Northside Job Creation Team

Founded in 2012 with the goal of attracting sustainable-wage jobs to North Minneapolis by 2019, the Northside Job Creation Team (NJCT) is a collaboration representing major stakeholders across the University, the government sector, non-profits, local business owners and the faith community.  A complete roster can be found here. The team works with business owners and community leaders to identify potential sites for start-up businesses and company relocations. 

In October 2013, the NJCT received a $65,000 grant from the Minneapolis Foundation's Northside Funders Group to hire a project director and student researchers from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management to oversee the segments of the project.

The Schulze Family Foundation, the City of Minneapolis, Hennepin County, the Minneapolis Foundation, Northside Funders Group and the University of Minnesota have provided additional funding. The NJCT is a collaboration representing major stakeholders across the University, the government sector, non-profits, local business owners and the faith community.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the initiative’s history?
Sparked by a North Minneapolis job summit with Gov. Mark Dayton held at UROC in 2010, the NJCT grew out of years of legwork by members of the Urban Initiative Board, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, and former city council member Jackie Cherryholmes. The NJCT is now coordinated by UROC staff.

What are the initiative’s goals?
The NJCT’s goal is to attract 1,000 sustainable-wage jobs in North Minneapolis by 2019. To accomplish that goal, the NJCT will provide market research to capitalize on untapped leadership and resources

The NJCT is working toward reversing the deficit of living-wage jobs and large employment disparity in the communities of Near North and Camden in Minneapolis (known as the Northside). Local residents are rich in skills and diversity but living-wage jobs are badly needed. The unemployment rate is 16.8 percent, compared with 5.5 percent for the rest of Minneapolis. Many barriers create this high unemployment rate, including historical factors such as discriminatory lending practices and historically low home-ownership rates, as well as generational poverty, education and health disparities, and high rates of incarceration. These factors are interconnected and interact as a vicious cycle, where lack of stability in one area can cascade through all areas.

The NJCT coordinates with existing economic and vitality work, including Penn Avenue Community Works and Minneapolis’ planning around the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Promise Zone grant. The NJCT also works with the University's Office for Equity and Diversity to increase minority- and women-owned businesses contracting with the University.

Who are the partners?
The NJCT is made up of stakeholders from the University of Minnesota, City of Minneapolis, Urban Initiatives Board, Minneapolis Public Schools, Minneapolis Urban League, Pillsbury United Communities, workforce and training and placement agencies, and the Northside business and faith communities.

What are the community benefits?
The NJCT is working toward reversing the shortage of living-wage jobs and large employment disparity in the communities of the Near North and Camden neighborhoods in Minneapolis. The NJCT focuses on employment as a foundation for building community development and greater self-sufficiency in the targeted neighborhoods. A living-wage job creates income, which leads to more stable housing. Research shows that housing stability is directly correlated with academic achievement, health, and wellness.