Sponsor: Community & Economic Development
Title
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Fall 2026 Obligation of Housing and Redevelopment Authority Levy Toward Critical Corridors
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Recommendation
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1. Approve recommended projects and funding amounts totaling $478,988 for Critical Corridors projects.
2. Authorize the County Manager to enter into the necessary expenditure grant, loan or other agreements and execute amendments to these agreements in a manner consistent with federal, state and local regulations and requirements, in a form approved by the County Attorney’s Office.
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Background and Rationale
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Ramsey County has a need for place-based investments that support identified goals around affordable housing, economic development and community reinvestment. Ramsey County’s Economic Competitiveness and Inclusion (ECI) Plan prioritizes investments in place-based inclusion as necessary to create resilient and equitable communities. Countywide, there is a need for tens of thousands of new units of affordable housing, and hundreds more minority business enterprises are needed to match the US business ownership rate. Cities and communities are also looking for support to enact policies and plans that drive equitable development tailored to their community.
These place-based investments also advance the Ramsey County Strategic Plan priority of Intergenerational Wealth & Economic Justice by creating opportunities for residents and businesses from historically excluded communities to participate fully in the local economy, helping to close racial and ethnic wealth gaps and build long-term financial stability and wealth across generations.
The Critical Corridors programs were created in 2022 to enact three key strategies from the Economic Competitiveness & Inclusion Plan that address these needs: (1) fostering inclusive economic development- including affordable housing- within county transit, economic and cultural corridors; (2) developing pathways to entrepreneurship and business ownership in racially and ethnically diverse communities; and (3) supporting communities in equitable site development.
To obligate Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) levy funds, Community & Economic Development (CED) staff opened the Planning and the Commercial Corridor Initiative (CCI) Critical Corridors solicitations on July 27, 2026. These annual solicitations closed on August 24, 2026. The solicitations were publicized on the Ramsey County website, in the CED newsletter, on social media and through direct outreach to partner organizations and cities. An informational webinar open to the public was held by CED staff on July 22, 2026. At the close of the solicitations, nine Planning applications and eight CCI applications were eligible and reviewed by interdepartmental evaluation teams.
Staff recommend that the HRA obligate $478,988 of the 2026 HRA levy to further strategies in the ECI Plan related to redevelopment activities through the Critical Corridors programs.
The following projects are recommended for HRA levy funding through the 2026 Critical Corridors Solicitations. Additional information on each project and geographic distribution of funds can be found in the attachment, Critical Corridors Funding Recommendations 2026.
Planning
Rondo Heritage Capitol Site, Rondo Community Land Trust $50,000
Creative Corridor Transition Framework, Creative Enterprise Zone $50,000
Downtown Saint Paul Skyway Infrastructure and Housing Initiative, $49,988
University of Minnesota and Friends of the Skyway
Commercial Corridor Initiative
Connecting Little Canada Through Wayfinding, City of Little Canada $50,000
County Road E Branding and Implementation, Cities of White Bear Lake, $50,000
Vadnais Heights, and Gem Lake
Downtown White Bear Lake Public Realm Improvements, City of White $50,000
Bear Lake
Downtown Pedestrian Wayfinding Plan, St. Paul Downtown Alliance $50,000
Fifth Street Public Realm Design Plan, Saint Paul Downtown Development $50,000
Corporation
Skyway Wayfinding Framework and Public Realm Concept Plan, Public Art $29,000
Saint Paul
Downtown Commercial Corridor Incubator and Economic Vitality Hub, $50,000
CapitolRiver Council
Total Critical Corridors 2026 Recommendations $478,988
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County Goals (Check those advanced by Action)
☒ Well-being ☐ Prosperity ☒ Opportunity ☐ Accountability
Racial Equity Impact
Critical Corridors HRA levy funds are invested in projects that aim to reduce racial disparities related to redevelopment and small business district growth, in alignment with strategies from the ECI Plan. These strategies include promoting development activity in disinvested areas without displacing current residents and strengthening suburban small business districts by investing in pathways to entrepreneurship for racially and ethnically diverse communities. Recommended projects in both Saint Paul and the suburbs represent significant place-based investments in historically Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) and immigrant neighborhoods with intentional community engagement conducted by cities, community-based organizations and nonprofits.
Community Participation Level and Impact
CED implemented a robust community engagement process in the creation of the Economic Competitiveness & Inclusion Plan and the approval of the HRA levy. This included engagement with residents, businesses, community organizations, other governmental agencies, elected officials and local municipalities. Community was informed about the competitive solicitations, one step towards the implementation of the community-driven Economic Competitiveness & Inclusion Plan.
☒ Inform ☐ Consult ☐ Involve ☐ Collaborate ☐ Empower
Fiscal Impact
In 2026, ten projects are recommended for HRA levy awards totaling $478,988. The awards will be funded with unobligated 2026 HRA levy funds. Remaining HRA levy funds (approximately $120,000) previously designated for the 2026 Critical Corridors program will support recommended projects from the 2026 Housing Development Solicitation and Emerging and Diverse Developers program.
Last Previous Action
On May 20, 2025, the Ramsey County Housing and Redevelopment Authority approved the Spring 2025 Critical Corridors Planning and Commercial Corridor Initiative program obligations of $300,000 (Resolution H2025-010).
Attachments
1. Critical Corridors Funding Recommendations 2026