The City of Saint Paul has once again infused the local economy with more than a bit of pep, allocating over $3.7 million in grants to numerous local businesses and cultural enterprises, a move declared by the city’s Sales Tax Revitalization (STAR) program, funds dispersed across 59 capital improvement projects and no fewer than 68 arts and cultural endeavors, each a thread in the fabric of the city’s diverse economic and creative tapestry.
Neighborhood and Cultural STAR grants are a nod to Saint Paul’s commitment to promoting its own, with over $2.6 million dedicated to physical capital and $1.1 million buoying the arts sector according to a press release, these are clear indicators of an administration prioritizing metropolitan stability and vibrancy, “Saint Paul thrives as a result of our local businesses, artists, and neighborhoods,”
Mayor Melvin Carter’s
enthusiasm was palpable as he extolled the virtues of the STAR program, a view echoed by Council President Mitra Jalali who touted the accessibility and equity strides made this year.
Support recipients ranged from The Mali Center, a haven for BIPOC and women-owned small businesses, to Catzen Coffee with Vanessa Beardsley, owner and founder, telling the
Saint Paul Small Business Newsletter
, “Without the STAR grant, we would not be able to finish the patio area necessary for our vision,” detailing plans for a new community third space, this and other successes showcase the influence of concerted public financial support on individual enterprise vitality. More than a quarter-century long endeavor, the Neighborhood STAR initiative has fueled no less than 1,220 projects with a domino effect into private investment north of $1.4 billion, while its Cultural counterpart held the helm for $43.7 million invested in more than 1,500 artsy missions.
Meanwhile, Saint Paul plays gracious host to the approaching Saint Paulidays campaign, inviting businesses across the city to partake and dress their services in the campaign’s festive colors, with Visit Saint Paul laying out the welcome mat replete with assets for the collective effort from graphics to pre-drafted social media posts and of course, the unmistakable hashtag #SaintPaulidays.
As the small business community preps for Small Business Saturday on November 30, another cohort lies in wait, the Saint Small, a band of local entrepreneurs dedicated to amplifying Saint Paul’s retail chorus, welding together network, footfall, and commerce through collective action. The run-up to the end of the year is brimming with activities, the MN Christmas Market and Grand Meander are but two of the myriad festive focal points, with markets sprouting across the city like holiday mushrooms, each a beacon of local creation and enterprise that continues to burnish Saint Paul’s reputation for fostering a dynamic small business climate.
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