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Building tomorrow

A spotlight on the county’s commitment to inclusive, sustainable development

“Vibrant, sustainable communities where all people and businesses prosper.”

That’s the vision of Hennepin County’s Economic Development team. The Community Investment portfolio oversees strategic investments across the continuum of development and city building in an effort to support Hennepin County partners advance more resilient places and to expand opportunities for all who call Hennepin County home.

The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners, acting as the Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA), has approved several funding agreements that support cities, small business owners and emerging developers in advancing community development visions. 

Through the Business District Initiative and Hennepin Planning Grants, the county provides resources to cities that are actively investing in the success and growth of their local business communities, and implementing land use and redevelopment plans that promote sustainable growth and climate resiliency. 

These programs will support the economic vitality of the downtown Hopkins business district and its estimated 90 businesses and community-supported visions in Brooklyn Park, Champlin and Rogers. The county awards will leverage approximately $105,000 in matching investments. 

Business District Initiative and Hennepin Planning Grants will support the following projects and development plans: 

  • A City of Hopkins marketing project promoting small businesses owned by women and people of color in its historic downtown.

  • The City of Brooklyn Park’s Brooklyn Boulevard Planning project – a long-term use plan for an area that will be home to a future METRO Blue Line LRT station. 

  • The City of Champlin’s Mississippi Crossings South Area Plan, a plan for mixed-use development that promotes safer areas for walking and biking and attracts new businesses.

  • The City of Rogers Main Street Master Plan, an effort to create a “heart of the city” in their Main Street corridor with more housing options and redevelopment options that preserve the historic character of the city’s downtown. 

The county is also providing support to emerging developers with the Transit Oriented Communities (TOC) Predevelopment Assistance program. The board has approved $200,000 in funding for consultants to provide technical assistance for five to eight emerging developers. 

Eligible developers must be locally based, actively pursuing transit-oriented development projects in Hennepin County, have completed fewer than three prior development projects and seeking support for predevelopment activities not yet funded by other sources. 

Since the program launched in 2022, 15 emerging developers have benefitted from technical assistance. When completed, these transit-oriented development projects are expected to provide 400 housing units and 90,000 square feet of commercial office space supporting over 60 businesses. 

More than 90% of the emerging developers have identified as Black, Indigenous, Asian, Latinx or multiracial, and 80% of the development projects are in Focus Communities, areas in the county where residents face the most stresses to health and wellbeing. 

The county board has also authorized $100,000 for a new Commercial Ownership Assistance program that will provide technical assistance to small business owners who aspire to purchase a commercial space for their own use. This program is designed to promote inclusive economic growth. 

“We know that ownership of commercial property can lead to greater certainty and viability for Hennepin County small businesses – even in areas where market values may be increasing,” said Hennepin County Community Investment Manager Ryan Kelley. “Commercial property ownership can also be a strategy for building generational wealth, contributing to Hennepin County disparity reduction efforts.”