Featured Stories

13 City-Changing Ideas From Urban Innovation Exchange

Walter Wasacz Wednesday, October 08, 2014

Innovators behind small scale, place-based projects around the country recently convened in Detroit and talked about what works in their cities, sharing stories of success, failure, hard work and creativity.

Equity, Empowerment: How Community-Driven TOD is Transforming Green Line Neighborhoods

Brian Martucci Wednesday, October 01, 2014

Four neighborhood initiatives along the Green Line demonstrate how the Central Corridor is becoming a local and national model for equitable and empowering community-driven transit-oriented development (TOD).

Affordable Housing, Arts and Culture, Central Corridor, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Leadership, diversity, Entrepreneurship, Strong Local Economy, Transit Oriented Development

University, Cedar - Riverside/West Bank, Thomas - Dale/Frogtown

Outsell's Post-It note wall of achievements, photo by Jasper Sanidad

Modern Office Designs for Fast-Growing Creative Companies That (Super)Power Their Work Cultures

Camille LeFevre and Joel Hoekstra Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Creative employers--like these two fast-paced, fast-growing Minneapolis companies--are collaborating with architecture firms on modern office makeovers that (super)power their brands and work processes.

Coordination/Collaboration, Design, Entrepreneurship, High Technology

Downtown, Uptown/Lyn Lake

The Media is the Message: Minneapolis Artist Guante Uses Hip Hop to Engage Communities

NICOLE RUPERSBURG Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Kyle Tran Myhre, who performs under the stage name "Guante," is a hip hop artist, two-time National Poetry Slam champion, social justice activist, educator, and writer whose work is to examine the nature of performance – what it means for a culture, how it can serve a greater purpose.

Arts and Culture, Creative Leadership

Downtown

13 Projects That Prove Small Ideas Can Add Up to Big Change for Cities Like MSP

Claire Nelson & John Notarianni Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Urban revitalization is not built on stadiums and skyscrapers alone. Vibrant cities begin with passionate people working on the ground, doing the creative heavy lifting to make their communities better. Leading up to Urban Innovation Exchange Sept. 24-26 in Detroit, we take a look at 13 small projects with big potential.

Nancy Fischer and Lars Christiansen, photo by Brian Martucci

How Being "Car Ownership Free" Led to Healthy Living, Community Organizing and Embracing Transit

Brian Martucci Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Two years ago, Lars Christiansen and Nancy Fischer sold their car and plunged into the Twin Cities’ rich network of public and alternative modes of transportation, which led to a healthier lifestyle and innovating the Friendly Streets Initiative.

Central Corridor, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Leadership, Sustainability, Transportation

Midway, Cedar - Riverside/West Bank, Seward, Thomas - Dale/Frogtown

Gluten-Free Beer, Women-Only Ridesharing, Wellness Apps: 10 New Startups That Will Change Your Life

Brian Martucci Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Driven by the seemingly boundless energy of local creatives, community leaders and entrepreneurs, Minneapolis-St. Paul’s burgeoning startup culture shows no signs of slowing down. Here are 10 compelling, life-changing startups to know about now.

Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, Emerging Technologies, Emerging Technology, Entrepreneurship, Healthcare, High Technology, Higher Education, Life Sciences, Strong Local Economy

University, Downtown, Southwest, Uptown/Lyn Lake, Calhoun - Isles

The Real-World Impacts of Creative Placemaking in MSP

Sheila Regan Wednesday, September 10, 2014

NEA, ArtPlace and others have poured millions of dollars toward creative placemaking projects in the Twin Cities in recent years. What are the street-level results of those investments?

Arts and Culture, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, diversity, Transportation

University, Lake Street, North Side, Uptown/Lyn Lake, Seward, Longfellow, Powderhorn

Ta-coumba Aiken's Public Art Heals the Heart and Soul

Nicole Rupersburg Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Aiken is a painter, an illustrator, a graphic artist, a muralist, a lecturer, a curator, an arts advocate, and a community collaborator. This article is republished from Creative Exchange.

Arts and Culture, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Leadership, diversity

North Side, Downtown/Lowertown

No Braking in Sight: Six New Twin Cities' Food Trucks You Need To Try

Kyle Mianulli Wednesday, August 20, 2014

During these coveted warm months, wherever the people go, an army of gourmet and artisan food trucks are sure to follow. Here are six new food trucks hitting Twin Cities' streets that you might have missed. Get out and try something delicious.

Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Nightlife, Strong Local Economy

Central Avenue, Downtown, Downtown/Lowertown, Warehouse/North Loop, Northeast

Small Scale, Big Deal: An Innovative Idea Exchange at UIX

Matthew Lewis & Claire Nelson Wednesday, August 13, 2014

"What's next for your city?" That the question Urban Innovation Exchange (UIX) will explore at its first national convening this September 24-26, 2014 in Detroit.

Arts and Culture, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, Design, Entrepreneurship, Philanthropy, Regionalism, Reuse / Rebuild, Strong Local Economy, Sustainability, Talent Dividend, Transit Oriented Development

Urban Organics produce at the Lund's Penfield, courtesy Urban Organics

Urban Farm to Urban Table: Growing and Sourcing Hyper-Local Food in the Twin Cities

Brian Martucci Wednesday, August 13, 2014

The Twin Cities is emerging as a hotbed of innovative agricultural activity. An ambitious group of producers and retailers aims to redefine what it means to be local, and give retaurants and consumers more control over what they eat and drink.

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

Riverfront/Mill District, Midway, Downtown, Lake Street, Southwest, Seward, Thomas - Dale/Frogtown, Northeast

Chris Andrejka training vines in the hops garden, courtesy Star Tribune

How Local is Your Beer? The Rise of Regional Ingredients

Issue Media Group Wednesday, August 06, 2014

Despite our love of micro-brews, many of the ingredients in our favorite beers haven't been sourced locally. That's changing as brewers tap into the local farming movement in their communities to add more fresh flavors and ingredients.

Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Entrepreneurship, Green Jobs, Nightlife

Como Park, West Seventh

The Power of Co-Working: Why MSP's Tech Startups Are Pooling Resources and Talents

Brian Martucci Wednesday, August 06, 2014

MSP isn't usually mentioned in the same breath as Silicon Valley and Austin. But our local tech startup scene is leaping forward due to homegrown co-working companies, which lower barriers to success, growth and profitability through collaboration.

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

University, Uptown/Lyn Lake, Downtown/Lowertown

Patricia Blakely on the bus, photo by Kyle Mianulli

Five Steps to Going Car Free in MSP and Savoring the Rewards

Kyle Mianulli Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Is life better without a car? For Patricia Blakely, of Minneapolis, the answer is a resounding “yes!” In her book Carfree Living: Happy in the Not So Fast Lane, and this article, she outlines five simple steps to going car free.

Central Corridor, Creative Leadership, Sustainability, Transportation