We don't just develop real estate. We develop futures—reconnecting North Minneapolis to the prosperity it was always owed.
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About Us
A Developer Rooted in Community
With more than 25 years of culturally grounded engagement and 30 years of urban development experience, RiverNorth delivers projects that uplift rather than displace.
Our work goes beyond buildings—it's about creating ecosystems where people, businesses, and communities succeed together. Not gentrification. Liberation.
500+
Direct jobs created in Phase 1
$50M
New land value through reclamation
2×
Economic multiplier effect
Social Impact
Real Estate as a Tool for Justice
RiverNorth utilizes real estate development in collaboration with existing community, economic, and workforce training to nurture long-overdue, place-based investments.
The combination of real estate investment and impact investment achieves perceptible quality-of-life improvements in areas of historical marginalization like North Minneapolis.
OUR PROMISE
"Growth that uplifts, not displaces, Northside residents."
What We Do
Equity at the Core of Development
We connect real estate investment with social impact across three pillars:
Workforce Ecosystems
Career pathways for residents built around jobs requiring only a high school diploma and 6–12 months of short-term training. No four-year degree required to build a middle-class life.
Anchor Employers
Recruiting mid-sized companies committed to family-sustaining wages of $55K–$75K+ with benefits—employers who see community investment as smart business strategy.
Community Wealth
Giving residents a real stake in the growth through cooperative ownership models, profit-sharing, and investment opportunities—wealth that stays in the community.
Our Core Project
RiverNorth Broadway
A four-phase economic development initiative designed to bring middle-market employers to the heart of North Minneapolis. Each phase includes spaces and programming that support workforce training, job placement, and business growth.
Require only a high school diploma
Offer 6–12 month training pathways
Start at $55K+ with full benefits
Support long-term professional advancement
Why It Matters
From Disconnection to Opportunity
North Minneapolis, like many neighborhoods impacted by redlining and unjust transportation development, has endured decades of disinvestment and isolation. RiverNorth is reversing that history.
Creating hundreds of high-quality jobs in biomedical technology and semiconductor-adjacent industries
Partnering with workforce organizations to prepare residents for these careers
Reconnecting neighborhoods to the riverfront through the proposed land bridge
In Support Of
The RiverNorth Foundation
The RiverNorth Foundation's mission is to provide professional training to people from marginalized communities to be employed in professional jobs by local employers within their own community.
Addressing racial disparities and social justice through employment training, targeted within the geographic boundaries of North Minneapolis—directly benefits individuals and makes the community strong, resilient and complete.
"The question isn't whether North Minneapolis will grow. The question is whether its residents will own a piece of that growth."
— RiverNorth Development Partners
Ready to Build Something That Lasts?
Join us in transforming Greater Minneapolis—one block, one job, one family at a time.
About RiverNorth
A Minneapolis-based real estate development company creating an employment district on West Broadway—integrating real estate, workforce development, and community wealth-building.
Our Mission
We Deliver Measurable Social Impact
We integrate real estate, workforce development, and community wealth-building to deliver measurable, lasting social impact—not just square footage.
Place-Based Real Estate
Revitalizing West Broadway and reconnecting it to the Mississippi River through thoughtful, community-centered development.
Workforce Development
Training and connecting Northside residents with high-paying, skill-based jobs that don't require a four-year degree.
Community Wealth Creation
Giving residents a real stake in the growth through investment opportunities, cooperative ownership, and profit-sharing models.
Why Greater Minneapolis
From Disinvestment to Opportunity
The Broadway corridor has faced decades of disinvestment, economic isolation, and physical barriers like the I-94 highway. We are reversing that story — turning underutilized land into a vibrant hub of employment, innovation, and community connection.
Anchored at 201 W Broadway Avenue, our site sits along the planned Blue Line light rail extension, opening new access to jobs and economic activity.
Our vision isn't abstract — it's measurable, trackable, and built to last. This project will:
Increase household income for 75 families from under $35K to over $55K
Reduce the number of cost-burdened households
Expand pathways to homeownership
Renew economic activity and vitality on West Broadway Avenue
Address workforce shortages for local employers
Narrow generational wealth disparities
Interrupt cycles of generational poverty
Our Development Philosophy
Community-Rooted. Community-Directed.
RiverNorth Development Partners is a community-rooted, North Minneapolis-based real estate firm dedicated to equitable revitalization. We combine over 25 years of culturally grounded community engagement with more than 30 years of real estate development experience to create projects that uplift rather than displace. By integrating real estate investment with social-purpose employment strategies and wraparound support systems, we ensure our developments generate long-term value for residents.
Our Journey
Decades of Community Trust
1994
Community Roots Established
Over 25 years of culturally grounded engagement begins—building relationships and trust in North Minneapolis neighborhoods.
2010s
Urban Development Vision Takes Shape
30+ years of urban and in-fill development experience informs a new model: development that uplifts rather than displaces.
2020
RiverNorth Broadway Concept Launches
The four-phase RiverNorth Broadway development initiative is conceived—a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform West Broadway.
2024
Phase 1 Development Begins
Ground breaks on the first phase of RiverNorth Broadway, with anchor employer recruitment, workforce training integration, and community ownership models in place.
2040
The Vision Realized
A fully integrated employment district connecting North Minneapolis residents to family-sustaining careers, riverfront access, and generational wealth opportunities.
Impact in Action
Our Model Delivers Measurable Results
Transforming potential into prosperity—here's what the numbers say.
200–500
Direct jobs created in the first development phases
1.5–2×
Economic multiplier generating new businesses and indirect jobs
$50M
New land value through reclamation and redevelopment
Affordable housing, green space, and community ownership woven into every project.
"We don't build in communities—we build with them. Every brick laid is a promise kept."
— RiverNorth Development Partners
Join Us in Transforming Greater Minneapolis
One block, one job, one family at a time.
The RiverNorth District
A four-phase economic development corridor on West Broadway—the most significant investment in North Minneapolis in a generation.
Core Project
RiverNorth Broadway
RiverNorth Broadway is a four-phase economic development initiative designed to bring middle-market employers to the heart of North Minneapolis. Each phase includes spaces and programming that support workforce training, job placement, and business growth.
Rather than relying on traditional attraction strategies, RiverNorth focuses on building industry clusters that reflect community strengths—targeting sectors like biomedical technology, semiconductor-adjacent industries, and creative/post-production.
Development Phases
Four Phases. One Vision.
Each phase builds on the last—creating a self-reinforcing ecosystem of jobs, training, and community wealth.
Phase 01
Anchor Employer Hub
The foundational phase establishes the first anchor employer buildings along West Broadway, integrating ground-floor workforce training spaces and creating 200–300 direct jobs in biomedical and tech-adjacent sectors.
Phase 02
Washington Avenue Corridor
Expanding along Washington Avenue with additional commercial space, a community innovation center, and direct connections to transit infrastructure to maximize accessibility for Northside residents.
Phase 03
Mixed-Use Residential + Retail
Integrating affordable housing with ground-floor retail, ensuring that the people who work in the district can also live and thrive there. Community ownership structures built in from day one.
Phase 04
Riverfront Reconnection
The culminating phase reconnects North Minneapolis to the Mississippi River through the proposed land bridge—restoring a historically severed connection and creating green public space for all residents.
Industry Focus
Jobs That Build Middle-Class Lives
We target sectors where community members can enter with accessible credentials and advance to family-sustaining incomes:
Biomedical technology manufacturing and assembly
Semiconductor-adjacent component industries
Creative and post-production studios
Local business incubation and supply chains
TARGET SECTORS
Biomedical Technology
Entry: High school diploma + 6–12 months Starting: $55K–$65K + benefits
Semiconductor-Adjacent
Entry: High school diploma + 12 months Starting: $60K–$75K + benefits
Creative/Post-Production
Entry: Portfolio + short-form training Starting: $45K–$70K depending on role
The RiverNorth Foundation · 501(c)(3)
The RiverNorth Workforce Ecosystem
The RiverNorth Foundation—a 501(c)(3)—ensures that business and job growth in the District directly benefits North Minneapolis residents. The Foundation oversees a competency-based workforce model that:
Real-World Skills Training
Trains residents in employer-aligned, real-world skills with short-term credentialing over traditional four-year degrees.
Wraparound Support
Provides mentorship, job placement, and transportation assistance—removing the barriers that prevent qualified residents from getting hired.
Partner Network
Coordinates with EMERGE, Summit Academy, Twin Cities RISE, Hennepin Technical College, Dunwoody Institute, and Minneapolis College.
Place-Based Employment
The RiverNorth District provides a home in which businesses will hire newly trained North Minneapolis residents—keeping jobs and wages local.
"This isn't just a development project. It's a declaration that North Minneapolis deserves world-class investment."
— The RiverNorth Vision
Be Part of This Story
Partner with us to make the RiverNorth District a reality for North Minneapolis.
Partner With Us
Invest in North Minneapolis—and earn returns that are financial, social, and generational. This is impact investing with real estate fundamentals.
The Opportunity
A Rare Alignment of Risk, Return & Impact
RiverNorth Broadway represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to invest in an undervalued asset at the inflection point of a major community transformation. As anchor employers arrive and the workforce ecosystem matures, land values and rental income grow—delivering returns to investors while creating irreversible community wealth.
INVESTMENT HIGHLIGHTS
Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) eligible—tax credit potential
Opportunity Zone designation—significant capital gains deferral
New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) eligible project
ESG-aligned investment with measurable community impact metrics
Projected Returns
Financial Returns. Social Returns. Both.
$25–50M
New land value created through reclamation
1.5–2×
Economic multiplier on direct investment
500+
Direct jobs creating sustained rental demand
Why Invest
What Makes RiverNorth Different
We've built a model that delivers returns while doing what's right. Here's what sets us apart:
Demand-Driven Development
We bring anchor employers to the table before building—reducing vacancy risk and ensuring every square foot has a purpose from day one.
Built-In Workforce Pipeline
Our partnership with workforce training organizations means employers get pre-trained local talent—reducing turnover and increasing employer retention in the district.
Community as Stakeholder
When community members are co-investors and co-owners, they become advocates for the project's success—reducing political risk and increasing long-term stability.
Experienced Leadership
30+ years of urban development experience combined with 25+ years of community trust-building—we've done this before and we know how to execute.
Policy Alignment
RiverNorth Broadway aligns with Minneapolis 2040 plan, state economic development priorities, and federal opportunity zone and NMTC programs.
ESG Impact Reporting
We provide rigorous, transparent impact reporting on jobs created, wages paid, community wealth built, and environmental sustainability metrics.
"Investing in North Minneapolis isn't charity. It's recognizing value that the market has systematically underpriced."
— RiverNorth Investment Thesis
Ready to Invest in Something Real?
Request our full investment prospectus or schedule a conversation with our team.
Minneapolis 2040
The city's comprehensive plan for growth, equity, and sustainability—and how RiverNorth is at the forefront of making it real in North Minneapolis.
The Plan
A City Reimagining Its Future
Minneapolis 2040 is the city's comprehensive plan—a framework for how Minneapolis grows through 2040. It calls for equitable, sustainable development that creates opportunity for all residents, not just those in historically advantaged neighborhoods.
RiverNorth Broadway is the kind of project Minneapolis 2040 was written for. We align on every key priority: housing affordability, workforce development, transit connectivity, climate resilience, and racial equity.
Our Alignment
How RiverNorth Delivers on 2040
Every element of our development model maps directly to Minneapolis 2040 priorities:
Racial Equity & Inclusion
Minneapolis 2040 centers racial equity as a foundational goal. RiverNorth targets North Minneapolis—a community historically harmed by redlining and urban renewal—with development that builds, not extracts, community wealth.
Affordable Housing
Our mixed-use phases integrate affordable housing units with community ownership structures, directly addressing Minneapolis's affordability crisis while preventing displacement of existing residents.
Economic Development
By attracting anchor employers in growing sectors and building workforce pipelines, we create sustainable economic growth rooted in the community—not dependent on outside commuters.
Transportation & Connectivity
The RiverNorth District is positioned along existing transit corridors and designed to maximize walkability and bike access—reducing car dependency and expanding mobility for all residents.
Climate Resilience
Our development standards incorporate green building practices, stormwater management, tree canopy expansion, and the proposed land bridge that will restore riverfront ecological function.
Neighborhood Vitality
Mixed-use development that combines employment, housing, retail, and green space creates the dense, walkable neighborhoods that Minneapolis 2040 envisions for every corner of the city.
The Vision
North Minneapolis in 2040
Imagine North Minneapolis in 2040. Children growing up blocks from where their parents work—good jobs, no commute. A land bridge where a highway barrier once stood, connecting neighborhoods to the river. Local businesses owned by community members who invested early and benefited as the district grew.
That's the future we're building. Not someday. Now.
2025
Phase 1 ground breaks. First anchor employers break ground. Workforce training begins.
2028
Phases 2 & 3 complete. 300+ residents employed within the district. Mixed-use residential opens.
2035
Land bridge opens. North Minneapolis reconnected to the Mississippi River waterfront.
2040
Vision fully realized. A self-sustaining employment district generating wealth for the community that built it.
"Minneapolis 2040 is a plan. RiverNorth is the execution. The future starts on West Broadway."
— RiverNorth Development Partners
Help Us Build the Minneapolis of 2040
Whether you're an investor, employer, or community partner—there's a role for you.
