Dear East Town Business Partnership Members:
We want to inform our members, partners, and community stakeholders that the East Town Business Partnership (ETBP) is closing its doors.
The Board of Directors voted to dissolve the organization on February 27, 2025, and the full membership affirmed that decision on May 7, 2025. As part of this process, the East Town Business Partnership website will go offline after June 30, 2025.
We extend our deepest thanks to all our members—past and present—for your unwavering support, partnership, and belief in the mission of the East Town Business Partnership. Your commitment helped shape the district into a vibrant and welcoming place to live, work, and do business.
As we move forward, we are confident that the work we’ve begun together will continue through new partnerships and initiatives that strengthen the heart of our city.
If you have questions or are looking for support, we encourage businesses to connect with the neighborhood organizations in the area, who will continue to be a resource and advocate for our local business community.
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Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association: https://www.thedmna.org/
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Elliot Park Neighborhood, Inc.: https://www.elliotpark.org/
Additionally, ETBP Board Member Jordan Robertson from North Central University is exploring new ways for the East Town business community to stay connected. If you are interested in participating in whatever communication method becomes available, please send your contact information to Jordan at [email protected].
Thank you again for being part of this journey.
The East Town Business Partnership Board of Directors
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East Downtown Council / East Town Business Partnership: Nearly 50 Years of Service and Impact to the East Town business community
For nearly five decades, the East Downtown Council, which was rebranded as the East Town Business Partnership in 2017, has played a vital role in shaping the growth, identity, and vitality of the eastern sector of downtown Minneapolis. Established in 1979 as a coalition of local business and civic leaders, the organization served as a powerful voice and advocate for economic development, community building, and strategic investment in one of the city’s most dynamic and evolving districts.
Key Accomplishments Include:
- Catalyzing Economic Development: The EDC/ETBP helped attract and support major commercial and residential developments, including the Wells Fargo towers, U.S. Bank Stadium, Thrivent, Kraus Anderson, and numerous mixed-use projects that have transformed the district into a vibrant, livable urban neighborhood.
- Public-Private Partnerships: The EDC/ETBP played a critical role in fostering collaboration between city officials, developers, business leaders, and community stakeholders, contributing to large-scale initiatives such as redevelopment of the Mill District, the creation of the Commons Park, and helping create a vision for future development along Park and Portland Avenues.
- Deep Community Collaboration: A hallmark of the EDC/ETBP success was its strong and consistent collaboration with neighborhood partners, including the Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association (DMNA), Elliot Park Neighborhood, Inc. (EPNI), and the Minneapolis Downtown Council (MDC). These partnerships enabled cross-sector planning, strengthened civic engagement, and ensured community voices were integrated into key development and policy decisions.
- Community Building and Placemaking: The EDC/ETBP championed efforts to create a sense of place in East Town by supporting the installation of public art, activation of public spaces, and the promotion of local businesses through events and networking opportunities.
- Advocacy and Representation: As a longtime voice for the East Town business community, the EDC/ETBP consistently engaged in advocacy around transportation improvements, public safety, economic opportunity, and equitable development, ensuring that the district’s needs and vision were heard by city and regional leaders.
- Convening and Connecting: Through its signature business forums, annual meetings, and public events, the EDC/ETBP offered consistent opportunities for stakeholders to connect, learn, and align around shared goals.
- Championing Equity and Inclusivity: In later years, the EDC/ETBP increasingly focused on inclusive economic growth, small business support, and community engagement strategies that aligned with broader city goals for equity and resilience.
Our Legacy
The East Downtown Council / East Town Business Partnership leaves a proud legacy of vision, leadership, and collaboration. For nearly 50 years, the organization helped bring people together to transform East Town into a thriving destination where people live, work, visit, and belong.