Impact Story: Central Corridor Funders Collaborative
The Central Corridor Funders Collaborative comprises local and national funders that support the Central Corridor Light Rail Line because it offers opportunities to strengthen our regional economy and foster better places to live and work. The Collaborative supplements independent investments of member foundations by working with community groups and public agencies to encourage collaboration, investment, and planning “beyond the rail.” Within McKnight’s Region & Communities grantmaking, we support sustainable regional development, fostering integrative planning and development that is economically efficient, environmentally sound, and socially equitable. Within that strategy, McKnight provides core funding for the Central Corridor Funders Collaborative and its Catalyst Fund.
In addition to promoting learning and shared solutions, the Collaborative invests in progress through a joint grantmaking pool called the Catalyst Fund. The goal is timely, proactive investments supporting strategy building and implementation. Examples include training, assistance, and financing through the University Avenue Business Preparation Collaborative to help small businesses thrive in the changing Central Corridor marketplace (in support of a strong local economy); learning sessions through the Twin Cities Community Land Bank about the creation of a region-wide strategic acquisition fund (affordable housing); expansion of the Nice Ride Minnesota bike sharing system along Central Corridor into downtown St. Paul (vibrant, transit-oriented places); and paid coverage of Central Corridor developments in the Twin Cities Daily Planet (effective coordination and collaboration).
The Central Corridor Funders Collaborative has quickly become a national model in the integration of transit, affordable housing, sustainable community planning and engagement, neighborhood revitalization, and equitable economic opportunities. The Collaborative also has played a central role in the Twin Cities successful pursuit of national funding and policy attention, including Integration Initiative funding from Living Cities and a Sustainable Communities planning grant through U.S. Housing and Urban Development.
The Central Corridor Funders Collaborative comprises local and national funders that support the Central Corridor Light Rail Line because it offers opportunities to strengthen our regional economy and foster better places to live and work. The Collaborative supplements independent investments of member foundations by working with community groups and public agencies to encourage collaboration, investment, and planning “beyond the rail.” Within McKnight’s Region & Communities grantmaking, we support sustainable regional development, fostering integrative planning and development that is economically efficient, environmentally sound, and socially equitable. Within that strategy, McKnight provides core funding for the Central Corridor Funders Collaborative and its Catalyst Fund.In addition to promoting learning and shared solutions, the Collaborative invests in progress through a joint grantmaking pool called the Catalyst Fund. The goal is timely, proactive investments supporting strategy building and implementation. Examples include training, assistance, and financing through the University Avenue Business Preparation Collaborative to help small businesses thrive in the changing Central Corridor marketplace (in support of a strong local economy); learning sessions through the Twin Cities Community Land Bank about the creation of a region-wide strategic acquisition fund (affordable housing); expansion of the Nice Ride Minnesota bike sharing system along Central Corridor into downtown St. Paul (vibrant, transit-oriented places); and paid coverage of Central Corridor developments in the Twin Cities Daily Planet (effective coordination and collaboration).
The Central Corridor Funders Collaborative has quickly become a national model in the integration of transit, affordable housing, sustainable community planning and engagement, neighborhood revitalization, and equitable economic opportunities. The Collaborative also has played a central role in the Twin Cities successful pursuit of national funding and policy attention, including Integration Initiative funding from Living Cities and a Sustainable Communities planning grant through U.S. Housing and Urban Development.