Edina launches support programs for businesses hit by Highway 100 work
The Edina City Council approved a series of initiatives Tuesday to help local businesses weather the economic disruption caused by ongoing Highway 100 interchange reconstruction. The programs aim to encourage residents to shop locally while major ramps remain closed through mid-November.
The city is rolling out several concrete measures to support the roughly 2,000 small businesses in Edina that depend on steady customer traffic. A loyalty passport program will reward shoppers who visit participating businesses in the Grand View and 50th in France districts. The city is also funding prize drawings through gift card purchases and organizing special promotions during Restaurant Week, scheduled for September 21-25.
Free monthly activities at 50th in France will give residents additional reasons to visit the area during construction. The Highway 100 interchange project requires closing ramps at Vernon Avenue and West 50th Street until mid-November, creating significant traffic disruptions that could hurt nearby retailers and restaurants.
City officials emphasized the importance of community solidarity during the construction period. "There's more than 2,000 businesses in Edina and the vast majority of those are locally owned small businesses," one speaker said. "Those local businesses depend on us to survive and thrive." Another official noted that "where you spend your local dollars really does matter," calling on residents to view the construction period as an opportunity to strengthen the local economy.
The council's approval of these city-led initiatives represents a coordinated effort to minimize economic harm while the highway work continues. Residents looking to support affected businesses can participate in the loyalty program and take advantage of the Restaurant Week promotions and free community activities in the coming weeks.
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City Initiatives to Mitigate Economic Impact of Highway 100 Reconstruction on Local Businesses
The City of Edina has launched several programs to encourage residents to support local, small businesses affected by the Highway 100 interchange reconstruction project. These include a loyalty passport program for shoppers at participating Grand View and 50th in France businesses, prize drawings funded by gift card purchases, promotions during 'Restaurant Week' (September 21st-25th), and free monthly activities at 50th in France. The core message emphasizes the importance of community spending within the city to help local businesses thrive through the construction disruption, which includes ramp closures at Vernon Avenue and West 50th Street until mid-November.
There's more than 2,000 businesses in Adina and the vast majority of those are locallyowned small businesses. Those local businesses depend on us to survive and thrive.
Projects like this one are a really great time for the residents to really come together and back our local business community. It's important to understand that where you spend your local dollars really does matter.
Source document
[Music] Welcome to Agenda Edina, a program summarizing the actions taken at city hall that affect you most. I'm your host, Dorothia Marty. Even with road construction making it a little tougher to get around, Edina residents are encouraged to keep shopping and dining in the heart of the city. In midepptember, most Highway 100 ramps at Vernon Avenue and West 50th Street will be closed for the final major phase of the interchange reconstruction project. To help nearby businesses weather the disruption, the city is reminding everyone that shopping local matters. >> There's more than 2,000 businesses in Adina and the vast majority of those are locallyowned small businesses. Those local businesses depend on us to survive and thrive. >> To support businesses during this construction, the city has launched a district-wide loyalty program. Shoppers can collect stamps when they eat or shop at participating businesses in the Grand View or 50th in France business districts. Completed passports are entered into prize drawings funded through gift cards purchased from Grand View and 50th in France shops and restaurants with support from Explore Edina. The city also has promotions planned during restaurant week September 21st through 25th. Watch the city's social media channels for details and more chances to win. Families can also look forward to free activities at 50th in France each month until the highway interchange reopens in mid November. >> Projects like this one are a really great time for the residents to really come together and back our local business community. It's important to understand that where you spend your local dollars really does matter.
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