Commercial Corridor Program Guidelines
Summary
After a pilot year, staff propose extending three corridor boundaries, dropping Smith Avenue as too small, and tiering grants by number of businesses. Commissioners pushed back on the metrics and on removing operational support as an eligible grant use, given business struggles.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 5
- Last 30 days
- 0
Last discussed Aug 5, 2026.
Impact analysis
About $1.4 million in grant funding spread across 17 corridors, with slightly larger awards per corridor now that Smith Avenue is removed.
Businesses and corridor organizations on the expanded Ford Parkway, East 7th, and Como-Dale corridors, plus larger corridors getting bigger grants.
Smith Avenue corridor organizations would lose their dedicated award, and businesses seeking operating support would lose that eligible use if the change stands.
Mentions & discussions (5)
City Council — August 5, 2026
$400,000 from the Housing and Redevelopment Authority fund is going into the citywide Commercial Corridors program to support neighborhood business districts.
Housing & Redevelopment Authority — March 25, 2026
The HRA renewed guidelines for its commercial corridor program, sending $1.4 million a year to businesses along corridors citywide for a second year, with $400,000 added for 2026. A change makes the North End Neighborhood Organization the Rice Street host.
Housing & Redevelopment Authority — March 11, 2026
Updated guidelines for the city's commercial corridor program were laid over two weeks. These rules shape how the city invests in neighborhood business districts.
Housing & Redevelopment Authority — March 4, 2026
Saint Paul is overhauling how it scores and funds its commercial corridor investments — a new index weighing business density, jobs, commercial land use and vacant buildings, plus flexibility for corridor geography and emergency operating support during disruptions. Commissioners worry the formula could undercount corridors with small, immigrant-owned businesses.
Housing & Redevelopment Authority — January 21, 2026
After a pilot year, staff propose extending three corridor boundaries, dropping Smith Avenue as too small, and tiering grants by number of businesses. Commissioners pushed back on the metrics and on removing operational support as an eligible grant use, given business struggles.
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