Rybak Highlights Economic Development at State of the City

Minneapolis Mayor RT. Rybak delivered his annual state of the city address to a packed house at Augsburg College's Hoversten Chapel. Like his previous three addresses, Tuesday's speech highlighted the city's efforts at job creation, even going so far as to display Minneapolis manufacturing products, including an (unopened) beer growler from Harriet Brewing—a brewery that opened after the city council revised a law to allow growler sales. 

Minneapolis needs to be the sort of place that draws residents for economic and cultural reasons, Rybak said. "A stronger economy means there’s more jobs which means there’s more demand for housing which strengthens our neighborhoods," he said. “The more people that we get here, the lower our tax burden."

Rybak touted job creation by Minneapolis Community Planning and Economic Development that he said has put 12,000 city residents to work since 2002. The city has also connected small business owners to 1,000 low-interest loans, including Blackbird Cafe in Southwest Minneapolis, Rybak said. He also asked audience members to help find businesses to partner with the Step Up program, which finds summer jobs for youth. A study published by Forbes today named Minneapolis as the best place to find a job.

"The [mayor's] focus on jobs is fantastic and where we need to be," said Council Member Betsy Hodges. "The mayor did a good job of outlining a vision for the city around that and it's in line with what the council and the mayor and our public and private partners have been working on together."

Rybak highlighted the role of public transit in economic growth, including bike, light rail and streetcar lines. “If we’re going to grow our businesses in the city of Minneapolis, and we’re going to use our infrastructure to do it, we simply can’t do it with roads alone,” Rybak said.

The city earned $900,000 in federal dollars last year to study transit alternatives on Nicollet and Central avenues. That project is just a piece of the larger transit groundwork being built in the city as Access Minneapolis—the 10-year transit plan that includes streetcars, bikes and light rail—moves forward, Hodges said.

Minneapolis Council Member John Quincy said 46th Street Station, which opened late last year, serves as a model as other urban rapid transit stations are set up across the city.

The overall audience mood during Rybak's speech was optimistic.

"He does a great job of capturing the mood of the city, recognizing that it's a difficult time, but always thinking about how we can grow the city economically and make it a safer place for residents to be and a better place to stay," Quincy said.

Other points in the mayor's speech:

• The mayor said he'll work to reopen Nicollet Avenue at Lake Street. Council Member Elizabeth Glidden told Patch that she is pleased the mayor mentioned reopening Nicollet Avenue at Lake Street, which is currently blocked by K-Mart.  "We're hoping that a lot of the work that's happening, for example the 35W and Lake Street stuff, helps to push that issue to the fore so we can find a way to repurchase that land, because that's what needs to happen."
• Rybak said violent crime was at its lowest rate in 27 years, partly due to the city's commitment to youth violence prevention efforts. 
• On funding for the renovation of Riverside Plaza: “That building is a great part of our history, and we’re really proud that it’s going to be a great part of our future.”
• The city's infrastructure improvement program, which renovates streets before they're completely ruined, was renewed for another three years. 
• Made a commitment to helping more minority-owned businesses after last year's unflattering disparity report came out.
• Urged legislators to change laws to allow Surly to build a beer garden and brewery: "Beer is part of our history, beer is part of our future, you don’t have to drink it everyday, but we need to change the laws."