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The Minneapolis City Council voted to move forward with a plan to help small businesses impacted by Operation Metro Surge. The $7 million Small Business Resiliency Fund was approved by Mayor Jacob Frey and the City Council last month and outlined by the Community Planning and Economic Development (CPED) department on Tuesday. It will provide license fee relief, support for events and activations in commercial areas, cultural market grants and more, all in an effort to recover from the $81 million in restaurant and small business losses as a result of the federal immigration enforcement earlier this year.

"Operation Metro Surge hit our small businesses hard, and we recognize the very real impact it has had on workers, their families and their futures,” said Mayor Frey. “This $7 million is getting out the door so our businesses can restabilize, rebuild and come back stronger.”

CPED staff designed the fund to get money out to businesses quickly and without too many hurdles. By City estimates, the Surge cost Minneapolis businesses $81 million in lost revenue as many temporarily closed to avoid further impact.

“ICE’s invasion of our city where they murdered, kidnapped, and traumatized our residents will have devastating impacts on our communities for years to come,” said City Council President Elliott Payne, Ward 1. “We know businesses have been struggling, and I’m proud the City Council took this step to try and provide some relief. We recognize this isn’t nearly enough to meet the current need, but the cost of inaction outweighs the financial restraint in this moment.”

Fund is in two categories

The resiliency fund is divided into two categories: direct financial relief, and activation and marketing support, both aimed at stabilizing small businesses and driving customers back to commercial corridors.

Direct financial relief - $4.5 million

1. License fee relief - $4 million

The money will cover the full or partial costs of business license fees for the food and hospitality industries that were among the businesses hit hardest by the Surge.  As part of this, businesses who have already paid their renewal fees will be reimbursed, and fees will be covered for those yet to pay. The $4 million will benefit more than 2,000 businesses across Minneapolis.

2. Cultural market grants - $500,000

Money will be awarded to cultural markets up to $50,000 each to support overall market operations, security, marketing or other needed improvements.

Activation and marketing - $2.5 million

1. Great Streets Business District Support - $350,000

This is an enhancement of the already successful Great Streets program that provides funding to non-profit business support organizations for marketing and other activations in commercial districts.

2. Business Technical Assistance Program - $500,000

The program offers no-cost consulting services to small businesses and entrepreneurs through community-based support organizations. Related to the surge’s impact, this funding will be applied to lease and contract negotiations, marketing and overall business strategy. This brings the total allocation to $1 million for the program.

3. Cultural business weeks - $200,000

Funding enhances the celebrated annual Latino Business Week and Black Business Week with a focus on impacts from the surge.

4. Fee-free events - $600,000

This money is intended to encourage events in commercial areas. Funds can help pay for event permits such as food, amplified sound, or block events.

5. Venue and music activation - $500,000

Funding boosts independent music venues and musicians for hosting events in commercial corridors focused on family, neighborhoods and bold projects.

6. Creative marketing activation - $350,000

Funds will go toward incentivizing content creators around the City to spread the word about artists, businesses and untold stories around the City.

More to come this spring

Additional information and application processes for the venue and music activation, as well as the creative marketing activation, will be available this spring as the City’s Arts and Cultural Affairs department solidifies details with partners.

“Immense harm was done to our community, and this is our opportunity to support its recovery,” said CPED Director Erik Hansen. “Not one person, not one business was immune from the impact of the operation. It is our duty to help and protect our Minneapolis community, and we believe this plan will help support the people and places that keep our city vibrant.”

Read about other impacts to the City due to Operation Metro Surge in the

Minneapolis is proud to announce that Results for America has awarded it Bloomberg Philanthropies “What Works Cities” Silver Certification for establishing exceptional data capabilities to inform policy, allocate funding, improve services, evaluate programs and engage residents. The Certification standard reflects the practices, policies and infrastructure municipalities must have in place to effectively harness data for better decision-making.

“Minneapolis is a city that believes decisions should be driven by data, not guesswork — and this renewed What Works Cities Certification is proof that our team is putting that value into action every day,” said Mayor Jacob Frey. “From improving core city services to making smarter investments in our neighborhoods, our staff is using data to deliver real results for residents. I’m grateful to our partners at What Works Cities and Bloomberg Philanthropies for recognizing that work and to the City employees who make this level of excellence possible.”

Silver certification

The What Works Cities Certification program, launched in 2017, is the international standard of data excellence in city governance. The standard measures a city’s use of data based on 43 criteria. A city that achieves 51–67% of the 43 criteria is recognized at the Silver level of Certification, 68–84% is required to achieve Gold, and 85% or more is required to reach Platinum. The program is open to any city in North, Central, or South America with a population of 30,000 or more.

“The cities recognized by Bloomberg Philanthropies What Works Cities Certification exemplify what is possible when city leaders commit to data-driven governance: real results for residents,” said Rochelle Haynes, Managing Director of Bloomberg Philanthropies What Works Cities. “By pursuing Certification or advancing to a higher level of recognition, cities are demonstrating and strengthening their dedication to using data to drive progress and deliver better outcomes. While Certified cities are investing in their data capacity to solve today’s issues, they are also building sustainable practices that set the stage for a more resilient and innovative future.”

“The Bloomberg Philanthropies What Works Cities Certification is one of the largest-ever philanthropic efforts to improve how local governments use data to improve people’s lives,” said James Anderson, who leads the Government Innovation program at Bloomberg Philanthropies. “This work is helping reform-minded mayors across the Americas bring their organizations into the 21st century. Whether to stem housing shortages, reduce traffic fatalities, or improve resident service and responsiveness, city halls are tapping data, digital, and artificial intelligence to rise to the challenge – and we are thrilled to support their progress.”

About the Bloomberg Philanthropies What Works Cities Certification

TheWhat Works Cities Certification program, launched in 2017 by Bloomberg Philanthropies and led by Results for America, is the first-of-its-kind standard of excellence for data-informed, well-managed local government. What Works Cities Certification recognizes and celebrates local governments for their exceptional use of data to inform policy decisions, allocate funding, improve services, evaluate the effectiveness of programs, and engage residents.

About Bloomberg Philanthropies

Bloomberg Philanthropies invests in 700 cities and 150 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organization focuses on creating lasting change in five key areas: the Arts, Education, Environment, Government Innovation, and Public Health. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg’s giving, including his foundation, corporate, and personal philanthropy as well as Bloomberg Associates, a philanthropic consultancy that advises cities around the world. In 2024, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed $3.7 billion. For more information, please visit bloomberg.org, sign up for our newsletter, or follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Threads, Facebook, and X.

Construction value in Minneapolis surpassed $1 billion in 2025, bringing more affordable housing units, medical clinics and office renovations in the city. This is the 15th consecutive year that Minneapolis has hit the billion-dollar mark, showing a consistent local market for construction, investment in the city and inclusive economic opportunity.

At a news conference, Mayor Jacob Frey, City leaders and public housing officials debuted the top 10 highest valued projects that filled out the $1,072,174,289 total. The City of Minneapolis also contributed more than $20 million to a number of these projects thanks to programs like the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, Great Streets loans and housing tax credits.

“For the 15th consecutive year, Minneapolis has surpassed $1 billion in construction value. This isn’t just about cranes in the skyline – it’s about delivering on the promise to create stability for families, expanding access to health care, and building a stronger, more inclusive city for the future,” said Mayor Jacob Frey. “We know that people want to live, work and build their lives here – and we’re going to keep delivering on that promise for every current and future resident of Minneapolis.”

A historical project

The City’s top construction projects include the largest redevelopment of public housing in the City’s history. Spring Manor is bringing a four-story addition to its campus.

“This project is extra special to me as I watched the original buildings being built when I was a child,” said Council Member Michael Rainville, Ward 3. “Updating our MPHA properties allows us to continue providing quality low-income housing in our neighborhoods and they are an asset to the community.”

The top 10 projects also include new construction of community clinics, renovations of downtown facilities and office space, and new multi-family housing.

“MPHA is fully rehabilitating 221 units across two existing buildings while also building a new four-story building that includes 15 new, fully accessible units,” said Abdi Warsame, Executive Director/CEO of the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority (MPHA). “I want to thank Mayor Frey and City Council Member Rainville for the City’s $7.2 million contribution to this project. And special thank you to Mayor Frey, whose $1.3 million investment in his 2025 budget was the first financial commitment to this project, helping spur other funding partners to invest.”

Top 10 projects by numbers

The City of Minneapolis issued nearly 12,000 building permits in 2025 that contributed to the more than $1 billion in construction value. Construction value considers the costs of labor and materials that feed into a building or project’s overall value.

The top 10 projects in 2025 are:

1. $50.4 million – Mechanical upgrade and remodel of existing data center at 1001 3rd S.
2. $34.6 million – Addition and renovation of North Commons Park Community Center at 1801 James Ave. N. This will remodel the existing center and build a new fieldhouse.
3. $29.6 million – New construction of Native American Community Clinic (NACC) and Housing at 1215 Franklin Ave. E. This is a mixed-use clinic and 83 new deeply affordable housing units.
4. $25.5 million – Remodel of existing 221-unit MPHA Spring Manor at 828 Spring St. NE. It also includes a four-story addition with affordable, accessible units.
5. $25.5 million – New construction of the Indian Health Board of Minneapolis – Menaandawiwe Wellness Campus at 2501 Franklin Ave. E. The new clinic will offer medical, dental and wellness services.
6. $22.9 million – Remodel of Little Earth, the only Indigenous preference project-based Section 8 rental assistance community in the United States, at 2501 Cedar Ave. S.
7. $22.8 million – New construction of a four-story office building for the Xcel Energy Chestnut Service Center at 1518 Chestnut Ave. W.
8. $22.3 million – Addition and renovation to Exodus Residence, which adds 72 more affordable housing units, including many reserved for individuals exiting homelessness, at 827 2nd S.
9. $18 million – 95 new family housing units at Snelling Yards at 3605 44th E.
10. $17.8 million – New construction of 60 new affordable housing units in a six-story apartment building at 3120 Washburn Ave. N.

“Together these investments help ensure economic growth in Minneapolis is inclusive, regardless of our neighbors’ income level,” said Erik Hansen, director of Community Planning and Economic Development (CPED) for the City. “These numbers are proof that we’re making an impact on our neighbors’ lives and protecting the very homes that residents rely on for decades to come.”