Overview

East Side Neighborhood Development Company (ESNDC) used their 2025 Commercial Corridor Program funds to support events, beautification, and marketing in the corridor. In the second year of funding, ESNDC plans on creating a business mitigation fund in order to stabilize businesses experiencing disruption on Payne Avenue from road construction. They will also be providing business workshops and marketing.

What the funding supports

A row of lawn chairs next to a mini golf course with a group of people playing cornhole.

Events

Event funds support industry-specific workshops in the corridor, a community clean up, and a summer-long plaza activation with weekly events.

Learn more about Events
Screenshot of the "Payne + Arcade: Uniquely East Side" webpage section with six category tiles for Arts & Entertainment, Apparel & Home Goods, Eat & Drink, Wellness & Beauty, Professional Services and Community Organizations.

Marketing

Marketing funds help to promote Payne Avenue and its local businesses through social media highlights and a new website.

Learn more about Marketing
"Coming Soon" graphic over an aerial view of an East Side Saint Paul arterial crossing I-94, with the downtown skyline and State Capitol on the horizon.

Business Mitigation Fund

The ESNDC's Business Mitigation Fund to help stabilize local businesses in the corridor.

Learn more about the Business Mitigation Fund
Rows of hanging baskets of red, pink, purple and orange petunias and calibrachoa with blue lobelia inside a hoop-house greenhouse.

Beautification

Beautification funds help to pay for plaza maintenance and flower displays.

Learn more about Beautification

Events

Promotional graphic reading "Play on Payne: Global Best on Main Street"

Play on Payne Summer Plaza

Play on Payne is a summer-long activation hosted by ESNDC, offering free lawn games, food from local businesses, and World Cup viewing every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The Commercial Corridor Program funded vendors and entertainment for the weekly events along with equipment and furniture.

Free Lunch & Learn Workshop graphic for "Stay Visible, Stay Profitable: Marketing Through Disruptions & Everyday Challenges," Wednesday, August 19, 2026, noon to 1 p.m. at ESNDC on Payne Avenue.

Business Networking Workshops

Business Networking Workshops were funded by the Commercial Corridor program. These workshops are led by industry leaders and are sector specific allowing small business owners to build practical skills and make connections with others in their industry.

East Side Community Clean-up

Community Clean Up

The East Side Community Clean-Up was a community event organized by the ESNDC, bringing volunteers together to help clean up the corridor. Commercial Corridor funding paid for the rental of a dumpster for trash collection.

Marketing

Screenshot of the Payne Arcade Business Association homepage showing sign that says EASTSIDE.

Payne Arcade Website

Commercial Corridor funding supported the creation of the Payne Arcade Business Association website, Payne Arcade, which promotes businesses along the corridor and highlights new plazas, events, and business programs.
 

East Side Neighborhood Development Co. logo overlaid on an aerial view down an East Side Saint Paul commercial corridor, with brick storefronts and residential blocks extending to the horizon.

Marketing Campaign

ESNDC produced videos highlighting various businesses along the corridor and its unique identity with Commercial Corridor funds. It also supported placemaking events such as clean-up days, street games, and outdoor seating, along with summer-long marketing to promote the corridor.

Business Support

Aerial

Business Mitigation Fund

The ESNDC is planning on launching a Business Stabilization Mitigation fund using Commercial Corridor Program funds. Providing support to Payne Ave businesses with documented revenue decline due to corridor disruption with business grants of $2,000 - $5,000 based on eligible uses for business stabilization and retention.

Beautification

Rows

Ramsey County Spring Flower Sale

RCCF Spring Flower Sale is a program hosted by the Ramsey County that helps individuals who have been incarcerated or under supervision in Ramsey County Community Corrections to successfully live healthy lives and give back to the community. Commercial Corridor funds paid for the procurement and installation of these baskets along the corridor.