Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Ramsey County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
13 issues in business jobs
Manufacturing Month and County Economy
Commissioners highlighted Ramsey County's manufacturing sector — the county's third-largest industry, with 248 establishments and a median wage of $120,000. Workforce Solutions ran employer tours and job connections throughout October.
CareerForce Center Operations and Funding
The county and state signed a three-year cost-sharing deal to keep the downtown St. Paul CareerForce center running. It's the busiest comprehensive job center in Minnesota, serving 3,242 job seekers this year, with 77% from low-income ZIP codes. It sits next to county service desks so residents can handle employment help and other services in one trip.
Rice Creek Commons Development (MicroControl)
Commissioners celebrated the grand opening of the first company at Rice Creek Commons — MicroControl — with jobs already surpassing original estimates, on the first ten acres of a 40-acre site with quick access to 35W.
Upcoming Economic Development Authority and program flexibility
The new EDA — created by the Legislature and funded through the county's HRA levy, with no taxing authority — now covers all 18 participating cities. Planned supports include expanded technical assistance, learning cohorts, capacity building for business support organizations, and direct investment in mixed-use projects. A detailed spending plan comes to the board this fall.
Low suburban participation in county grant programs
Commissioners McGuire and Moran flagged that cities often don't know when county grants land in their communities and asked staff to notify city administrators and board members directly.
Critical Corridors funding for small business districts and redevelopment planning
The HRA is spending $478,988 of its levy on planning studies and small business district improvements, including wayfinding signs that help people find local shops. This round expanded eligibility to downtown St. Paul, which drew extra funding and awards.
Expungement access and Clean Slate implementation
The County Attorney's prosecutor-initiated expungement program helps people clear felony records — worth a 20% income boost on average. Commissioners want more outreach and an expungement clinic, and the state's Clean Slate law isn't fully running yet.
MFIP employment outcomes and family coaching investment
Only about 40% of BIPOC MFIP participants exit to employment. The county put over $500,000 into the family coach model in the 2027 budget as ARPA funds expire, and Commissioner McGuire called for an MFIP workshop.
Growing the tax base — Building Stronger Together
The county is betting on economic growth to ease future tax pressure: a stronger downtown St. Paul and redeveloping county-owned land like Rice Creek Commons, where a 150,000-square-foot headquarters just brought 200 jobs.
Construction impacts and business support
Commissioner Xiong pressed for technical assistance and a business resiliency inventory for corridor businesses facing years of construction — similar to Rice Street lessons. Staff floated a business-preparation manual and coordination with CED, but no grants or loans are currently funded.
Workforce development and youth career pipelines
The county is hosting its largest job fair of the year at Allianz Field on June 30 with 40 employers, and introduced this year's 31 Right Track interns working across county departments.
Countywide EDA business programming
The new EDA — created by the Legislature and funded through the county's HRA levy, with no taxing authority — now covers all 18 participating cities. Planned supports include expanded technical assistance, learning cohorts, capacity building for business support organizations, and direct investment in mixed-use projects. A detailed spending plan comes to the board this fall.
Diversity and inclusion in AMC membership
Commissioners Xiong, McGuire, and Moran pressed AMC leadership on making the association genuinely inclusive — not just diverse speaker lineups, but space for lived experiences and perspectives that historically haven't come to the table.