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This grant program will address economic development and redevelopment needs that have arisen in the East Metro since March 15, 2020.

New Applications No Longer Being Accepted

The Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation has been selected as one of the partner organizations for the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Main Street Economic Revitalization Program.

Our East Metro Main Street Economic Revitalization Program will distribute up to $7 million in grants to businesses and nonprofit organizations for capital projects in the Snelling-University-Rice Cultural District, the East Side community and along West Seventh Street. See map below.

Grants will support economic recovery from the impacts of civil unrest, the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenges to these commercial corridors since March 15, 2020.

As of March 22, 2023, we are no longer accepting new grant applications for the program.

May 17 Progress Update

The East Metro Main Street Economic Revitalization Program has reached an exciting milestone! As of May 15, a total of $7 million in state funding has been awarded to projects in the Snelling-University-Rice Cultural District, the East Side community and along West Seventh Street.

  • 80 applications received from Saint Paul businesses and organizations

  • 6 Review Committee meetings convened to make award decisions

  • 42 grants awarded, totaling $7 million — the full slate of awardees will be reported in June as the program wraps up

  • $3.7 million in grants awarded to nonprofits and $3.3 million to businesses, with $2.1 million allocated to small businesses and organizations

  • $3.3 million additionally raised to help applicants meet program matching fund requirements and complete projects

Eligible Projects

Grant funds will be used to support economic recovery projects led by nonprofits and businesses along three commercial corridors in Saint Paul (see map below) that respond to COVID-19 impacts, major closures and/or vacancies, or widespread property damage due to civil unrest following the murder of George Floyd.

Priority will be given to projects led by and serving Black, Indigenous, Asian, Latino, new Americans, immigrants, refugees, people with disabilities, LGBTQI communities, veterans, low-income communities or other communities that have been historically under- and dis-invested in by traditional funding. This is defined as at least 50% of the ownership or staff and board leadership identifying as a person affiliated with the community the project, business or organization is working to serve.

Eligible projects include the development, redevelopment, demolition, site preparation, predesign, design, engineering, repair or renovation of real property or capital improvements. The activities may include but are not limited to: construction of buildings, infrastructure and related site amenities, landscaping or street-scaping.

Eligible projects do not include the purchase of real estate or business operations or business operating expenses, such as inventory, wages or working capital.

Geography

East Metro Main Street Program Map

The following corridors were identified as places along which businesses and organizations have experienced significant amounts of widespread damage, major closures/vacancies and other negative impacts of COVID-19 and civil unrest.

Businesses and organizations must be located on the following corridors to be eligible for grants. Businesses on a corner lot at the terminal intersection of any corridor route may also apply.

If there is an opportunity for additional funding beyond these corridors in the future, we will share a community update. Sign up below to get more info.

Snelling-University-Rice Cultural District
  • Snelling Avenue: Portland Avenue to Englewood Avenue
  • University Avenue: Prior Avenue to Rice Street
  • Rice Street: University Avenue to Larpenteur Avenue
East Side Community
  • East 7th Street: Olive Street to Arcade Street
  • Payne Avenue: East 7th Street to Maryland Avenue
  • Arcade Street: East 7th Street to Maryland Avenue
  • White Bear Avenue: Suburban Avenue to Larpenteur Avenue
  • I-94 (Suburban Ave/Old Hudson Rd.): White Bear Avenue to McKnight Road
West 7th Street
  • West 7th Street: Kellogg Boulevard to 35E

Grant Amounts & Matching Funds Requirements

Grants of up to $750,000 may be awarded to eligible recipients for eligible projects. These are leveraged grants, which means that they require matching funds.

As a partner organization, the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation is committed to helping raise matching funds, to be used in conjunction with other local funding sources and financial resources secured by applicants themselves.

Here are the DEED Main Street Revitalization Program requirements for grant sizes and matching funds:

  • Leveraged grants from the Main Street program can cover up to 30% of an eligible project cost (up to $750,000 in state grant funds).
  • Grants must be matched with non-state funds at 200% of the state's portion of the grant. For example, if you request a Main Street grant of $500,000, you must show commitments of $1 million in matching funds.
  • An eligible project must have secured commitments for all required matching funds and all required development approvals before a leveraged grant may be distributed.
  • Matching funds may include, but are not limited to, cash, private loans, insurance proceeds, local (non state or federal) government funds, etc. Funds contributed by Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation or other East Metro Main Street Revitalization partners also count.
  • No funds expended prior to July 1, 2021, can count toward matching requirements.
  • Up to 50% of funds spent prior to receiving a Main Street grant (and on or after July 1, 2021) can count toward matching funds raised if these funds were spent in compliance with the above matching requirements.
  • Matching funds cannot include state or federal funds.
  • Matching funds sourced from other assets and sources must be restricted for use exclusively through this program.
  • Matching funds must be used for the same type of purpose as the grant purpose, i.e. the development, redevelopment, demolition, site preparation, predesign, design, engineering, repair, or renovation of real property or capital improvements. Funds expended for the purchase of real estate or business operations or business operating expenses, such as inventory, wages or working capital, or other expenses outside of eligible program expenses, will not count as matching funds.
  • Per 2020 Minnesota Statutes 116J.871, all grantees receiving $200,000 or more in grant funds must comply with prevailing wage requirements under Minnesota Statutes 177.41 through 177.44. View more information on prevailing wage requirements.

See our FAQs for more information about matching funds. Technical assistance will be provided to all applicants and will include in-depth discussion of matching fund requirements and sources.

Timeline & Decision-making

  • As of March 22, 2023, new applications are no longer being accepted.
  • If the program is extended or additional funding is secured, we will send a program update. Please sign up for email updates using the form below.
  • Grant decisions will be made by a Review Committee comprised of City of Saint Paul champions with economic development expertise.
  • Matching funds must be secured before grant decisions are made. All applicants will work with their assigned technical assistance partner to review existing matching fund sources and identify potential sources to fill any gaps.
  • An eligible project must have secured commitments for all required matching funds and all required development approvals before grant funds may be distributed.
  • All awarded projects must be completed by December 2026.

Technical Assistance

We are proud to be working with the following technical assistance partners:

Technical assistance partners will work with eligible applicants throughout the full application and review process. These partners will continue to help grant recipients with program compliance, securing grant payments and any final reporting.

Contact Us

Email Us

If you need additional information in a language other than English, call us at 651.325.4202, and we will connect with you through an interpreter.

Thanks to Our Partners

Thank you to the many community partners, including the City of Saint Paul, who helped us develop this application process. Thank you also to Collectivity and our technical assistance partners.

Stay Updated

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