Building on our legacy of innovation

Supporting human-centered, walkable, complete communities:

• We awarded $3.995 million to eight transit-oriented development projects with seven of these projects in Focus Communities, areas most vulnerable to public health threats, impacts of climate change, and changing economic conditions. These projects will provide more than 1,260 housing units, including more than 520 affordable housing units; create over 118,000 square feet of commercial space, including more than 65 affordable commercial spaces; support more than 550 new or retained jobs; and leverage $247.5 million in total investment value in transit-oriented communities.
• We supported four more emerging developers through our transit-oriented development predevelopment assistance program, expanding the local field of developers in Hennepin County.
• Through our Hennepin Planning Grants program we supported the City of Golden Valley's User Experience Framework to guide potential future redevelopment of its downtown and the City of Excelsior with their South Water Street Small Area Plan to guide anticipated redevelopment, helping to shape land use development in a combined 230 acres.
• The Shady Oak Station area update was just awarded funding to support the cities of Hopkins and Minnetonka update the prior plan, completed over seven years ago, looking at new market trends and land use potential in this area. We also wrapped up Infrastructure prioritization planning for the Downtown Robbinsdale and Bass Lake Road station in Crystal, along the Blue Line Extension – wrapping up work to support their future vision.
• Four pilot projects were carried out through our Active Living program championing healthy, livable, and human-centered communities where people can walk, bike, and take transit to everyday destinations.

Investing in vibrant business districts:

• The City of Richfield will begin their Branding and Placemaking effort to strengthen the identity of their Downtown Business District and we’ve further supported Bloomington’s facade improvement program in eight key commercial nodes throughout the city.

As our groundbreaking Community Investment Initiative came to a close, the final projects awarded funding broke ground and are under construction. This program, made possible with pandemic recovery funding, invested in community driven projects supporting small businesses and neighborhood economic resiliency. Our Transit Oriented Communities program sparked these efforts, and we’re excited to continue investing in community-driven solutions working with our partners to create resilient places in 2025.