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Interior and exterior of the Salty Tart Bakery located at 2940 Harriet Avenue in Minneapolis. (Source: The City of Minneapolis)
At the age of 18, pastry chef Michelle Gayer went to culinary school and later worked many years in fine dining. Michelle then made the jump into entrepreneurship over 11 years ago opening the Salty Tart bakery in the Midtown Global Market. Salty Tart has since expanded its presence around the Twin Cities to the MSP Airport, Lowertown St. Paul, Mill City Farmer’s Market and Minnesota State Fair. Just this past year the bakery relocated its Minneapolis operation to a larger kitchen and retail space at 2940 Harriet Avenue.
Along the way Salty Tart has received technical and financial assistance from the City of Minneapolis. The City’s Business Technical Assistance Program (B-TAP) partner, Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers (MCCD), helped Michelle find the new space on Harriet Avenue. MCCD also assisted her with securing different loans to finance equipment purchases such as the bakery’s new oven. The City’s 2% Loan and Homegrown Small Business Fund programs have contributed key financing to expand her business. Michelle says her advisor from MCCD has been a mentor and friend in helping her business navigate new opportunities and City programs and policies.
The larger kitchen allows Salty Tart to be able to make more delicious food for all its locations. Michelle says her employees are like a family. With happy personnel and more capacity, Salty Tart can provide even more tasty pastries, breads and cakes to the community.
Reduced Property Taxes. Green, Affordable Homes.
Rental properties enrolled in Minneapolis' 2018 4d Pilot. (Source: The City of Minneapolis)
The City of Minneapolis is now accepting applications for the Minneapolis 4d Affordable Housing Incentive Program, which helps property owners obtain property tax reductions for agreeing to keep a portion of rental units affordable for 10 years.
The expanded 4d program has the potential to preserve 700 or more additional units of naturally occurring affordable housing in 2019. It is one of several strategies the City is deploying to address the affordable housing crisis in Minneapolis.
Program benefits
- 10-year eligibility for the 4d property tax rate, which provides a 40 percent reduction in property taxes for qualifying units.
- $100 grant per affordable unit (capped at $1,000 per property).
- Free or low-cost energy assessments and City cost sharing for solar energy installations and energy efficiency improvements.
- Payment of the first year State of Minnesota application fee for certification of the 4d property tax classification.
Owners of market-rate multifamily properties with two or more units are eligible to apply. At least 20 percent of the property’s rental units must be affordable to households making 60 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI). For more eligibility requirements, visit the program website.
Applications can be made online. The application deadline is Feb. 12, 2019. Contact Dean Porter-Nelson via email or 612-673-5237 for additional information.
 Nawal Farhiya Noor is the founder and CEO of Noor Development Group, LLC, a social enterprise company working on projects that bring together public and private partnerships. Noor Development is also the developer/builder of 3454 Knox Avenue North, one of the last Green Homes North projects completed under the Minneapolis Homes program.
On this project, Noor Development worked with CPED, Land Bank Twin Cities, Minneapolis Employment & Training, and the Minnesota Department of Corrections to ensure that 100% of the workforce would be men who are either currently incarcerated at Lino Lakes prison or recently released ex-offenders, many of whom have gone on to full-time work in the construction industry.
On Friday morning, October 26, Mayor Jacob Frey and several of the partners came together to tour the recently completed home. Among the house’s many features, the mayor noted the unique design of the partially finished and expandable basement to ensure affordability/wealth building for the new home owners.
photo: (pictured in rear) David Hoban, Kevin Knase, Aarica Coleman (front) Mayor Jacob Frey, Nawal Noor, Elfric Porte. (Source: The City of Minneapolis)
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On November 27, the City of Minneapolis Employment and Training and the Minneapolis Workforce Development Board presented awards to two agencies that have provided outstanding employment services to Minneapolis adults and youth in 2018. The ceremony took place in Minneapolis City Council Chambers during the Economic Development & Regulatory Services Committee meeting.
Adult Program Award Winner – Minneapolis Urban League. (Pictured L-R) Laura Beeth, Va’Lesha Davis, Deborah Young, Deb Bahr-Helgen, Barbara Doyle, Hilary Thomas, Norma Miller, Nick Jaeger, and Steven Belton
Minneapolis Urban League (MUL) was recognized as the 2018 Adult Partner of the Year. MUL has a long history and footprint in North Minneapolis and has been a community partner with the City of Minneapolis Employment and Training for many years. Targeting their services to a population that has some of the most challenging barriers to employment and offering a wide variety of training and support to prepare participants for employment and job retention, MUL provided exceptional service to Minneapolis Adults in 2018.
Youth Program Award Winner – Project for Pride in Living. (Pictured L-R) Key Rose, Jayson Lumbar, Deb Bahr-Helgen, Laura Beeth, Paul Williams, Sonny McCoy, Kristy Snyder, Angie Willardson, Lindsay Kruh, Anna Peterson, Robyn Hanson, Amy Anlauf, David Reed
Project for Pride in Living (PPL) was recognized as the 2018 Youth Partner of the Year. Over the past year, the Step Up team has collaborated closely with PPL to realign the Step Up work readiness training curriculum to correspond with the Minneapolis Public School (MPS) Career Readiness Seminar course. This pioneering approach allows Step Up interns the option to earn high school credits for their work experiences in any job – Step Up or otherwise – once they earn this prerequisite credit. PPL was vital to the success of the program’s curriculum alignment with the MPS career readiness seminar. This inaugural year was extremely successful, and Step Up plans to build on this for 2019 including differentiated curriculum and the opportunity for interns to earn work experience credits.
 The Step Up youth employment program is accepting applications for 2019 summer internships.
Eligible Minneapolis youth ages 14-21 who are interested in participating in the 2019 Step Up class have until February 10 to complete the application online.
Step Up prepares Minneapolis youth for tomorrow’s careers. As one of the country’s leading youth employment programs, Step Up recruits, trains and places nearly 1,600 young people in paid internships at more than 200 employers each year.
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Shop healthy this winter by attending the many Farmers Markets. In Minneapolis, winter does not mean the end of local foods and markets! Year-round, Minneapolis hosts Farmers Markets, promoting a healthy local economy, community and ecosystem. Follow the Facebook page. |
Request for Proposals: Business Technical Assistance Program 2019
 The City of Minneapolis is seeking proposals from local non-profit organizations that provide direct business technical assistance and training to small businesses and microenterprises located in Minneapolis, particularly those from economically disenfranchised populations.
Proposals shall be submitted on or before January 14, 2019 by 4:00 p.m. An informational meeting will be held on Wednesday, December 19 from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. at the Crown Roller Mill building located at 105 Fifth Ave. South, Suite 150. Attendance is recommended but not required.
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Holidazzle
Friday, December 14 – Sunday, December 16
Thursday, December 20 – Sunday, December 23
Loring Park, on Southwest edge of downtown Minneapolis
 The Minneapolis downtown council is excited to bring the Holidazzle to Loring Park. The Holidazzle has delighted residents, visitors and downtown employees for years and is continuing the tradition of bringing festivities free and open to the public.
More Information
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Mill City Indoor Winter Market
Saturday, December 15, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
704 South 2nd Street
Shop from over 40 local farmers, food vendors and artists for holiday meals, unique handmade gifts and weekly groceries. The Mill City Farmers Market is Minneapolis’ trusted source for local and organic food all year round.
More Information
Northside Holiday Boutique
Saturday, December 15, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 22, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
931 West Broadway Ave
Shop local this holiday season and be amazed by what is available right in your own community. The December 15 boutique will have items that are perfect for stocking stuffers or White Elephant/Secret Santa gifts. The December 22 boutique is all about the last minute shopping, where a variety of local businesses will be featured with perfectly unique last minute gift ideas.
More Information
A Very Vintage Holiday Market
Sunday, December 16, 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Lakes & Legends Brewing Company, 1368 Lasalle Ave.
 Join the December edition of Minneapolis Vintage Market. Gather around as the Twin Cities top vintage vendors come together in one holly jolly marketplace where you can find one-of-a-kind treasures.
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Linden Hills Holiday Market
Sunday, December 16, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 23, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Sunnyside Gardens, 3723 44th St W
Minneapolis Craft Market and Linden Hills Farmers Market return to Sunnyside Gardens to host talented craftspeople, artisan food producers and ready-to-eat food makers. Guests will be able to shop a fabulous and well-rounded selection of over 60 different vendors.
More Information
Food/Beverage
Retail
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Minneapolis voters say yes to neighborhood cocktails
Read in the StarTribune
Minneapolis gets lots of love from Esquire's 'Best New Restaurants' list
Read in the StarTribune
Nonprofit Minneapolis lender has a big impact in community-development lending nationally
Read in the StarTribune
Migizi Communications purchases new building with big plans
Read in The Circle
Mid-City stretch of Broadway reopens
Read in Northeaster Newspaper
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