Featured Stories

Why MSP is the Once, Current and Future Internet of Things (IoT) Alley

Brian Martucci Tuesday, April 14, 2015

There’s a movement afoot to rebrand MSP as “IoT Alley” in recognition of its historical and current innovations in the field of Internet to cloud devices. MSP startups, in fact, are leading current growth in the field.

Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, Design, Emerging Technology, Entrepreneurship, High Technology, Strong Local Economy

University, Downtown, Downtown/Lowertown, Warehouse/North Loop, Northeast

How a Car-Free Calling Led to a Healthier, Fuller, Smaller-Footprint Life

Brian Martucci Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Tami Traeger, Nice Ride MN's director of outreach and sponsor relationships, explains how a car-free calling led her to align her lifestyle with her values and smaller-footprint living.

Central Corridor, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Leadership, Strong Local Economy, Sustainability, Transportation

Seward

Community Developers Create Room to Mingle

Gayle Thorsen Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Twin Cities community developers aim to create more public spaces in lower-income neighborhoods as common assets for all to enjoy.

Affordable Housing, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, diversity, Entrepreneurship, Philanthropy, Strong Local Economy

Greater East Side, Cedar - Riverside/West Bank, North Side, Nokomis, Thomas - Dale/Frogtown

Ryan Companies' work in DT East includes two office towers (right) for Wells Fargo, courtesy Ryan Co

A Long Way From Surface Parking Lots: Downtown East's Rapid Transformation

Brian Martucci Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Downtown East could soon become the national face of MSP; quite a step up for a neighborhood that barely existed a decade ago.

Affordable Housing, Central Corridor, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Leadership, Design, High Technology, Nightlife, Regionalism, Strong Local Economy, Transit Oriented Development, Transportation

Riverfront/Mill District, Cedar - Riverside/West Bank, Downtown

The Centennial Chromagraph, fabricated in the DigiFab Lab to celebrate the U of M School of Architecture's history

Why MSP is Leading the New DigiFab (Third Industrial) Revolution

Brian Martucci Tuesday, February 24, 2015

We're experiencing the third industrial revolution in which MSP’s digital fabricators are innovatively building the future, one pixel at a time.

Arts and Culture, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, Design, Emerging Technologies, Emerging Technology, Entrepreneurship, High Technology, Higher Education, Strong Local Economy

University, Midway, Saint Anthony Park, Southwest, Powderhorn, Northeast

An L.A. Native and Her Husband Embrace the Pedal-Powered Lifestyle

Brian Martucci Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Janis LaDouceur relocated to The North in the late 1980s and began a two-decade process of disengaging from car culture.Today, LaDouceur and her husband, Sean Burns, live an almost totally car-free lifestyle.

Coordination/Collaboration, Design, Sustainability, Transportation

University, Warehouse/North Loop

Still from the Coen brothers' film "A Serious Man"

Cultivating a Cinema of The North

Kevin Obsatz Tuesday, February 10, 2015

In this essay, reprinted from MinnesotaPlaylist.com, Kevin Obsatz puts forward bold proposals for how filmmakers based in The North could create a body of signature, lasting work.

Arts and Culture, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Regionalism, Strong Local Economy

Cultivating Youth As Agents of Change Through Urban Agriculture

Camille LeFevre Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Youth programs with a focus on urban agriculture cultivate good health, leadership skills, community development and economic independence.

Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, diversity, Entrepreneurship, Green Jobs, Healthcare, Philanthropy, Shopping, Strong Local Economy, Sustainability

Greater East Side, Phillips, North Side, Thomas - Dale/Frogtown, Battle Creek

Mill City Winter Farmers Market, photo courtesy Mill City Times

Local Doesn't End With Summer: Meet 4 Food Entrepreneurs at 5 Winter Markets in MSP

Brian Martucci Tuesday, January 13, 2015

A merry band of farmers market managers and vendors are braving the cold and dark to keep us supplied with locally grown food, locally made food products and locally sourced crafts. Here's where you can find them this winter!

Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Leadership, diversity, Entrepreneurship, Shopping, Strong Local Economy, Sustainability

Riverfront/Mill District, Downtown, Southwest, Downtown/Lowertown

Light Blox at work, courtesy Laser Classroom

An (Almost) One-Woman STEM Revolution Brings Photonics to Light

Brian Martucci Tuesday, January 06, 2015

Colette DeHarpporte is on a mission. The CEO of Laser Classroom designs, builds and markets educational light, laser and optics tools for schoolchildren.

Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, Design, diversity, Emerging Technologies, Emerging Technology, Entrepreneurship, High Technology, Life Sciences, Strong Local Economy

Northeast

From Ken's forthcoming graphic novel, Bicyclopolis

Embracing the Creative Nexus of Bikes, Transit and Art

Brian Martucci Sunday, December 14, 2014

Ken and Roberta Avidor have been car-free since 2010. Union Depot is their jumping-off point for bike, bus and train trips around the Twin Cities—and beyond. They're also making a name for themselves in the Twin Cities’ urban-sketching movement.

Arts and Culture, Coordination/Collaboration, Entrepreneurship, Sustainability, Transportation

Downtown/Lowertown

A Place People Call Their Own: Community Partnerships That Foster Community Health

Jay Walljasper Wednesday, December 10, 2014

The 2014 Minnesota Healthy Communities Conference introduced participants to innovative community health projects that explore links between community development and the health of low-income people.

Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Leadership, diversity, Healthcare, Philanthropy, Strong Local Economy

Greater East Side, Phillips, Southwest, North Side

Water Works Park, rendering courtesy of SCAPE

10 Development Projects That Will Transform MSP in 2015

Phillip Koski Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Enjoy this roundup of 10 exciting architectural and development additions to Minneapolis and St. Paul that promise to transform neighborhoods, enrich our quality of life and add to the roster of “must see” attractions for out-of-town guests.

Affordable Housing, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, Design, Reuse / Rebuild, Strong Local Economy, Transit Oriented Development

Phillips, University, Downtown, Lake Street, Downtown/Lowertown, Warehouse/North Loop, Northeast

Forget Midwest. We Are North: Repositioning MSP's National Identity for the 21st Century

Camille LeFevre Wednesday, December 03, 2014

According to a recent panel discussion, we need to own our cold climate and our ingenuity in order to attract new talent, continue fueling the innovation at the heart of our economy, and create a new and authentic national identity. Shall we call ourselves the North?

Arts and Culture, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Leadership, Design, diversity, Regionalism, Strong Local Economy, Talent Dividend

A performer at Little Africa's launch party, courtesy AEDS

Small Business Development Equals Big Growth in Three TC Neighborhoods

Gayle Thorsen Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Creative collaborations on St. Paul’s East Side, throughout Little Africa in St. Paul and along West Broadway in North Minneapolis are helping small businesses thrive while sparking economic vitality and community pride.