This week, I want to share key takeaways from last week’s InterCity Leadership Visit to Detroit – a powerful and inspiring experience. If you’d like to hear more, join us for our Lunch with Leaders on November 12, focused on Downtown Revitalization. Joe Spencer of the Saint Paul Downtown Alliance will share Saint Paul’s updates and include insights from our Detroit visit. 
 
Detroit’s story is remarkable. After declaring bankruptcy in 2013, the city has made staggering progress. Leaders who spoke to us credited their turnaround to a shared mindset, “radical collaboration”:

1. No one was coming to save them — they had to act.
2. Government, business, and philanthropy had to collaborate.
3. They built a plan and made tough choices to execute it.

 
The results speak volumes: revitalized downtown, improved riverfront, reduced crime, and strong community pride. While they’ve only achieved about 5% of their long-term goals, the momentum is real — unified, focused, and inspiring (for context, the Time article “The Tragedy of Detroit” from October 2009 is a powerful read.)
 
On our final day, we asked: What is our Detroit moment? Must we face a similar existential crisis to find clarity and unity? Or can we learn and adapt now?
 
Detroit’s leaders described the MSP region as “one of the winners” over the past decade. Consider this: Saint Paul’s four vacant buildings pale in comparison to Detroit’s 30% population decline, 12 skyscrapers (their “dirty dozen”) either redeveloped or demolished and one more ahead with a $1.2B demolition price tag, $33K median income, and miles of abandoned homes/commercial properties.
 
One of our attendees to Detroit, Paul Campbell, Founder and CEO of Brown Venture Group, added his takeaways below.  He is very insightful!
 
I’m especially grateful for the perspectives each of you brought. The experience was enriched by your voices, and I’m looking forward to our Minnesota-side follow-up.
 
This morning, I asked myself: Could our Detroit moment be rooted in our strengths? Might our greatest assets also be our greatest vulnerabilities?
 
As Matt Lewis (GreaterMSP) noted, we’re in a time of rapid change. AI and the data centers powering it are reshaping every sector. Our region’s pride in hosting the highest per capita number of Fortune 500 companies could also mean greater exposure to workforce disruption. For example, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang predicts AI’s impact could reach $100 trillion across industries.
 
So, what does this mean for Minnesota’s workforce? What if we could redeploy talent from our legacy companies to launch and scale future firms — perhaps becoming the OEM backbone for emerging industries like Detroit’s mobility sector?
 
As the saying goes: “A smart person learns from their mistakes; a wise person learns from the mistakes of others.” Let’s be wise and learn from Detroit:

1. The cavalry isn’t coming — it’s already here. Let’s shift from benchmarking to trendsetting.
2. Let’s stop pointing fingers and start lifting each other up.
3. Knowledge and contribution aren’t cornered markets. We need collaboration across public, private, philanthropic, and community sectors — including voices that challenge our own.
4. Beware institutional complacency. Remember when Blackberry dismissed touchscreen phones? If we don’t stay hungry, humble, and smart, we risk losing our headquarters bragging rights.

 
See you in the trenches,
B

Before we begin, a couple of critical highlights: 
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• Did you see the MPR interview last week with Ramsey County Attorney John Choi? Saint Paul has seen a 70% reduction in homicides so far this year, and dramatic crime reductions across the board. Read the article to talk about the strategy. Worth celebrating! 
• Check out highlights from our 4th annual Career Connect Day.  
• And Twin Cities Startup Week was everything we’d hoped it would be. View the photo gallery here!

How is the economy doing? That depends on who you ask

Morning Consult’s latest data pegs the U.S. economic “temperature” at 63 degrees F, cooler than their “ideal” of 70 degrees F. That suggests conditions are cooling – but not dramatically. Inflation and unemployment both are edging upward, and consumer sentiment is slipping. While spending hasn’t yet declined, signs point to softer demand ahead. 

Mixed Signals from the Labor Market 

With government data delayed due to the shutdown, alternative sources offer conflicting views:  

• ADP reports a contraction in jobs
• Revelio Labs reports a modest increase
• The Chicago Fed recently released labor metrics, estimating that unemployment stayed close to its August level of 4.3%

The government shutdown clearly is adding uncertainty. Federal employees are furloughed, turning to savings to survive in the short term. Meanwhile, conversations I’ve had with manufacturers have been about the impact of tariffs on steel prices – and resulting layoffs.   
 
Consumer Confidence and Spending Trends

Consumer confidence is waning. Both Morning Consult and the University of Michigan’s Consumer Sentiment Index reflect that September marked the lowest confidence levels since April, erasing gains made over the summer. 

In Minnesota, the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis released the results of a new survey of Minnesota's tourism and hospitality sector — think hotels, food, drink, and entertainment. Over half reported declining profits, citing high prices and labor costs as major concerns. Reduced traffic and revenue are squeezing margins.

Inflation and ResilienceConsumers continue to feel the pinch of rising prices. Bloomberg reports a consensus estimate of 3.1% annual consumer price growth, the highest since May of 2024.  
 
Yet, despite these headwinds, consumer spending remains a bright spot. September marked the 8th consecutive month of positive year-over-year growth in consumer spending, according to Morning Consult. 
 
While the economy is by no means in a freefall, it’s clearly facing headwinds. Cooling labor markets, reheating inflation, and shaken consumer confidence paint a picture of cautious resilience. The coming months will be critical in determining whether this chill deepens – or if the economy can warm back up.  
 
See you in the trenches,
B

Historic Win: Congratulations to Sherman Associates for earning the Excellence in Historic Rehabilitation award for Landmark Tower at the Rethos gala last week. Strong field of competitors. Sherman leveraged historic tax credits to create an inspiring place – preserving history while fostering innovation and community connection. ​

Downtown Development:  The Saint Paul Downtown Development Corporation (SPDDC) has acquired the Alliance Bank Center building from Madison Equities, securing full ownership of this key downtown site after purchasing the property’s bank note earlier this year. A 12-month redevelopment evaluation is underway, with a robust community engagement process launching this fall to shape the vision for Saint Paul’s downtown core.

Public Safety Progress: St. Paul is on track for a 70% drop in homicides in 2025, and solving more than 70% of crimes overall. Ramsey County Attorney John Choi credits a new non-fatal shooting initiative.
United Village update: At last week’s Midway Chamber event, Dr. Bill McGuire shared progress on the project.  
Project Highlights

• Construction: 1,200 jobs currently on site.
• Traffic Impact: 11M cars annually on Snelling; 5M on University.
• Community Use: Playground and PK’s Place attract 4K–5K monthly (seasonal variation).

Key Features & Timeline

• Restaurants: Midway Diner (all-day meals) and pizza/coffee/gelato concept; target opening March 2026.
• Office Building: “Tree House” with retail (bank, bakery) and 300 office tenants; MN United likely moving in.
• Hotel: Boutique, community-focused; major partner secured; opening Spring 2027.
• Amenities: Community hall (150 capacity), daycare, greenspace (Bailey Gardens), skating rink/farmers market space.
• Housing: Accessible, affordable, aspirational design inspired by Peter Barber.

Culture & Activation

• Public Art: Murals by Ta-coumba Aiken, Seitu Jones; centerpiece by KAWS; multiple local artists engaged.
• Entertainment: New music venue (3,500–4,500 capacity), inspired by Prom Ballroom.
• Community Engagement: Goal is mix of local and regional visitors; emphasis on partnerships and cultural identity.

And did you know… the federal government is stopping production of pennies?  
See you in the trenches,
B