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.

Last November, we announced the return of our third-annual Lake Street Loyalty Challenge ahead of the holiday shopping season. This popular program rewards people for supporting small businesses on Lake Street by giving them a $15 gift card to a local business along the corridor after they spend at least $15 on Lake Street.

See how your input has shaped plans for development at the New Nicollet site. Join the City of Minneapolis for an open house and learn about next steps for this transformational project.  

The Neighborhood Development Center (NDC) is happy to invite business owners to Mindset Reset, the Mindful Business Owners Collective small group program, which focuses on exploring an individual's mindset and wellness practices to navigate troublesome experiences in and out of business.

Boost your commercial property's energy efficiency with funding from the city. Minneapolis offers a green cost-share program that can significantly reduce your sustainability upgrade costs.

The IP Clinic provides members of the local community an opportunity to obtain legal assistance in matters involving intellectual property, such as copyrightable works, trademarks, patents, and confidentiality obligations.

Drafty windows and doors drive up heating costs and make indoor spaces less comfortable. With a spare hour and tools from your favorite hardware store, you can tackle these leaks!

The City of Minneapolis heard community input on plans for the new South Minneapolis Community Safety Center and Lake Street Safety Center.  Now, they are coming back to share what they heard and what they did with your input. You can attend an upcoming community safety update session to get updates.