You can still play an important role in ensuring state leaders prioritize rolling back the damage caused by ICE and Border Patrol agents. Federal agents targeted immigrant communities and businesses, using illegal intimidation tactics and causing over $600 million in economic losses statewide. 

The Lake Street Council, working closely with our community partners MCCD and the MN CDFI Coalition, continues to press the case for emergency small business relief funding at the Capitol in St. Paul. Several bills have been introduced at the state legislature that would allocate funds to help business owners offset revenue losses related to recent federal immigration enforcement.

Our business community is still recovering from the economic impacts of the recent federal ICE operations in Minneapolis. Operation Metro Surge caused significant losses in revenue, disrupted the lives of workers, students, and families, and traumatized communities of color and cultural corridors. But Lake Street rises again! Efforts are underway to encourage state leaders to allocate funds to help our small businesses recover. You can be a part of this campaign.

The Minneapolis City Council will be considering a proposal to allocate $5 million for emergency business relief. An initiative like this could help restore our cultural districts and save our stores, restaurants and cultural malls. We are asking city officials to please stand with small businesses and our immigrant communities!

The Minneapolis City Council is in the process of passing a new budget for 2026. Each year, the mayor and city leaders decide how to support various city departments and program areas. We need your voice to secure funding and activate our commercial corridors!