Downtown Vitality Fund

With Love's co-founder and CEO described the planned 11,000-square-foot civic destination at 428 Minnesota Street — a cafe, event and meeting space — that will bring vibrancy, jobs, and programming to a long-vacant corner.

With Love's co-founder thanked the board and outlined plans to employ local residents and host events, including national speakers, at the new downtown space.

With Love's director of operations joined co-founders in thanking the board for the opportunity to revitalize the corner.

The Downtown Development Corporation president thanked the board and staff and said the organization is excited about Fifth Street and putting the dollars to good use.

The Downtown Alliance president called the two large projects strategically located, noting the With Love site fills a space vacant since Woolworth's and that Fifth Street is a key link connecting Lowertown to downtown.

A Farmers Market representative said small money goes a long way — their grant-funded indoor market space opens November 7, and their move-in already spurred 10,000 square feet of neighboring leases.

The owner of Erta Ale, an Ethiopian coffee kitchen and bar in Lowertown, thanked the council for supporting a destination restaurant and cultural venue with jazz, coffee ceremonies, and events.

The principal owner of MetroNOME Brewery thanked the board, saying the brewery — founded after the George Floyd murder to fund music education for kids — has struggled for four and a half years and the grant is a huge help.