Skip to main content

Investing for vitality

Success stories

Elevate Hennepin helps Balloon Fancy ‘blow up’

Elevate Hennepin advisors help Balloon Fancy founder systematize her business.

Read moreabout Elevate Hennepin helps Balloon Fancy ‘blow up’

Coliseum project highlights power of equitable development

County funding helps bring new life to historic Lake Street building

Read moreabout Coliseum project highlights power of equitable development
people in office

Business Advisory Council

Supporting businesses through COVID-19

Read moreabout Business Advisory Council
downtown traffic at night

Community Asset Transition (CAT) Fund

Supporting community ownership and affordability of property following civil unrest

Read moreabout Community Asset Transition (CAT) Fund
Davis Senseman headshot

Elevate advisor spotlight: Davis Law Office

Meet one of Hennepin County's free business advisors

Read moreabout Elevate advisor spotlight: Davis Law Office
Masked woman hanging a "we're open" sign in the window

Events and resources for small businesses

Find the resources your business needs

Read moreabout Events and resources for small businesses
Target Field sign

Growing into the future

We're preparing for the future in our 2040 comprehensive plan

Read moreabout Growing into the future
KC Kye

Hungry for more

CEO Next satisfies appetite for business growth for K-Mama Sauce

Read moreabout Hungry for more
Exterior of Surly Brewing

Innovation on tap

Early support of Surly Brewing helped create the ultimate Twin Cities Brewery

Read moreabout Innovation on tap
man in front of his marque sign

A life line for entrepreneurs

Open to business program opens doors for Pimento Jamaican Kitchen

Read moreabout A life line for entrepreneurs
dad and son online shopping

Love Local

Supporting business districts through COVID-19

Read moreabout Love Local
Photo of a C Line rapid bus

Moving forward

Partnering to maximize community and economic benefits of Bus Rapid Transit

Read moreabout Moving forward
people enjoying the Midtown Greenway

Path to the Midtown Greenway

Revival of a community asset

Read moreabout Path to the Midtown Greenway
foreman at construction site

Remodeling a home improvement business

CEO Next Business Institute helps build AMEK construction

Read moreabout Remodeling a home improvement business
A barista serves a customer, both wearing medical masks.

Small Business Relief Fund impacts

Outcomes and data on direct emergency financial relief to businesses impacted by COVID-19

Read moreabout Small Business Relief Fund impacts

Driving development near transit

To date, we've invested $39 million in 136 projects contributing to:

building with dollar sign

2.1 million +

square feet of new or retained commercial and office space

dollar bill and change

More than $1 billion

in leveraged funding

icon of house

10,000

new or retained housing units

3 people with different attire

2,800

new or retained jobs

family

Affordable housing

We support a full range of affordable housing options throughout Hennepin County. Since 2010, we've invested $59 million through our HOME and AHIF programs, creating or preserving 6,344 units of affordable housing.

HOME Investment Partnerships

Affordable Housing Incentive Fund

dirt that is being excavated

Environmental cleanup

We've awarded 370 Environmental Response Fund Grants totaling more than $51 million, leveraging $1.7 billion in private investment.

Environmental Response Fund

corridor rendering

Corridor planning

We've invested $1.1 million in projects to support land use planning and redevelopment efforts in commercial corridors and downtowns throughout the county.

Corridor Planning program

Supporting small businesses

Small businesses are the foundation of our resilient economy. They create two out of every three jobs and reflect our growing diversity. Through the Open to Business program, small businesses of all types can access the resources and expertise they need to grow.

icon of small business

2,465

small businesses served

dollar bill and change

$70 million

in direct and facilitated financing

icon for technical support

14,686

hours of technical service

Mapping growth and investment

The Community Development Investments and Property Trends Tool is an interactive mapping application that shows Hennepin County Community and Economic Development program investments and changes in property values over time.

Learn about the tool methodology (DOCX)

Investing in communities

Since 2005, Hennepin County has invested more than $172 million in hundreds of planning and development projects. 75% of these projects have been in low- and moderate-income communities where the average household earns less than 80% of the area median income.

Tracking development near light rail

Compared to Hennepin County as a whole, properties in light rail corridors see more property improvements, higher growth in estimated market value, and greater increase in property taxes paid.

Learn more about development and property trends in light rail corridors (DOCX).

map