Negotiations for the proposed lease of 2633 Minnehaha for police department use have been terminated. The owner is no longer offering it to the City. The Council is no longer considering it at all. 

We will be exploring other options and alternatives going forward and I will work to keep you informed.  In the meantime, we will continue to have staff, formerly housed at the police station at East Lake Street and Minnehaha Avenue, operating out of City Hall and the Convention Center as well as on patrol throughout the Southside 3rd Precinct area. Our 911 call center and first responder capacity is fully staffed and functioning at levels consistent with previous years.

These are challenging times and I believe we have an historic opportunity to make real positive change in Minneapolis, but it is not going to be easy and it is going to take us all working together, really listening to each other and being open to understanding our differences. I hope we can all work together in the days and months ahead to maintain and improve safety for all of us now as we work for the lasting, transformative change we need to reduce violence and make our communities safer for everyone into the future.

You can also see the strib story here:
https://www.startribune.com/city-deal-for-temporary-third-precinct-site-is-off/572432432/

​In peace and cooperation,
Cam Gordon

If you weren't able to zoom in for our virtual Panel Discussion with area Council Members and Mayor Frey on Tuesday, we've got it recorded for you here. Topics addressed included many of the concerns facing business owners, including: Policing and Public Safety, Homelessness, the 3rd Precinct and Covid-19. In addition to the Mayor, area Council Members included:

Cam Gordon: Ward 2
Jamal Osman: Ward 6
Alondra Cano: Ward 9
Andrew Johnson Ward 12 

We are working on a summary of the Chat notes that included a number of helpful links and resources.  Coming soon! This conversation is not the end point. We will continue to engage our elected officials and hope to host another panel discussion later this Fall or Winter.  If you have any questions or follow up, please contact kim@longfellowbusinessassociation.org.

Hennepin County is ready to help you start or improve recycling and waste reduction at your business or organization. A variety of signs are available for spaces such as offices, cafeterias, commercial kitchens, public spaces and more. View and order (or download) signage materials here.

​Grant fundingGrant funding is still available to start or improve waste reduction, recycling and organics recycling at businesses including non-profits and multifamily properties. Grants $10,000 or less are accepted and awarded on an ongoing basis; grants for over $10,000 will be reviewed beginning Friday, November 20. Review the 2020 Business recycling grant guidelines (PDF).

Our lives and businesses seem to be constantly changing - here's one way to keep it all up to date! Google My Business (GMB) is a free business profile/listing that appears in Google Searches and in Google Maps that helps drive customers to your location and learn more about your business through photos, reviews, and more.  If properly updated, it can be an amazing tool to drive traffic to your website and reach both new and returning customers. We are partnering with Hook Agency for a hands-on workshop that will teach you how to use GMB to your advantage. The workshop will go step by step using a real business as an example and also allow time for you to set up or update your GMB account. Don’t put it off any longer! Registration is required. 

Wednesday, September 23 
9:00 am - 10:30 am
Register Here 

Hosted by: Longfellow Business Association, Lake Street Council and Seward Civic and Commerce Association.

Meet Minneapolis recently launched a new effort, We Need Us! to help support the local business community. We Need Us! can be the start of a new movement. It is not meant to be a solution but a catalyst – a rallying cry for us to go back to our roots and begin to organically restore our community. We need to support small businesses and neighborhoods wherever they are. These businesses have been there for us through good and bad times. Let’s show them some love. Every little bit can help.

​Please join Meet Minneapolis in spreading the word with your own community, customers, friends and neighbors. Share it on your own social channels, your website, in your storefronts and in your doorways!  Below is a link to our toolkit. This will allow you to access a variety of graphics so you can spread the word about this important effort.

​DOWNLOADABLE TOOLKIT

The Round 6 application period is now open. Click here to apply. Your application must be submitted by Monday, September 7th, 11:59 p.m. ET.  Before completing the application, please review our Grant Information and FAQ. Apply Now. 

What started as an online auction has grown into a diverse and expansive traveling and virtual event with over 104 visual and performing artists and an online auction. Learn more and check out the schedule for this amazing celebration of art, music, community, racial justice, kindness and inclusion. LBA will be one of the organizations that benefit from donations raised.

Energy Smart is a local non-profit energy efficiency consulting organization funded by Xcel Energy – all services are provided free of charge. They offer a holistic approach to energy conservation in order to help commercial accounts identify energy cost savings opportunities and navigate utility rebate programs. Learn more about the Business Energy Efficiency Grant Program. Please complete and submit this survey to request free assistance from Energy Smart.