Overview

The Saint Paul Downtown Alliance (SPDA) used their funding from the 2025 Commercial Corridor Program to create and promote DowntownStPaul.com, increase visibility of and access to downtown businesses and amenities, and drive engagement and foot traffic through a coordinated marketing campaign. For 2026, SPDA plans to support events, activations, and ongoing promotional efforts using Commercial Corridor Program funds.

What the funding supports

A guitarist performs at a lunchtime concert in Rice Park, with the orange "StPL Saint Paul" sculpture and the Landmark Center behind.

Events

Funding is being used on more than 12 community events and activations throughout downtown Saint Paul. These events include free community concerts, roller disco, farmers market, community art, and a variety of other events and festivals. See below for a few examples.

Learn more about Events
The orange "StPL Saint Paul" sculpture with a orange star is composited into a scene at Upper Landing / Kellogg Park, framed by tall arcing water jets from a fountain on either side. An ivy-covered wooden pergola, park benches, a plaza and a treeline overlooking the Mississippi River bluff extend behind, under a blue sky with scattered clouds.

Marketing

Marketing funds cover the Downtown Saint Paul website along with its promotion and targeted marketing campaigns online and throughout the city.

Learn more about Marketing

Events

People roller skate around the fountain at Rice Park in downtown.

Roller Disco

Roller Disco in Rice Park is a summerlong event hosted annually by Twin Cities Skaters and supported by the Saint Paul Downtown Alliance. It features live music and free skate rentals. Commercial Corridor Program funds help cover the program.

Checkout the Roller Disco Schedule
An outdoor farmers market on West 7th Street with tables of fresh produce and buckets of sunflower bouquets in the foreground.

Farmers Market on 7th Place

Over the summer the Farmers Market growers bring fresh produce, beautiful flowers and a variety of locally made good to 7th Place Mall in downtown. The Saint Paul Downtown Alliance, with Commercial Corridor Program funds help to support this location.

Checkout the Farmers Market
Attendees practice ballroom dance in pairs at Mears Park, with historic downtown Saint Paul buildings visible through the trees.

Ballroom in the Park

Ballroom in the Park is a free outdoor dance series in Mears Park, open to all levels, no partner or experience needed. The Saint Paul Downtown Alliance, with Commercial Corridor Program funds help to support these events.

Check out more: Ballroom in the Park

Marketing

Screenshot of Downtown Saint Paul website hero with "Welcome to Downtown St Paul" headline over a photo of historic red-brick downtown buildings.

Downtown Website

The Saint Paul Downtown Alliance uses Commercial Corridor Program funds to develop and launch DowntownStPaul.com, a centralized digital platform that raises visibility and access for downtown businesses and amenities.

Visit the Downtown Saint Paul Website
Photo of Saint Paul Downtown Alliance ad panels installed in a tunnel near the RiverCentre, with "Your place for grow / music / eats / arts" messages and downtownstpaul.com.

Downtown Advertisements

The Saint Paul Downtown Alliance runs advertising campaigns in high-traffic spots across downtown, promoting local businesses and DowntownStPaul.com alongside a digital campaign. Commercial Corridor Program funds cover the advertising.