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Marcus Harcus for Minneapolis City Council - 4th Ward, November 3rd, 2009!
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- Facilitate community visioning to learn the perspectives of area business owners and residents about what kind of economic development they want on the Northside, discussing the challenges and opportunities in our community, brainstorming with Northside neighbors about potential highest and best uses, studying viability, identifying common goals and organizing the implementation of a widely shared and sound community vision.
- Incorporate scientific research, both quantitative and qualitative into advocacy, planning and deal negotiation efforts for Northside business development and area wealth creation.
- Help create an independent Northside Community Development Corporation to promote economic development, recruit new businesses, provide technical assistance, facilitate job creation for Northsiders and help existing businesses operate professionally and profitably. The City of Minneapolis Community Planning and Economic Development department could craft cost-savings by contracting services to such an organization and increase community engagement by facilitating real community planning with community values, technical skills and financial resources.
- Support entrepreneurs by improving or creating City, or City-partnered provision of technical assistance to small and medium sized businesses in areas such as planning, low interest financing, budgeting, human resource management, inventory management, marketing, sales, zoning, permits, research and development, manufacturing, distribution, cooperative operations, taxation, etc. The City can’t survive without businesses. Although the City can’t run private businesses the City can use its power to assist businesses in start-up, growth and closing stages.
- Creatively and consistently map economic development possibilities on the Northside: identifying potential, planned, and pending development sites.
- Work with City staff to analyze the industrial areas of the Northside to forecast the expected life of existing industrial businesses and plan for recruitment of green industry development over North.
- Invest in job training for people working jobs with unlivable wages, and people who are either unemployed or underemployed. Displaced workers who are skilled and formerly middle class also deserve career development support.
- Promote equitable development that supports community asset building without dramatic gentrification that displaces proud, committed Northsiders who don’t earn high incomes. The Northside does need to “de-concentrate” poverty in housing, but a humane city and humane neighborhoods should champion asset building for the most vulnerable, “at-risk” citizens. Fostering educational and economic opportunities for disadvantaged people decreases hopelessness and prevent crimes of deprivation, desperation and/or rage.
- Financial literacy and job training for low-income, low-skill workers is a must for a progressive and proactive city.
- Transit oriented development (TOD) for the Northside must include: Light Rail Transit (LRT) with an efficient feeder system, street cars in the interim years before LRT development, and Rapid Bus Transit (RBT). TOD is both good for the natural and economic environments, offering the Northside a promising future.
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