Neighborhood Revitalization Program Records

Collection

Identifier: M/A 0268

Staff Only

Description of Contents

Collection consists of five separate series:

1. Director's Files: Contains the files of the NRP Program Director and the Administrative Assistant to the Director.

2. Planning, Evaluations and Audits: Early planning and state audits.

3. NRP Policy Board Meetings: Contains meeting minutes, agendas and supporting documents related to the meetings of the Policy Board for the Minneapolis Neighborhood Revitalization Program from 1990 through 2011.

4. Neighborhood Files: Contains action plans, participation agreements, neighborhood project documentation, meeting minutes, survey results, financial statements and other items related to neighborhood organizations involved with the Neighborhood Revitalization Program.

5. Newspaper Clippings: Clippings from the Minneapolis History Collection vertical files, 1989-2001.

Dates

Creation: 1990 - 2012

Creator

Neighborhood Revitalization Program (Minneapolis, Minn.) (Organization)

Access Restrictions

The collection is available for use in Special Collections at Minneapolis Central Library during the department's open hours.

History

In 1988, the Neighborhood Housing and Economic Task Force of Minneapolis completed a report in response to growing concerns about the perception of neighborhood decline in the city. As a solution, this report proposed a 20-year Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) which would provide a flexible approach for neighborhoods and residents to partner with government to strategically plan for the future of their communities.

After approval from the Minnesota State Legislature and the Minneapolis City Council in 1990, funding equal to $20 million a year for 20 years was established to support the projects of the NRP through an allocation out of the Tax Increment Funding used by the Minneapolis Community Development Agency's (MCDA) Common Project. This money was to be used as "start-up" funding for projects to revitalize neighborhoods in Minneapolis.

The goals established by the NRP Policy Board in 1990 were: build neighborhood capacity; redesign public services; increase inter-governmental and intra-governmental collaboration; and create a sense of community. By empowering neighborhood residents to think and work strategically to set the priorities in their communities, the NRP hoped to create innovative plans and revitalize the city from within.

In February 1991, six neighborhoods were selected to begin work on their Neighborhood Action Plans. Eventually all Minneapolis neighborhoods were invited to participate in the planning process which included six steps: 1 - Develop a participation agreement; 2 - Build a diverse citizen participation effort and gather and analyze information; 3 - Draft a plan; 4 - Review and approve the plan at the neighborhood level; 5 - Submit the plan to the government jurisdictions for review, approval and funding; 6 - Implement the plan.

To assist with the planning process, NRP provided neighborhood representatives with workshops, guidelines, procedures, and other training materials. Additionally, within the NRP organization, Neighborhood Specialists were assigned to specific neighborhoods to provide detailed guidance to neighborhood associations and organizations.

NRP funding continued as planned through 2001, when revisions to the Minnesota state tax code made by the Minnesota State Legislature changed the assessments on commercial and industrial properties along with education funding. The result to NRP was that the projected $180 million in remaining funds through the 20-year completion was lowered to $84 million. Despite this enormous change in projected funding support, NRP projects continued through the full 20-year period.

In 2011, the NRP reached the completion of its 20-year lifespan with all outstanding projects moved to the management of the Neighborhood and Community Relations division of the City Coordinator's office.