Economic Development

It’s time for us to play a more active role in commercial real estate, small business development, and data-driven economic communications. The MDC/DID wants to be your key partner at this critical time in downtown’s economic story. Let us know how we can help.

Our 2035 Plan: Downtown by Design sets out ambitious economic development initiatives:

Establish and track the critical metrics of a more equitable downtown.

Convert 3 million square feet from commercial to residential.

Cultivate neighborhood-level retail throughout downtown.

Transition the Chameleon program to support permanent women- and BIPOC-owned businesses downtown.

Address storefront vacancies with pop-up seasonal experiences and new retail establishments.

The Vibrant Storefront Work Group identified strategies for addressing downtown vacancy and recovery. Significant funding for our economic efforts stem from this initiative and our invaluable partnership with the City of Minneapolis.

Adaptive Reuse is a critical component to rebalancing the commercial office market. We are convening our partners engaged in these efforts on a quarterly basis to coordinate and shape implementation, while we actively support policy and zoning changes, such as the Office to Residential Conversions Amendment  and the proposed Conversion of Underutilized Buildings (CUB)  tax credit.

Our retail strength downtown is neighborhood specific. Great retail exists, but not in every area of downtown. With support from the City of Minneapolis we are setting out to better understand and uplift downtown’s neighborhood retail submarkets in order to address their unique needs and help them recruit and retain successful retail. Watch for our Retail Node Analysis and Strategy Request for Proposals coming soon.

We are also popping up some quick wins. Watch for pop-up events, temporary installations that will attract and inspire people who live, work, and play downtown.

Storefront activation highlights include:

Go Downtown!

Check out three lively and fun-filled “big nights out” shared by token downtown enthusiasts in City Center’s Nicollet window from late-January through mid-March 2025.

Winter Village at MMVC

Walk through a cobblestone street as you view Department 56’s Dickens Village. Installation by Kada Goalen, on display Nov 2024 to Jan 2025.

Roller skating @ Holidazzle

Enjoy five evenings of free family fun with Twin Cities Skaters, including free skate rentals, December 17-22, 2025.

Holidays on Nicollet

Take in the magic of downtown by visiting and shopping over 90 businesses at IDS Center and Dayton YMCA in November and December, 2025.

MinneGolf @ Dayton’s

Stay and play at our Minneapolis-themed nine-hole mini golf course over lunch from July to Sept 2024 at the Dayton’s Project (Tu-Th).

Pride 365

Embrace Twin Cities Pride’ 2024 festival theme at an exhibition of LGBTQIA+ artists’ work displayed at the IDS Center June-Oct 2024.

Economic Development

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