We need to create inclusive economic growth across the City of Minneapolis. 

We need to address, and prevent economic disparities - such as income/pay inequality, wealth inequality, and other inequities in the workplace.

We need to support, and enforce compliance with our adopted labor standards - like paid sick and safe time, minimum wage, and wage theft prevention. We want all employers in the City of Minneapolis to achieve compliance with our adopted labor standards, and enforcement is only one tool, we need to look at other tools in our tool kit, tools that support employers in achieving compliance.

I created a Payroll and Bookkeeping Pilot Project to support small businesses in complying with our adopted labor standards. The Payroll and Bookkeeping Pilot Project subsidized payroll and bookkeeping services for small business owners in the City of Minneapolis.

We need to build a thriving workforce. We need to strengthen our relationships with, and support the needs of our workforce. And, we need to create opportunities for our workforce to grow, by supporting additional workforce development opportunities/programs in the City of Minneapolis.

We need to support the needs and expansion of the small business community in Ward 11. I will continue to build relationships with our small business owners in Ward 11 and across the City of Minneapolis, and listen and respond to their needs.

While serving as Council Member for Ward 11…

  • The City Council approved the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Phase 2 funding which included funding for:

    • The Clyde Bellecourt Urban Indigenous Legacy Initiative

    • Job Training and Employment for Youth and Adults

    • The expansion of the Service Worker Trainee Program

    • City-Wide Tourism and Downtown Events

    • Payroll and Bookkeeping Pilot Project

    • Technical Assistance for Small Businesses

  • The City Council approved the City of Minneapolis’s 2023 Budget which included funding for:

    • The Commercial Property Development Fund to provide ownership opportunities to BIPOC business owners 

    • Economic Development along 38th Street

    • The ZaRah Project

    • The Rise Up Center, a hub for BIPOC-workforce development in the green building and clean energy fields 

    • Competitive Grants to support Cultural Malls impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic

  • I authored an amendment to the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Phase 2 funding which secured $125K to create a Payroll and Bookkeeping Pilot Project to support small businesses in complying with the City’s Labor Standards.

    What’s next…

  • I will continue to build relationships with our small business owners in Ward 11 and across the City of Minneapolis, and listen and respond to their needs.

  • I will continue to connect our small businesses in Ward 11 to the resources and opportunities that the City of Minneapolis offers.

  • I will work with small business owners to help them understand our adopted labor standards.

  • I will continue to explore new innovative pilot projects to support our small businesses like the Payroll and Bookkeeping Pilot Project.