Join the 38th Street United Review Panel!
Join the 38th Street United Review Panel!
Join a team of motivated, community-based, and equity-driven people and help make funding decisions to support community initiatives along 38th Street!
The 38th Street United Review Panel will review community applications for the Main Street Revitalization Program, a state fund designed to help cultural corridors recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the uprising following the murder of Mr. George Floyd Jr. Members of the Review Panel will review applications, evaluate and score them against program criteria, and inform final decisions about which projects will receive funding.
Panelists will be paid a stipend of at least $500, with the possibility of additional funds depending on availability. In return, panelists will be expected to:
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Contribute up to 6 hours a month for six months
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Activities will include: attending monthly meetings, reviewing and scoring received applications promptly, and responding to Review Panel communications
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Meetings will take place over Zoom initially, with the option to switch to in-person meetings depending on public health guidelines
Community applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis for up to two years, based on funding availability. Panelists are asked to commit to serving on the Review Panel for a minimum term of six months. Panelists who wish to serve longer are welcome to do so.
Who can apply? Do I need to have a development background?
Anyone who lives or works in the 38th Street Cultural District of Minneapolis can apply. The 38th Street Cultural District spans from Nicollet to Bloomington and 36th Street to 38th Street (see a visual here). We aim for the Review Panel to be representative of the most directly impacted community in and around the 38th Street Cultural Corridor. We will prioritize African American, Indigenous, and People of Color applicants to ensure the panel is representative of the 38th Street community and the community’s interests.
You do not need prior experience in development or grantmaking, as we are seeking a diverse range of experiences. We welcome business owners, commercial or residential tenants, community developers, non-profit staff, and anyone who is interested to apply.
The Review Panel will consist of 7-11 panelists, including several representatives from 38th Street United. The 38th Street United representatives will provide oversight, scheduling coordination, training, and other tasks as needed to support the Review Panel.
Who is 38th Street United?
38th Street United (38SU) is an emerging group of community-based partners working together to help positively spark and support investment, vitality, and wellbeing along the 38th Street Cultural Corridor in South Minneapolis. This corridor, among its many strengths, has been richly shaped by folks within the African American community. 38SU aims to advance its mission by:
Identifying and supporting targeted, structural, and sustainable investments for those reflecting and contributing toward the health, wellbeing, and wealth of those who identify as part of the African American community along and adjacent to the 38th Street corridor.
What is the Main Street Revitalization Program?
The Main Street Revitalization Program is administered by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) to help cultural corridors throughout the state of Minnesota rebuild and recover from events following March 15, 2020. Through the program, foundations, community developers, and certain nonprofits can receive 30% matching grants of up to $750,000 or guaranteed loans of up to $2 million for eligible economic development and redevelopment projects. Note: The 30% matching requirement for grants means that recipients must secure 70% of the full project cost through other means. You can read more about the Main Street Revitalization program here.
In 2021, The Minneapolis Foundation, LISC Twin Cities, and Propel Nonprofits were selected to receive $20.26 million of the Main Street Revitalization Funds. Their selected proposal was to partner with existing community-based coalitions focused on supporting the cultural corridors in Minneapolis most affected by the uprising of 2020. The proposal named 38th Street, Lake Street, and West Broadway as the primary cultural corridors for funding. 38th Street United is the chosen coalition to help disburse funds for the 38th Street corridor. The application for Main Street Economic Revitalization Grants through the Minneapolis Foundation, LISC, and Propel is now live. Review panelists will be evaluating and scoring applications for these grants.
I want to apply. What next?
If you are interested in serving on the 38th Street United Review Panel, please complete this Interest Form by Monday, April 4th. The interest form will remain open until all panelist positions are filled. A member of 38th Street United will follow up with you in mid-April.
If you have questions about the Review Panel or anything you’ve read in this document, please email info@ppna.org and someone will respond to you within 3 business days.