The application period for the 2023 Neighborhood STAR program cycle has closed and applications are no longer being accepted.

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Overview

The Neighborhood STAR program awards loans and grants for capital improvement projects in Saint Paul neighborhoods.

Projects must be neighborhood-based, designed in partnership with community stakeholders, and clearly address problems, needs and opportunities in Saint Paul. Proposals can be a project or program that results in capital improvements in Saint Paul. Innovative proposals are encouraged, and these proposals may be generated by neighborhood and civic leaders, organizations, and businesses.​

Neighborhood STAR is funded by Saint Paul's half-cent sales tax.

Neighborhood STAR Spotlight: The Lowlands

A 2022 Neighborhood STAR award helped the owners of The Lowlands transform a former industrial building into a beautiful event space.
 

2023 Application Information

Timeline

  • Application period begins: Friday, June 30, 2023
  • Application deadline: Monday, July 31, 2023 at 4 p.m.
  • Applicant interviews: October 2, 6, 9 and 11, 2023 (view the interview schedule)
  • Anticipated project dates: December 2023 - January 31, 2025 (timing contingent on approval of funding by City Council)

Application Fee

An application fee of $75 is required for proposals requesting $25,000 or less, and a $125.00 fee is required for each application requesting more than $25,000. All fees are non-refundable.

A check should be made payable to the order of the City of Saint Paul and mailed to:

   Attn: Erin Lewis, Neighborhood STAR Program 
   City of Saint Paul Planning and Economic Development Department
   25 W 4th Street, Suite 1300
   Saint Paul, MN 55102

Please indicate in the memo line that the check is for the NSTAR application fee.

Changes for 2023

The Saint Paul City Council recently adopted guideline changes for Neighborhood STAR to increase accessibility to grant funds. These changes include:

  • In 2023, Neighborhood STAR will be a grants-only program (no loan awards).
  • Grant requests of up to $50,000 will no longer require matching funds. Going forward, only grant requests of over $50,000 will require one-to-one matching funds in the full amount of the Neighborhood STAR funding request.

Guidelines

The Neighborhood Sales Tax Revitalization (STAR) Program provides loans and grants for physical (capital) improvement projects within Saint Paul neighborhoods. For 2023, this is a grants-only program.

Eligible applicants include any public, private, non-profit or for-profit entity located in or doing business in Saint Paul. Eligible activities are permanently affixed, physical (bricks and mortar) enhancements that strengthen and/or improve the neighborhoods of Saint Paul.

Improvements may include commercial and housing rehabilitation, parks, streetscape projects, and economic development activities. STAR-funded capital improvements should have an expected life of seven or more years, and not be deferred maintenance activities.

The guidelines are available in English, Hmong/Hmoob, Spanish and Somali.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The Neighborhood STAR team has put together a list of common questions and answers.

Board

The Neighborhood STAR Board reviews proposals, conducts tours and interviews with applicants, and recommends applications to the Mayor and City Council for approval.

The board is made up of 21 members appointed by the Mayor for four-year terms. City residency is required and Minnesota State Law requires three representatives to be appointed from each City Council Ward.

Information for Awardees

Before you start your projects, please review the information for Neighborhood STAR recipients and connect with your assigned project manager.

Last Edited: December 8, 2023