West 7th/Fort Road Federation Launches New Sustainable Business Enhancements Grant
The West 7th/Fort Road Federation announced a new grant opportunity aimed at helping small businesses in the West 7th neighborhood reduce their environmental footprint while making site improvements.
The Sustainable Business Enhancements Grant, funded by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, offers up to $10,000 per business to support energy-efficient upgrades, green infrastructure installations and sustainable façade improvements.
“This is an opportunity for local businesses to make lasting, visible improvements that save energy, manage stormwater and contribute to a greener, more resilient West 7th,” said Julia McColley, Executive Director at the Federation. “We’re excited to see creative projects that align with our climate goals and showcase the vibrancy of our corridor.”
Examples of eligible projects include things like installing LED lighting, high-efficiency HVAC systems and solar shading, creating permeable pavement and eco-friendly façade upgrades.
Applications open August 1 and close at 5:00 PM CST on August 31, 2025.
The current grant opportunity is part of the Federation’s Revitalize West 7th Program, which awarded micro grants to five businesses in the neighborhood for facade improvements in March of this year.
Interested businesses must be located within St. Paul’s West 7th neighborhood (District 9) and can access application materials and program guidelines at fortroadfed.org/revitalize-west-7th.
The Federation says that priority will be given to independently owned businesses and projects that demonstrate clear environmental and community benefits. It will also take into account if a business has received past Revitalize West 7th funding,.
The Revitalize West 7th project is part of a broader effort to strengthen the corridor’s economic and environmental resilience in the face of climate change, rising utility costs and aging infrastructure.
For more information or to apply, visit fortroadfed.org/revitalize-west-7th or contact McColley at [email protected]
