The document summarizes the City of Saint Paul's efforts to support businesses during construction of the Central Corridor Light Rail Transit line. Key initiatives included a small business mitigation loan program that provided $4 million in loans to 209 businesses. The program helped businesses address issues from construction and 64% of loan recipients were businesses owned by people of color. The document highlights success stories from several loan recipients.

1. MIND OUR DUST!
Supporting Businesses During
Construction
Ellen Muller, Economic Development Manager
City of Saint Paul
Department of Planning and Economic Development
Rail~Volution September 22, 2014

2. City of Saint Paul’s
Activities Around the LRT
 Central Corridor (CC) Development Strategy & Station Area
Planning
 Final Design & Construction Coordination with CC/ Green Line
Project Office
 Public Systems Operational Issues – Permit Parking, Street
Maintenance, Alley Policies
 CC Zoning Study follow-up
 CC Brownfields Assessment Grant
 CC Storm water Master Plan
 CC Design Center (TOD Guidebook)
 Parking Management/Mitigation
 CC Ready4Rail Small Business Mitigation Loan Program
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3. 3
Let’s Follow this Money……
Parking Management/Mitigation
CC Ready4Rail Small Business
Mitigation Loan Program

4. Neighborhood Commercial Parking Pilot Program
$2.1 Million
24 parking improvement projects
Represent more than 40 businesses and will improve more than 500 parking
spaces
Alley Improvements $350,000
Widening, reconstruction and repaving of 16 alleys
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5. Residential Buffering $100,000
Vietnam Center Project
 Concentrated in one area to be most impactful and will be used to
bury utilities in the alley behind a block long, transit-oriented
development
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6. Help for businesses taking right steps to prepare
Up to $2 million in annual gross sales
Located on the LRT line or within 1 block of construction
Can show construction had significant business impact
In current location at least 1 year
Completed Ready for Rail Training
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Small Business Mitigation Loan
Program

7. Ability to apply 60 days or more after construction start
Application process through the two loan administrators selected
0% forgivable loan up to $20,000
Additional $10,000 for high impact areas under direct
construction for 2+ years
5 year term with 1 year deferral
20% forgiven each year as long at business remains open on
the corridor
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8.  $ 500,000 from the Central Corridor Funders Collaborative
 $2.5 Million from the Metropolitan Council (non FTA funds)
 Additional $1 Million of “swapped” funds from the City of
Saint Paul’s “Streetscapes Improvement Allocation”
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Sources for the Loan Program

9. R4R Loan Program Management
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 Developed Detailed Program & Guidelines
 Established JPA to Administer the Loan Program and Funds
 Established JPA for Saint Paul to Run the Program on Behalf of
Both Cities
 Released RFP to CDC Community
 Created One-Page Applicant Summary for LA to Submit to City
of Saint Paul for Review & Approval
 City Loan Committee Review Expedited by Electronic Review &
Majority Consensus

10. 10
 Diligent to Ensure Only Eligible Business Applied
 City Notified LA with Decision on Applicant Summary & Provided
Letter for the Applicant Indicating Decision
 LA Created Loan Docs & Managed “Dry” Loan Closing
 Signed Docs Routed to City for Signatures
 City Wired Funds to LA
 Loan Administrators Prepared Check for Mail or Pick up by
Applicants
 Turn-A-Round from Time Applicant Summary to Check in Hand: 2-3
weeks
 Loan Administrators Responsible for Annual Certificate of
Occupancy for Annual Loan Forgiveness Process

11. Prepare, Survive & Thrive
Business Resources Collaborative
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12. Business Resources Collaborative
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• Midway Chamber of
Commerce
• Minneapolis Regional
Chamber of Commerce
• Saint Paul Area Chamber of
Commerce
• Southeast Business
Association
• Stadium Village Commercial
Association
• University Avenue Business
Association
• West Bank Business
Association
• African Development
Center
• Asian Economic
Development Association
• Metropolitan Consortium of
Community Developers
• Neighborhood
Development Center
• University Avenue Business
Preparation
• Collaborative (U-7)
•City of St. Paul
•City of Minneapolis
•Metropolitan Council
Business Government Community

13. BUSINESS SUPPORT
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14. MARKETING
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15. Ready for Rail Action Pack
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Ready for Rail Checklist
 Construction
Communication Brochure
 Construction Timelines
 Small Business Support
Services
 Small Business Loan
Program Information
 Key Contacts Card

16. 16
Businesses Served
by the Loan Program
Loan Pool $4,000,000
Minneapolis Allocation $ 900,000
Saint Paul Allocation $3,100,000
Allocated To Date $3,943,673
Remaining $56,327
Applications in Cue (2)
Served 209 Businesses

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Opened/Closed 134 Opened
90 Closed
25 Moved Within Corridor
31 Moved Off of the Corridor
13 Net Gain
 64% of Business Owned by people of color
 32% of the Businesses Owned by Women, with almost ¾ of these
being women of color
 17.5% reported pre-construction monthly sales of less than $5,000
 Average Loan Amount $17,948
Businesses Served
by the Loan Program

18. 18
ERICA STRAIT, FOXY FALAFEL • 791 RAYMOND AVE
SHEGITU KEBEDE, FLAMINGO RESTAURANT • 490 SYNDICATE ST N

19. 10/9/2014 19
EDNA & TONY, TRUNG NAM FRENCH BAKERY • 739 UNIVERSITY AVE W
MAELENE RHODES, EARTH'S BEAUTY SUPPLY • 608 UNIVERSITY AVE W

20. 20
MARYNA VONG, THE NAIL SHOP • 315 UNIVERSITY AVE W - Western Station

21. 21
JIANG & IRENE YEH, UNIVERSITY BUFFET • 225 UNIVERSITY AVE WEST
SARA REMKE, BLACK DOG COFFEE & WINE BAR • 308 PRINCE ST

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Contact Information:
Ellen Muller
Economic Development Manager
City of Saint Paul
Department of Planning and
Economic Development
ellen.muller@ci.stpaul.mn.us
651-266-6605