The Metropolitan Council on Nov. 12 approved $15,750,000 in Livable Communities Demonstration Account and transit-oriented development grants to support 15 development projects in 10 cities across the region.

Council staff said the grants are intended to increase access to housing, jobs, services and transit, supporting affordable housing, affordable homeownership, mixed-use development, public spaces and local small businesses. Staff reported 23 applications were received from cities including Apple Valley, Bloomington, Brooklyn Center, Columbia Heights, Cottage Grove, Falcon Heights, Hopkins, Little Canada, Minneapolis and St. Paul.

During the council meeting a member moved that “the Metropolitan Council award 15 Livable Communities Demonstration Account and Transit Oriented Development account grants as shown in Table 1 of the business item and authorize the executive director of community development to execute the grant agreements on behalf of the council.” The motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.

Councilmembers did not request amendments on the floor; one member noted the grants support local access to transit and affordable housing. The business item was taken as a non-consent action and carried in the meeting record.

Next steps: council staff will execute grant agreements and implement the projects as described in the business item attachments. The council did not record a roll-call tally in the meeting transcript; the approval was recorded as a voice vote.

Sources: Metropolitan Council business item presented Nov. 12, 2025.