IV.8. Resolution Supporting Application to Hennepin County’s Business District Initiative Grant Program; Needham
CITY OF HOPKINS
City Council Report 2025-038
To: Honorable Mayor and Council Members
Mike Mornson, City Manager
From: Revée Needham, Community Development Manager
Katy Pence, Multimedia Communications Assistant
Date: March 18, 2025
Subject: Resolution Supporting Hennepin County Business District Initiative Grant
Application
_____________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDED ACTION
MOTION TO approve Resolution 2025-014 Supporting an Application to Hennepin
County’s Business District Initiative Grant Program.
OVERVIEW
To apply to the Hennepin County Business District Initiative grant program, the City
Council needs to approve a resolution of support.
Business District Initiative Program
Hennepin County’s Business District Initiative (BDI) program bolsters city efforts to
invigorate small business districts, main streets, and cultural corridors. The BDI offers
funding assistance for strategies that enhance the economic vitality of these priority
areas in suburban municipalities. BDI program priorities are to:
• Promote compact, walkable environments
• Create a vibrant sense of place
• Highlight local community assets, including those that reflect the diverse values,
culture, and heritage of the people who live and work there
• Support economic vitality, job creation, and equitable access to economic
opportunity
• Build connections to the locally-owned, independent small business ecosystem
Suburban cities and development authorities within Hennepin County are eligible to
apply for BDI grants. BDI grants can fund projects such as district-wide marketing or
branding efforts, placemaking and/or public realm enhancements, technical assistance
across the business district, and business recruitment for commercial corridors such as
downtown Hopkins. Hennepin County typically offers up to $200,000 between their
Planning Grants and Business District Initiative programs.
City of Hopkins Grant Application
The City proposes to use the grant to create a high-end marketing campaign designed
around bringing non-residents to Hopkins to experience Mainstreet while positioning the
Think Hopkins brand as the authority for all the latest happenings in Hopkins. A third-
party marketing contractor would work with staff to create an on-brand campaign with
Planning & Economic
Development;
Administration
relevant performance goals. Additionally, staff would work with the local business
community to estimate real-world impacts of the campaign. A local match is
encouraged but not required and is considered in the application evaluation. The City
proposes to use staff time as part of the match and a portion of the existing Think
Hopkins budget.
SUPPORTING INFORMATION
• Resolution 2025-014
• Hyperlink to Hennepin County Business District Initiative Program webpage
CITY OF HOPKINS
HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA
RESOLUTION 2025-014
RESOLUTION SUPPORTING APPLICATION TO HENNEPIN COUNTY’S BUSINESS
DISTRICT INITIATIVE GRANT PROGRAM
WHEREAS, Hennepin County is soliciting applications to their Business District
Initiative Grant Program to bolster city efforts to invigorate small business districts, main
streets, and cultural corridors; and
WHEREAS, Hennepin County has approximately $200,000 available in grant funding
between the Business District Initiative and Planning Grant programs for 2025; and
WHEREAS, the City of Hopkins is a municipality within Hennepin County, and is
therefore eligible to apply for funds under the Business District Initiative Program; and
WHEREAS, the City Council reaffirmed the goals of supporting a vibrant business
community and promoting Hopkins as a destination in 2025; and
WHEREAS, the City has the institutional, managerial and financial capability to ensure
adequate project and grant administration; and
WHEREAS, the City certifies that it will comply with all applicable laws and regulations
as stated in the contract grant agreements.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Hopkins
hereby authorizes the City Manager and/or his designee to submit an application for
Hennepin County Business District initiative grant funds and execute such agreements
as may be necessary to implement the project on behalf of the City.
Adopted by the City Council of the City of Hopkins this 18th day of March, 2025.
By:___________________________
Patrick Hanlon, Mayor
ATTEST:
_______________________________
Amy Domeier, City Clerk