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ABOUT US

In 2016, leaders from three different cities met at Friends Cafe to discuss ways to partner and draw attention and resources to the border community of Rice & Larpenteur. Over spring rolls and curry, the group discussed the promise of the neighborhood and the concerns they were hearing from area residents and businesses. Ever since, city and county leaders have been meeting together and working with the community to support the Rice & Larpenteur neighborhood.

 

Adopted in 2018, the Rice-Larpenteur Vision Plan (PDF) is a collaborative effort of the cities of Maplewood, Roseville and Saint Paul, and Ramsey County. After a year of community meetings and public input, the Vision Plan includes a strategy to manage future growth of the Rice-Larpenteur Gateway Area in a manner that improves connectivity and accessibility within the corridor, and creates an attractive destination with strong businesses, vibrant neighborhoods and beautiful places.

INTERIM ALLIANCE & STAFF

In March 2019, the Cities and County hired the Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce to staff the Rice-Larpenteur Gateway Alliance and manage implementation of the Rice-Larpenteur Vision Plan. As staff to the Alliance, SPACC is charged with convening the Interim Alliance, building and supporting a Long-Term Alliance, actively seeking economic development opportunities, leading the development of a multi-year funding strategy, and supporting vibrant community events and placemaking initiatives.

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The Rice & Larpenteur Alliance launched a Community-Based Advisory Board in early 2020, including neighborhood residents, business owners, nonprofit leaders, development partners, philanthropic partners and government representatives. This body is responsible for stewardship of the Rice & Larpenteur Vision Plan and oversight of staffing and contracts. The Alliance works to realize the neighborhood vision guided by the values of Representation and Inclusion, Non-displacement, and Strengths-Based Approaches. The Board is divided into three committees; Executive, Economic Development & Transportation, and Neighborhood Livability & Events. 

COMMUNITY-BASED ALLIANCE & STAFF

Executive
Committee

Marylee Abrams, Mayor of Maplewood

Amy Brendmoen, Saint Paul City Council 

Barbara Garn, Roseville Resident

Noah Her, Open to Business

Dave Higgins, McGough 

Kazoua Kong Thao, Community School of Excellence

Trista MatasCastillo, Ramsey County Board of Commissioners

Johnny Opara, JO Companies

Dan Roe, Mayor of Roseville

Dayna Taylor, Hand in Hand Montessori

Patrick Trudgeon, City of Roseville

Shawn Wiski, Kraus Anderson

Ronna Woolery, Saint Paul Resident/Stuartco

Hsakushee Zan, Karen Organization of Minnesota

Livability &
Events

Marylee Abrams, Mayor of Maplewood

Rayauna Benson, Homel Realty

Amy Brendmoen, Saint Paul City Council

David Brosnahan, Roseville Fire

Emily Burt-McGregor, Maplewood Police

Leslie Duling-McCollam, Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy

Jason Etten, Roseville City Council

Shann Finwall, City of Maplewood

Jane Forliti, Roseville Resident

Diane Hilden, Roseville Resident

Nidhi Joshi, Marion St & Brittany Apartments

David May, Roseville Church of Christ

Max Musicant, The Musicant Group

Joan Phillips, Maplewood Resident

Mariah Quick, Ramsey County Environmental Health

Francisco Ramirez, M Health Fairview

Victoria Reinhardt, Ramsey County Board of Commissioners

Gregory Simbeck, Roseville Resident

Dayna Taylor, Hand in Hand Montessori

Patrick Trudgeon, City of Roseville

Joe Wiggins, Hearthside Pizza

Ronna Woolery, Saint Paul Resident/Stuartco

Hsakushee Zan, Karen Organization of Minnesota

Economic
Development &
Transportation

Darrell Baggenstoss, Roseville Resident

Cale Bergschnieder, Resident

Andrea Caldwell, Roseville Resident

Dan Edgerton, Saint Paul Resident

Dana Ferguson, Rice Street Gardens

Barbara Garn, Roseville Resident

Janice Gundlach, City of Roseville

Noah Her, Open to Business

Dave Higgins, McGough

Rick Howden, Ramsey County

Kazoua Kong Thao, Community School of Excellence

Malia Lee, Alliiance

Mike Leonard, Hamernick's Interior Solutions

Trista MatasCastillo, Ramsey County Board of Commissioners

Johnny Opara, JO Companies

Tilak Pokwal, Nepali Groceries and Kitchen

Jamie Rattanapamonsook, Thai Street Market

Angela Riffe, City of Saint Paul

Dan Roe, Mayor of Maplewood

Scott Thompson, Metro Transit

Jeff Thomson, City of Maplewood

Shawn Wiski, Kraus Anderson

Becky Wegscheid, Saint Paul Area Association of Realtors

Staff

Kim O'Brien, Executive Director

Madisen Rogers, Administrative

Manager

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