Business Support Programs
Since 1987, the WBBA has represented the West Bank neighborhood to the city of Minneapolis and the state of Minnesota advocating for our businesses and community in many ways. We know the West Bank to be a deeply loved community, and our mission is to show our community as a cared for place. We strive to be welcoming, safe and vibrant. We work to support our businesses so they can thrive. Join our business updates email list here. Learn more about WBBA mission.
Technical Assistance
WBBA provides free technical assistance to eligible businesses through the City of Minneapolis Business Technical Assistance Program. Our staff helps with legal issues, bookkeeping, regulatory questions, marketing, website design, boosting social media presence, assisting with grant applications and connection to resources such as state and city grants and loans. Email KJ for more information.
Safety and Youth Engagement
The WBBA hosts a monthly community safety meeting on the second Tuesday of each month at 4pm at the Brian Coyle Center. These meetings serve as a forum for community members to express their concerns about safety, and for police and safety programs to be accountable to our community. It is also a space to learn about safety programming in the neighborhood. Join the safety email list.
We work closely with the Brian Coyle Center and the Cedar Riverside Athletics and Recreation Center to improve neighborhood safety and engage youth in life-affirming activities. We believe that a cared for, child safe, neighborhood is also a safe neighborhood where small businesses thrive. Our collaborative Groundwork Internship Program, hires local youth to do beautification, landscape, and gardening projects in our neighborhood. We actively seek to recruit and engage young adults in need of support due to challenges such as opiate addiction, criminal record, and homelessness. We are also the administrative lead on the West Bank Restorative Practices Collaboration, which offers restorative programming through Brian Coyle Center, Daryeel Youth, Cedar Riverside Athletics and Enrichment, and WBBA. (we will have a page for this program)
Our Community Arts Program focuses on lot activation to improve community spaces. We offer free art classes and a homeless resource fair every week in Edna’s Park throughout the summer.
Storefront Improvements , District Clean Ups, Public Art & Beautification
The WBBA administers the city’s Facade Improvement Program, helping connect businesses to contractors and helping them through the application process. If you’re making a storefront improvement on a commercial space facing one of our West Bank streets, you may be eligible for matching money from the City of Minneapolis. You can access all the necessary information, instruction, and required forms.
We work with partners to host regular cleanup and graffiti prevention campaigns as well as install sculptures and murals to beautify the neighborhood. We install new pieces of public art every year! We also actively engage with community to participate in the design and installation of neighborhood murals and have provided opportunities to neighborhood youth to work alongside professional muralists.
We can also help you join the City of Minneapolis’ Adopt a Litter Container or Adopt a Recycling Container to help keep our streets clean.
Advocacy and Collaborations
We advocate for community-centered land use and development on the West Bank. We represent our business corridor in conversations about the Dania Hall site at 427 Cedar, Lot A and other developments in the neighborhood. We are working closely with the Cedar Riverside Partnership to develop a land use and development plan. We are currently working on an arts & culture development plan for the area along with our Arts and Culture Committee.
The WBBA represents the neighborhood to outside stakeholders, including city and state government. We advocate for policies that affect us and educate our businesses about new laws and other current issues such as safety, minimum wage, "safe & sick" time ordinances and a myriad of other issues.
WBBA is also a member of multiple neighborhood collaborations and an active participant in and sponsor of collaborative community events such as the annual Youth Summit and Multicultural Dinner.
WBBA is the voice at the table for plans affecting how people get to and travel through the West Bank. We represent the neighborhood regarding the MnDOT, bike lanes, traffic calming, and parking.
We host a Parking & Transportation Committee that meets quarterly. [Vidya to set up an email list through Squarespace for this topic that we can link to] To voice a concern or get involved contact [xxx]
District Marketing
We market the district and our area’s businesses through a variety of platforms including web, social media, radio, and print. Our goal is to share local narratives and highlight independent businesses to multiple audiences—including residents, students, and guests to the area. We host a neighborhood directory of local businesses.
We run a digital community archive that collects, stores, and shares neighborhood history and are actively adding to this archive. Visitors and West Bankers can also learn about neighborhood history through our history map.
We support and sponsor events which bring visitors to our community to explore all there is to offer and highlight events at our many venues. We host a neighborhood entertainment and events calendar.
Our largest event of the year is Cedarfest, a block party filled with art, music and activities.
Construction and Equipment Purchases
WBBA does not provide direct financing for projects, but we will assist you in applying for loans and accessing various zero or low interest loans and grants. We can help you navigate City of Minneapolis loan and grant programs for small businesses.
The West Bank is also located in the Southside Green Zone. WBBA can help you take advantage of favorable green zone related grants and loans. We work with the Energy Smart program to access Minneapolis Green Cost Share funding and the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce funding for business improvements that increase energy efficiency. Common examples of grant funded improvements involve HVAC, lighting, and some equipment upgrades. We may also be able to assist you navigate the permitting process for construction and in finding contractors for your project. If you are thinking about a construction project or making equipment upgrades, contact us first.
Neighborhood groceries may consider applying for the Minnesota Department of Agriculture Grant for Grocery Stores with our help in order to make grocery store improvements and equipment purchases.
Other grants and loan opportunities frequently arise. Please sign up for our business updates email list to learn about resources for your businesses and neighborhood events.