The Rice Street Corridor extends from University Ave to Larpenteur Ave W and is managed by the North End Neighborhood Organization.
Last Edited: August 14, 2026
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 continuing event support and expanding subgrants for local businesses.
Event funds cover the Summer Block Party and other celebrations on Rice Street.
Public Art funds support the creation of a mural showcasing the diverse identity of the corridor.
Marketing funds back event and construction-support promotion, business resources, redevelopment and promotional signage.
Business Support funds let the Rice Larpenteur Alliance award grants to businesses hit hardest by Rice Street construction.
Beautification funds support a redesign of the Rice Street banners to better showcase the community's diversity and culture.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Contact the Economic Development team:
CommercialCorridors@stpaul.gov
Contact the North End Neighborhood Organization: