On Wednesday morning, Mayor Coleman gathered with the Saint Paul City Council, Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce President Matt Kramer, and Saint Paul Building and Construction Trades Council Spokesman Tommy McCarthy at the corner of 5th Street and Wall. 

While overlooking the future site of the Lofts at Farmer’s Market, Mayor Coleman launched Rebuild Saint Paul, a $15 million project which takes advantage of more than $1 billion in investment to create over 3,000 new jobs in Saint Paul.

Rebuild Saint Paul will invest in projects across Saint Paul in order to spark economic growth and grow jobs. By utilizing federal funding and collaborations with city partners, Saint Paul is aggressively investing in local development including the Central Corridor Light Rail Transit, Lafayette Bridge, and Cayuga Bridge projects. Saint Paul will not only increase the value of its assets, but also put residents back to work. 

As Mayor Coleman said on Wednesday morning, this economic strategy includes every available tool: utilizing private partnerships, combining bonding, state, and federal funds, as well as taking advantage of the Minnesota Jobs Bill, Build America Bonds, and tax increment financing. 

With this effort, the city will get 15 projects off the page – and get cranes into the air. Projects include: Lofts at Farmer’s Market, Penfield, Cossetta’s Alimentari expansion, Frogtwon Square, J and J Distributing Urban Farms, a health clinic, Westside Flats, Schmidt Brewery, the Como Aquatic Center, Highland Park Aquatic Center, and Payne Maryland Town Square. Members of the City Council were enthused about the positive impact of the project.

As the Mayor emphasized, “Saint Paul is open for business.” Rebuild Saint Paul will revitalize the City, create jobs for residents, and encourage economic growth, positioning Saint Paul to lead the nation out of the recession.

To learn more about the project, visit the Rebuild Saint Paul website. 

For video of the event, visit our youtube.com page

Mayor Coleman was present for the grand opening of the HealthEast Medical Transportation (HEMT) Headquarters this week in Saint Paul. The new facility is located on the East Side of the City, and marks another step in the process of economic revitalization.

The Medical Transportation Headquarters is located on a property formerly owned by 3M. After purchasing the site from the Saint Paul Port Authority, HealthEast began the process of creating a new headquarters that will have a substantial impact on the economic recovery of Saint Paul. More than 20,000 hours of labor were required to develop the $5 million facility, and over 97% of all labor used in that process was local. 

The efforts taken to redevelop the 3M site will be continued with the opening of the Baldinger Bakery. Together, HealthEast and Baldinger will encourage a revitalization of Saint Paul’s East Side, attracting new residents and spurring economic growth. 

HEMT has been an important part of this community for 100 years, employing over 120 people and providing 30,000 ambulance calls every year. The Mayor was proud to celebrate the next step for HEMT and for the economic revitalization of Saint Paul.

This Tuesday, Mayor Coleman and the Saint Paul Parks and Recreation Department kicked-off the Great River Park Master Plan, which is the first step in redeveloping the 17 mile stretch of the Mississippi riverfront in Saint Paul.

Mayor Coleman stressed the importance of this work, calling the Mississippi, “Saint Paul’s chief environmental and economic asset.”

The Great River Park Master Plan, recognizing the importance of the river, will lay out a blueprint for creating a system of parks and green spaces that take advantage of the City’s natural resources. 

Just as Saint Paul is a unique city, this project aims to create a system of river-based amenities that is unlike any other. The guiding principles of the vision are to develop a natural, urban, and connected space. 

The project will lay out ways to further connect the Mississippi to Saint Paul’s neighborhoods. In order to create a Great River Park that can truly be a part of Saint Paul residents’ lives, the Great River Park vision has been based on resident input. As national and local experts move forward with plans to create sustainable parks, modern urban design, and carry out ecological restorations, community input is crucial.

In addition to strengthening the connection between Saint Paul and the River, the Great River Park project will also generate further economic development for the city. By promoting the wonderful assets that will result from this vision, new tourism opportunities will emerge for Saint Paul. 

As the Great River Park Plan moves ahead in the coming months and years, residents will see both the results of short-term projects and the promise of long-term projects that will benefit future Saint Paul residents. The development of our most important resource will bring positive changes to the entire community now and for years to come. 

To learn more about the project and to get involved, visit www.greatriverpark.org.