Lake Street Reimagined
Business and Community Event Sponsorship
Primary Objectives
Provide creative healing and support spaces to residents, patrons, and business owners
Influence positive community impressions of Lake Street and counter negative stories about Lake Street that may prevent people from coming to the corridor
Increase safety and sense of safety among the Lake Street community
Support patrons coming back to the Lake Street corridor – by helping people know what businesses are open and providing a positive experience.
Support Racial Equity by funding projects led by Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC) businesses or artists, or primarily serving BIPOC community members.
This program provides funding for community activation and events along the Lake Street corridor to continue to support healing, beautification efforts, and economic rehabilitation that are deeply needed to address the dynamic needs of our community.
This program is currently a part of Lake Street Lift: boosting businesses, arts, and places. Certain geographic and time restrictions might apply.
Additional Language Needs / Idiomas Adicionales / Luqado Dheeraad Ah
¿Necesita ayuda para completar su solicitud en español? Póngase en contacto con nuestro Especialista en Relaciones Comerciales. Puede reunirse con usted para revisar la solicitud y completarla con usted.
Para español, contacta a Oscar Corral at oscar@lakestreetcouncil.org / 612-601-6980
Ma u baahan tahay caawinaan ku buuxinta codsigaaga/application Somali? La xariir Business Engagement Team. Way kula kulmi karaan si ay u dhex maraan arjiga oo ay kuugu buuxiyaan.
Somali, xiriir, Yusra Mohamud at yusra@lakestreetcouncil.org / 612-295-1515
Available Funding
Tier I: Up to $10,000. This tier is intended for large-scale events with the following priorities:
Are established events (have occurred at least once).
Have multiple organizing partners involved
Have multiple funding sources.
Have past and expected attendance of 500+.
Tier II: Up to $5,000. This tier is intended for medium-scale events with the following priorities:
Have at least one organizer with experience organizing events with an attendance of 150+.
Expected attendance of 150+.
Tier III: Up to $2,500. This tier is intended for newer initiatives with the following priorities:
Centered on community building
Expected attendance of 25+.
Application Deadline: Rolling deadline with a review process every month. There are limited funds available during each monthly review. Applications will be re-considered in the following round if the round is at capacity. Applications are accepted until June 1, 2025, or until funds are depleted.
Eligibility Criteria
All projects must occur on a site that is located within the Lake Street corridor, which is defined as the area bounded by West River Parkway on the east, 26th Street on the north, the border of Minneapolis and St. Louis Park on the west, and 34th Street on the south.
Applications must be from a business, property owner, nonprofit, organization, artist, or collective.
Applicants must have a strong connection to the Lake Street community.
While you may submit multiple applications, each applicant/group/business will be limited to one award.
Please note: There is limited funding available for activities and events that do not meet the following criteria:
Activities/events taking place at least partially within a block of Lake Street between Nicollet Ave S and 30th Ave S.
Activities/events taking place before June 30, 2025.
Note: The Lake Street Council has limited capacity to support the logistical needs of projects.
Festival and Event Producer Cohort
As a part of Lake Street Lift, The Graves Foundation and the Lake Street Council are partnering with The Great Northern to help grow the capacity of Lake Street cultural festivals and festival producers.
The festivals incubator is a 6-month comprehensive initiative aimed at equipping individuals with the necessary skills, resources, and support to successfully manage and execute high-quality festivals. This program will address the key components of festival production, including staff, programming, production, marketing, and outreach.
This incubator will select 4-6 events to participate in a cohort with the following benefits:
Contracted producer mentors of The Great Northern will be assigned to guide and support each incubator producer throughout the festival execution process.
Each participating Lake Street partner will enroll a representative to serve as the festival producer in the incubator program.
Advising and funding for production support
Advising and funding for marketing and advertising
Hospitality coordination
Advising and funding to commission a major art piece(s) for their festival.
This incubator is by invitation only and is targeted to the Tier I events described above. Please indicate in the application if you are interested in participating in this unique opportunity.
Application Review Process
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until June 1, 2025, or until funds are exhausted. Funding decisions will be made at least monthly by a review committee. All reviewers will recuse themselves from decision-making if they have a financial relationship with a potential recipient.
Applicants will be notified via email of the decision within 1 week after the review.
If approved, a signature is required and a request for a direct deposit payment will be sent to the provided email. Funding is sent out weekly and will take up to 2 weeks to reach the provided account. Payment will be contingent upon a completed W-9.
Reporting Expectations
Before funded events/activities, it is strongly encouraged that you share all promotional assets with Lake Street Council/Visit Lake Street for amplification.
Within 1 month of project completion, recipients are required to submit:
At least 5 photos of the event that can be used with permission by the Lake Street Council/Visit Lake Street to promote their business, this program, and the Lake Street corridor.
A short report that provides a simple narrative description of how funds contributed to the success of their business / nonprofit, impacts on the corridor, attendance count, and any lessons learned from the project.
A summary of publicized acknowledgment to Lake Street Council/Visit Lake Street support. For example, social media links, photos of signage at events, etc.
All funded projects will be asked to consider personal statement(s) that can be used with permission by the Lake Street Council/Visit Lake Street to promote their business, this program, and the Lake Street corridor.
Please review all the information on this page to understand the eligibility requirements and reporting expectations before applying.
The amount of information required will depend on the number of times the event/activity has already taken place and the anticipated attendance of the event/activity. Additional documentation may be requested to verify the information provided.
You will be asked to submit the following information:
Activity/Event Name
Name of organization, business, nonprofit, individuals, or collective organizing the activity/event
The resumes/portfolios of individuals assisting in this activity/event (upload)
Contact and demographic information
A detailed description of the activity/event
Activity/event goals & purpose (include any info on how your activity/project is anticipated to increase safety, sense of safety, and/or positive community perceptions among the Lake Street community; or how this activity/project is anticipated to impact trauma healing, resilience, and/or community building)
Location/address(es) where the activity/event will take place, if available.
Date when your activity/project takes place
Anticipated attendance
Admission costs
Partners
Estimated total cost
Proposed budget (upload)
Sponsorship levels (upload)
A description of how your activity/project will support Racial Equity
A description of how Lake Street Council/Visit Lake Street’s support will be acknowledged in the promotion of or during the activity/event
Application Process
If you have questions, please get in touch with:
Charise Canales
Manager of Placemaking & Activation
612-447-8480
arts@lakestreetcouncil.org