ST. PAUL, Minn. — On June 26, Senator Foung Hawj (DFL-St. Paul) visited Arcade Street to meet with business owners that will be affected by a two-year construction project and street closures on Arcade Street. He was joined by Senator Clare Oumou Verbeten (DFL-St. Paul) and Senator Scott Dibble (DFL-Minneapolis).
In the 2025 session, Senator Hawj successfully passed a bill that allocates $250,000 for targeted small business relief grants. The funds will be distributed by the East Side Neighborhood Development Company, which will provide onetime financial assistance grants up to $5,000 to qualified businesses adversely affected by the Arcade Street construction from Frost Avenue to Neid Lane.
Senator Hawj releases the following statement:
“When the East Side Area Business Association and community members came to me with their concerns about stability through this project, I knew I needed to take action. While improving our streets helps our local economies in the long term, the short-term impacts of construction on local businesses can be devastating. The lack of parking and confusion over whether shops are still open drives customers away and can push entrepreneurs into financial precarity. This grant program will help bridge that gap. I am proud to have advocated for East Side small business owners to ensure they receive state support during this important reconstruction project.”
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