You are invited to the 2025 Buy Local Forum hosted by Allina Health,  Hennepin Healthcare System (HHS), North Memorial Health, and Vizient Community Contracting on September 4, 2025.

Save the Boards (STB) founder Kenda Zellner-Smith and the STB Vision Council will host “From Uprising to Uplifting: A Juneteenth Conversation” on June 17, from 5:30 - 6:45 pm at All Square, located at 4047 Minnehaha Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55406.

LISC Twin Cities launched the Emerging Developers Fund Loan Program on April 21, 2025. The program anticipates awarding approximately $2,775,000 in loans to local emerging developers for predevelopment expenses.

One of the many programming resources made possible through the Lake Street Lift initiative is a workshop series! We’re excited to offer a lineup of free educational workshops aimed at supporting small businesses, entrepreneurs, and nonprofits along Lake Street. Led by vetted experts, this programming offers comprehensive advising services in areas that will take your business or nonprofit to the next level. 

Minnesota is phasing out fluorescent lighting to boost energy efficiency and cut environmental risks. Sales of screw- and bayonet-base compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) are already prohibited (effective January 1, 2025), with pin-base CFLs and linear fluorescent tubes to follow on January 1, 2026.

We're excited to share that after partnering with Uptown-based agency MONO, the Lake Street Council and Lake Street Lift officially launched our new "Lake of 10,000 Lands" advertising campaign last month.  In the Land of 10,000 Lakes, Lake Street stands as our Lake of 10,000 Lands.

We are halfway through our new Lake Street Lift initiative! In addition to celebrating the many diverse people and places that call Lake Street home through fun, community-building events, Lake Street Lift also connects local businesses, nonprofits, creatives and entrepreneurs with project-based support and resources.

Proven programs like the Small Business Assistance Partnerships provide strong and sustained returns on investment and create jobs. It's one of the most critical tools that the Lake Street Council has used to help our corridor recover and thrive over the last few years. We can not afford to see funding reductions to this crucial program.

Every great brand or mission begins with a compelling story. Whether you're a business owner looking to connect with customers or a nonprofit leader seeking to inspire action, storytelling is your most powerful tool.

To help you harness that power, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Twin Cities created two practical, easy-to-use worksheets:

The 2025 Arts & Culture Vibrant Storefronts program offers a two-year opportunity for awardees to strengthen their business models while engaging the public through their art. By subsidizing up to $50,000 a year, for two years in rent in previously vacant storefronts, the initiative breathes new life into these spaces. 

Great news for our community! Seven Lake Street area businesses are now part of MNimize, Waste Wise and Hennepin County's awesome program helping food-service businesses reduce single-use plastics.

Our new Lake Street Lift initiative has been busy boosting Lake Street businesses, arts, and places with exciting new events, activations, and business resource opportunities – all to support the economic health and vitality of the corridor. One key element to cultivating a more vibrant and thriving Lake Street is ensuring the safety of everyone who lives, works, and visits the community.

Hennepin County is offering $400,000 in grants to help businesses and nonprofits reduce waste and cut costs through reuse, repair, food waste prevention, and replacing disposables with reusable.

As we settle into 2025 and plan for the year ahead, there’s a lot to be excited about on Lake Street! One of the things we can’t wait to see fully bloom is our new Lake Street Lift initiative, made possible through our partnership with the Graves Foundation and fueled by $8 million in state funding from the City of Minneapolis – all to support the economic health and vitality of our beloved Lake Street community.

The City of Minneapolis works to connect neighbors and residents with services and opportunities so that everyone – including those born outside of the United States – feels a sense of belonging and can achieve their highest potential. This is and will remain The City of Minneapolis’ goal and commitment.