Overview

The Grand Avenue Business Alliance (GABA) used their 2025 Commercial Corridor Program funds to grow their capacity in beautification, arts and business activations, and community-wide events. GABA’s streetscape beautification activities include new flower baskets, holiday lights, and décor. With 2026 funding, GABA will expand visibility by featuring business spotlights and event marketing in addition to space activation events. GABA also intends to continue existing programs and events such as Music on Grand and Grand Pianos.

What the funding supports

An image of Grand Old Day showcasing a busy crowd

Events

Event funds help stage Paws on Grand, BooBash, Grand Meander, Grand Old Day and Open Door/Open Air.

Learn more about Events
Grand Avenue holiday decorations, an image of a large snowflake decoration next to a business front

Beautification

Beautification funds bring new flower baskets, holiday lights and decor to the corridor.

Learn More About Beautification
A person playing on a piano along Grand Avenue

Public Art

Public art funds put public pianos along Grand Avenue.

Learn more about Public Art
Grand Meander event graphic for Saturday, Dec. 6, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on Grand Avenue, with soup tastings, trolley rides and photos with Santa.

Marketing

Marketing funds cover business spotlights, space activations, placemaking and event marketing for the corridor.

Learn more about Marketing

Events

An image of Open Air Grand along Grand Avenue

Music on Grand

Music on Grand is a street music series run by GABA that aims to increase foot traffic along Grand Avenue by bringing musicians to businesses. Commercial Corridors funding helped keep the series running by paying for additional events and musicians. In 2026, funds will help make new events such as Grand Buskin a permanent offering.

A flier for BooBash a Grand Avenue Fall Event

BooBash

BooBash is a fall event that invites families along the Grand Avenue corridor to enjoy seasonal festivities alongside local businesses organized by the Summit Hill Association with marketing support by the Grand Avenue Business Association. Commercial Corridors funding supported business outreach and event marketing.

Learn more about Boo Bash
An image of Grand Old Day showcasing a busy crowd

Grand Old Day

Grand Old Day is a daylong festival that draws 200,000 attendees annually. Commercial Corridors funding helped pay for vendor and event coordinators and an art manager, with more support planned for 2026.

Learn more about Grand Old Day
Great Meander decorations along business corridor

Grand Meander

The Grand Meander is a winter event held annually along Grand Avenue that invites families to enjoy holiday treats and entertainment. Commercial Corridors Program funds helped pay for marketing, graphic design, and an event coordinator.

Learn more about the Grand Meander
A German shepherd puppy in a green "Adopt Me" bandana sits on a Minnesota Twins blanket at a Paws on Grand adoption event.

Paws on Grand

Paws on Grand is an annual pet rescue and marketplace event held along Grand Avenue. Commercial Corridors funding paid for marketing, graphic design, and an event coordinator.

Learn more about Paws on Grand

Beautification

Grand Avenue holiday decorations, an image of a large snowflake decoration next to a business front

Holiday Decorations

The Grand Avenue Business Association uses holiday decorations to promote events such as its Grand Meander. Commercial Corridors funding paid for four of the six holiday snowflakes used for marketing and will support three to five additional decorations in 2026.

Hanging baskets of red begonias on an ornate black streetlamp along Grand Avenue, with the Nick's Beer, Wine & Spirits sign in the background.

Blooming Saint Paul

Blooming Saint Paul is a flower basket program made possible by a partnership with the City of Saint Paul Parks and Recreation Department and the Saint Paul Garden Club. The Commercial Corridors Program funded the installation of 80 flower baskets along the east end of Grand Avenue, with more planned for 2026.

Marketing

Community Reporter logo with the tagline "Serving West End neighborhoods, downtown St. Paul to Fort Snelling since 1972."

Business Spotlight

The Grand Avenue Business Association plans to use Commercial Corridors funds to purchase monthly ad space in the Community Reporter, offering free advertising to small and legacy businesses in the corridor.

Check out a spotlight
I love grand avenue stamp card

Event Marketing

Event marketing is planned for various events in the corridor to drive traffic to local businesses. Commercial Corridors funds will help pay for a graphic designer, a consulting firm, and printing and advertising costs.

Aerial "Coming Soon" graphic over an autumn view down a Saint Paul commercial corridor with brick storefronts and a rooftop Associated Bank billboard.

Wayfinding Signage

GABA plans to create wayfinding signage using Commercial Corridors funds to strengthen the corridor's brand and improve wayfinding and placemaking.

Aerial "Coming Soon" graphic over an autumn view down a Saint Paul commercial corridor with brick storefronts and a rooftop Associated Bank billboard.

Space Activations

Several Space Activations are planned for developing and promoting vacant storefronts. Commercial Corridor program funding will help to pay for these activations.

Public Art

Grand Pianos

The Grand Pianos Program was originally started in 2025 in order to place several publicly accessible pianos along Grand Avenue at participating businesses. Funding was provided by the Commercial Corridor program and in partnership was the Hovland Conservatory for an initial five pianos. The project saw considerable success and is planned for further expansion in 2026 along the corridor.

Two people setting up a piano along Grand Avenue
Two people move a piano outside Mischief toy store, a colorful house decorated with flags