 Mayor Frey joined Council Members, City leaders, and property developers last week to celebrate the passage of an ordinance that makes it easier to convert office buildings into housing. Ordinance 2024-00705, authored by Council Members Michael Rainville and Katie Cashman, aims to create more housing while stimulating the economy and increasing foot traffic in the city’s commercial districts. The ordinance is designed to expedite the approval process for conversion projects and reduce the administrative demand on builders.
“Downtown Minneapolis is experiencing a nation-leading resurgence, but it's clear that the way people work has changed since the pandemic,” said Mayor Frey. “This ordinance reflects our adaptability as a City. By converting underused office space into homes, we’re addressing the growing demand for housing while ensuring our downtown remains vibrant. This is about smart growth—we’re bringing more residents to our city’s downtown core, which will in turn support our local businesses, events, and the overall economy.”
 Last week, Mayor Frey joined Minneapolis Police Department leadership to welcome a class of 23 new officers at a swearing-in ceremony at the Minneapolis American Indian Center. The new officers include 11 new recruits and 12 laterals—officers who transferred to the MPD from other departments. This new class includes the first Somali American woman to join the department and the first permanent resident.
The ceremony was just one more indication that new recruitment efforts—including a recruitment campaign, a new police contract, and a reinvigorated boots-on-the-ground approach—are paying off. Applications are up by more than 45% since last year, and for the first time in many years, the department is on track to end the year with more officers than it started with.
“It’s moving. It’s emotional. I mean, I talked about the hope in the room. From a personal standpoint as mayor of the city, it gives me a lot of hope. Our police department is looking more and more like the communities that we are charged with protecting and serving,” Mayor Frey said.
 Mayor Frey recently joined leaders from the City, Hennepin County, and Minneapolis Public Schools to celebrate another year of Stable Homes Stable Schools, a program that provides housing or housing stability assistance to Minneapolis families and students experiencing homelessness. The program, which is a collaboration between the City, the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority, Hennepin County, Minneapolis Public Schools, the YMCA of the North, and the Pohlad Family Foundation, has supported more than 1,800 Minneapolis families representing 5,300 students.
“Stable Homes Stable Schools has been a game changer. It’s about more than just providing affordable housing – it's about giving families and students the stability they need to succeed,” said Mayor Jacob Frey. “In just five years, this program has helped over 5,300 students in Minneapolis, creating stronger, more resilient communities. Students can focus on their education, not worrying about where they’ll sleep at night. We’re not just investing in housing – we're investing in the future of our kids and the future of Minneapolis.”
Today, Mayor Frey joined the City's Department of Arts & Cultural Affairs to announce the inaugural recipients of the 2024 Cultural Districts Arts Fund. In its first year, the fund will grant 65 awards totaling $690,000 across the city’s seven cultural districts. This initiative is designed to empower local artists, creative entrepreneurs, community place makers, and cultural organizations by providing critical financial support.
“The Cultural Districts Arts Fund is a bold investment in the heart of Minneapolis – our communities and their stories,” said Mayor Jacob Frey. “Through this initiative, we’re not just funding art, we’re empowering creativity, amplifying local voices, diversifying neighborhoods, and beautifying our city. Thank you to our incredible Arts and Cultural Affairs Department for their dedication and for championing the arts in Minneapolis.”
Several arts projects are supported by this fund, including:
- The appointment of one arts ambassador per Cultural District for a 12-month period
- Funding for new and existing festivals and cultural venues/spaces
- Supporting pop-up projects and creative activations
 The final Open Streets event of the season descended onto Nicollet Ave. on Saturday -- and it was a special one! In addition to a plethora of delicious food, local vendors, family-friendly activities, and live music, the Brewery Running Series hosted a 5k beer run down Nicollet and a root beer dash for kids. Hundreds of people showed up to partake in the event, which was the third and final Open Streets of the year.
“Open Streets is Minneapolis at its best,” said Mayor Frey. “These events bring together thousands of people to celebrate our great city—and the businesses, parks, and people who all make Minneapolis so unique.”
 Minneapolis has Lynx fever! Our WNBA franchise—one of the winningest teams in all professional sports—advanced to the second round of the playoffs last week after beating the Phoenix Mercury twice. To show support, the City’s Public Works department—with a little help from Mayor Frey—painted “Go Lynx!” on 1st Ave. outside the Target Center and updated the street signs to include the Lynx logo.
The Lynx are now competing against the Connecticut Sun, with Game 2 of the semifinal series taking place tonight.
“The visibility is something beautiful because the Lynx are truly this unifying force,” said Mayor Frey. “You’ve got so many people that are rallying around a tremendous team that just doesn’t do amazing work on the court, they are so unbelievably involved in our communities… They’re role models, they’re heroes, they’re leaders.”
Bond rating agencies S&P Global and Fitch Ratings have assigned the highest credit rating possible to the City of Minneapolis for the second year in a row. The AAA rating to the $123.59 general obligation bonds indicates strong economic growth and revenue recovery for the City.
Bonds are expected to sell October 1. The AAA rating affirms the City’s creditworthiness and provides confidence to the bond holders. This also allows the City to borrow funds to finance critical capital projects at a lower interest rate and save taxpayer dollars.
“This AAA credit rating reflects the strength and resilience of Minneapolis -- and is a testament to our City’s dedicated finance team and commitment to smart fiscal management,” said Mayor Frey. “This rating enables our City to fund vital projects, save taxpayer dollars and ensure Minneapolis remains a thriving economic center. Thank you to Chief Financial Officer Dushani Dye and her entire team for their continued work and leadership.”
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