Overview

The Rice and Larpenteur Alliance (RLA) used its 2025 Commercial Corridor Program funds to support events, beautification efforts, and business grants. For 2026, the North End Neighborhood Organization (NENO) is taking over the program, continuing event support and expanding subgrants for local businesses.

What the funding supports

Rice and Larpenteur Summer Block Party Cultural Dance

Events

Event funds cover the Summer Block Party and other celebrations on Rice Street.

Learn more about Events
Golden Palace mural design combining a red-and-gold Burmese pagoda and fortress with the Saint Paul skyline — State Capitol, downtown towers and the Cathedral of Saint Paul — under a stained-glass-patterned sky.

Public Art

Public Art funds support the creation of a mural showcasing the diverse identity of the corridor.

Learn more about Public Art
Screenshot of the Rice & Larpenteur Vision "Big Ideas" webpage, showing four concept panels for connecting to McCarrons Lake, enhancing streetscape and lighting, improving walkability and creating a central gathering park.

Marketing

Marketing funds back event and construction-support promotion, business resources, redevelopment and promotional signage.

Learn more about Marketing
Rice Larpenteur Business Construction Impact Grant Awardee Assafo African Market

Business Support

Business Support funds let the Rice Larpenteur Alliance award grants to businesses hit hardest by Rice Street construction.

Learn more about Business Support
"Welcome / Rice Street" pole banner with welcome messages in seven languages, back view.

Beautification

Beautification funds support a redesign of the Rice Street banners to better showcase the community's diversity and culture.

Learn more about Beautification

Events

Infographic showing Rice and Larpenteur Summer Block Party

Summer Block Party

The Rice & Larpenteur Summer Block Party is an annual event held at the intersection of Rice and Larpenteur. Commercial Corridor funds helped pay for tent, table, and generator rentals, along with contracting an event coordinator. NENO is planning on continuing funding support into 2026 at the request of the RLA.

Ribbon cutting of Phase One Reconstruction of Rice Street

Construction Celebration

Ramsey County and the Rice & Larpenteur Alliance held a Phase One reopening ribbon cutting celebrating the newly reopened segment of Rice Street. Commercial Corridor funds helped to pay for this event.

Logo for Taste Of North End Event

Taste of the North End

Taste of the North End is an event funded in 2026 showcasing restaurants and businesses on Rice Street. Commercial Corridor funds will be used for marketing, supplies, and activities with additional funds from other sponsors for other needs. 

Public Art

The Golden Palace mural nearly complete in a workspace, showing the wordmark and Saint Paul skyline elements against a blue geometric sky.

Golden Palace Mural

The Rice Larpenteur Alliance commissioned an artist to create a mural for Golden Palace, a grocery store in the Rice Street Corridor to showcase the diversity of the corridor. Commercial Corridor funds were used to pay for the murals.

Marketing

Infographic for Rice Larpenteur Rice Street Construction in Spanish

Post Cards

The Commercial Corridor program funded informational postcards and flyers, produced and distributed in three languages, to promote that businesses remained open during construction and to advertise the Summer Block Party.

Screenshot of the Rice & Larpenteur About Us webpage, with a summary of the alliance's origins and the 2018 Vision Plan alongside a circular map-and-textile graphic.

RLA Website

The Rice Larpenteur Alliance used Commercial Corridor funds to update its website with business and redevelopment information and resources. It also expanded its annual report to include more community resources and to promote business development.

Rice Larpenteur Assistance Fund

The Rice Larpenteur Assistance Fund is a Business Retention Fund to support local businesses in the corridor facing continued significant impact from the Rice Street reconstruction. The fund was originally operated by the Rice Larpenteur Alliance to provide partial construction mitigation funding and is planned to be continued by the North End Neighborhood Organization expanding to serve at least 19 businesses through an open application process.

Beautification

Design proof for a "Welcome / Rice Street" pole banner with welcome messages in multiple languages.

Street Lamp Banners

New Rice Street lamp banners will replace ones installed over a decade ago that have worn out over time. The new banners will celebrate the communities within the corridor. Banners are funded by the Commercial Corridor program.