped up to grab extra piles of napkins or a bottle of hot sauce. “Torta Hawaiiana!” There are no order numbers at the top of your receipt to go by. You just have to remember what you ordered and enjoy the action while you wait to hear that call from down the hall.
Read more in
Heavy Table
Prince was recently featured as Minneapolis Music History project's Artist of the Week. (Source: Spotify)
To the music and history lovers out there, the City is
leading an interactive Minneapolis
Music History project to capture the important places, structures, and
buildings that represent the history of music in Minneapolis. Music is a vital
part of the city’s past and what Minneapolis is known for. Dating back 150
years of music history, the project looks to identify key sites that deserve a
more intensive level of research. The project is made possible by a grant from
the National Park Service.
Love discovering new artists and
songs? Stay tuned weekly for the artist of the week; these artists reflect
Minneapolis music history. Follow @Growingmpls
on Twitter to stay updated on the “Artist of the Week,” along with the featured
artist’s must-listen-to-song.
Look on the Minneapolis Music History events page for upcoming events. Tuesday, March 20 is the next event.
 Participant engaging with the Equity Crank at the 2040 Comprehensive Plan table. (Source: The City of Minneapolis)
The Penn and Plymouth Community Meeting held on February 20,
2018 addressed the NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center’s Campus Expansion
project. This health and social services center has existed in North
Minneapolis for 50 years. The NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center is
experiencing rapid growth and the expansion project will meet the need for a
healthier community.
The department of Community Planning and Economic Development shared their resources and information
on the 2040
Comprehensive Plan and Minneapolis
Homes program. Other Penn-Plymouth partners
(Estes Funeral Chapel, Hennepin County, Metro Transit, Minneapolis Urban
League, Thor Development, Twin Cities LISC and University of Minnesota) shared
their knowledge and materials at the event as well.
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City of Minneapolis Employment and Training recently updated the Guide to Inclusive Hiring for employers interested in exploring and evolving their hiring systems. Employers use the guide to proactively plan for talent acquisition by tapping into proven strategies and tactics.
Inclusive hiring is driven by diverse approaches to talent acquisition. Today’s successful organizations expand networks and design customized approaches to cultivate inclusion. The Guide offers employers a template for building on successful tactics, while also analyzing critical, higher-level factors. It serves as a hands-on tool for evaluating organizational performance along a spectrum, with leading practices clearly defined. The hiring cycle is broken into five components: planning, sourcing, evaluating, hiring and retaining.
The Guide may be viewed, downloaded and printed here.
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The cover of the Minneapolis Inclusive Hiring Guide. (Source: The City of Minneapolis)
 Local leaders breaking ground for the new apartment homes near Prospect Park. (Source: The City of Minneapolis)
The future site of Green on Fourth apartment homes is
located near the Prospect Park neighborhood at 2949 4th Street
Southeast Minneapolis. The project will transform this former
brownfield into affordable housing, green space, and a district storm water
system. The apartment homes will provide 243 units with over 60 of those units
restricted to households with incomes at and below 60 percent of the area
median income. Of those income-restricted units, 49 will be available to
households with incomes at and below 50 percent of the area median income.
Local leaders broke ground on Tuesday, March 13, 2018 on what
used to be land of Boeser Sheet Metal. Hennepin County and the Metropolitan
Council remediated the land, paving the way for the new homes to be completed
July of 2019. The City of Minneapolis collaborated with Timberland Partners and Prospect Park Properties to make this project possible.
About this newsletter
Growing MPLS is published monthly by the City of Minneapolis Community Planning and Economic Development Department. If you have questions, please contact rose.lindsay@minneapolismn.gov.
For reasonable accommodations or alternative formats please contact Rose Lindsay at 612.673.5015. People who are deaf or hard of hearing can use a relay service to call 311 agents at 612-673-3000. TTY users can call 612-673-2157 or 612-673-2626.
Para asistencia 612-673-2700 • Rau kev pab 612-673-2800 • Hadii aad Caawimaad u baahantahay 612-673-3500.
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