Overview

The Highland District Council (HDC) used their 2025 Commercial Corridor Program funds for business support for storefront improvements, beautification efforts such as hanging flower baskets and banners, and events. For 2026, HDC plans to use its Commercial Corridor Program funds to expand its business support program while continuing support for events and beautification.

What the funding supports

Crowd seated on the lawn at a Music at the Bridge concert

Events

Event funding pays for local music festivals, clean up events, and movie night at the park.

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

Marketing

Marketing funds support features for business in local newspapers.

Learn more about Marketing
Corridor mural on the blue cinder-block wall of VanGo Automotive, depicting the Schmidt Brewery, a green Volkswagen van, and a bridge beneath a swirling Van Gogh-style starry sky, with hand-lettered text reading "Highland, Love + Light" and a West Seventh Street sign.

Business Support

Business Support funding allows for corridor improvements to local businesses allowing for improvements to the exterior and interior buildings.

Learn more about Business Support
Blue "Highland Park" bike rack with a water tower cutout illustration.

Beautification

Beautification funds allow for hanging flower baskets and custom bike racks along the corridor.

Learn more about Beautification

Events

Patrons gather for live music at Wandering Leaf Brewing during a Music at the Plaza event.

Music at the Plaza

Music at the Plaza is an outdoor concert series run by the Highland District Council, featuring food trucks and live performances. Commercial Corridor Program funds helped pay for musicians and equipment.
 

Shopping center on West 7th Street with Aldi, Dancers Studio, and other businesses, with a Metro Transit shelter in the foreground.

West 7th Cleanup

West 7th Litter Cleanup was an event hosted by the Highland District Council as part of the city of St. Paul's Public Works litter program. Volunteers from the corridor came together to collect trash in the community. Commercial Corridor Program funds helped pay for the event.

Residents gather for food at a Highland District Council community event on the lawn at Sibley Manor.

Movie Night at Sibley Manor

Movie Night at Sibley Manor is an event hosted by the Highland District Council as part of the city of St. Paul's Movies in the Park Program part of the department of Parks and Recreation. Commercial Corridor Program funds were used to support the event.

Marketing

Screenshot of a Highland Community Spotlight article for Sibley Manor, featuring a graphic of nine children outside a brick apartment building with the headline "Sibley Manor: Highland Park's Global Village."

Community Spotlight: Sibley Manor

The Highland District Council commissioned a community spotlight on Sibley Manor honoring the deep roots of the affordable housing complex within Highland Park. Commercial Corridor Program funds helped to pay for the article.

Learn more about Sibley Manor
Screenshot of a Highland Community Spotlight article for VanGo Auto, featuring a photo of four people and a dog in front of a Van Gogh-inspired "Highland / W Seventh St" mural.

Community Spotlight: VanGo Auto

The Highland District Council commissioned a community spotlight on VanGo Auto a locally owned small business within Highland Park. Commercial Corridor Program funds helped to pay for the article.

Learn more about VanGo Auto

Business Support

The Highland District Council operated a Corridor Improvement Fund for qualifying local businesses in the West End. Eligible projects included interior and exterior improvements funded through subgrants. First-round projects included a mural at VanGo Automotive along with at Sibley Manor, a new sign at Dancer Studios, a new sign at Agegil Ethiopian Restaurant and back patio improvements at Dukem Ethiopian Restaurant.

Beautification

A hanging basket of red begonias on a streetlight pole, part of the Blooming Saint Paul program.

Blooming Saint Paul

Flower baskets were installed along the corridor through Blooming Saint Paul using Commercial Corridor Program funds. More baskets are planned for 2026.

Blue "Highland Park" bike rack with a water tower cutout illustration.

Bike Racks

Custom bike racks were installed along the corridor using Commercial Corridor Program funds. The racks showcase the community's identity, with more planned for 2026.