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.
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