Restore-Rebuild-Reimagine Fund: How KA Is Giving Back and Making a Difference
By Brenden Nickels, Senior Office Assistant
When social unrest swept through Lake Street and Broadway Avenue in Minneapolis and University Avenue in St. Paul, after the death of George Floyd during the summer of 2020, it left many buildings either damaged or destroyed.
However, the owners of these buildings are finding ways to get back on their feet. Immediately after the unrest, a group of concerned builders met monthly to see how they could help. Kraus-Anderson, along with other contractors, discussed the damage that occurred and how to best move forward and rebuild.
The group also brainstormed ways in which the Twin Cities construction industry could improve, especially for women, BIPOC, and other historically underrepresented individuals / business owners working in construction.
Restore-Rebuild-Reimagine
These discussions ultimately led to the creation of the Restore-Rebuild-Reimagine Fund, a monetary pool created by the Minneapolis Foundation, a nonprofit intent on building strong communities throughout the Twin Cities. Interested donors engaged in a challenge grant, partnering with either the Lake Street Council, the West Broadway Business and Area Coalition, or the Midway Chamber of Commerce, and raised funds directed and distributed to help businesses that sustained structural damage in 2020. The goal is to raise $20 million within the coming year. As of June 2022, the fund raised more than $14 million.
The process involves:
- General contractors, like Kraus-Anderson, donate their time and expertise to meet with business owners to understand their needs and create work orders.
- The work orders are then submitted and approved by a Committee, led by the Minneapolis Foundation
- Approved work orders are completed by BIPOC-and women-owned small businesses in the local community, who are paid for their services.
One KA employee, Assistant Project Manager, Brendan Ward, has been involved with the RRR Fund since last October when he was informed of it by former KA Vice President / Director of Operations Terry Hart. KA suggested Ward be assigned to the Midway area, as KA has worked on a number of properties in that area of St. Paul and is also a member of the Midway Chamber of Commerce.
“It has been a rewarding and humbling experience,” said Ward. “Being able to help small business owners overcome some significant challenges makes me feel like I’m doing my part to revitalize the overall community.”
Construction on University Avenue
Most recently, Ward worked on upgrading the Little Saigon Market on University Avenue (shown below). Examples of the work being done on that building include: replacing signs, adding some new lighting, removing boards and fixing damaged storefronts, power washing any graffiti off, and fixing any paint or stucco that is also damaged.
“As we all know, Kraus-Anderson’s core purpose is ‘To Build Enduring Relationships and Strong Communities.’ If the RRR effort doesn’t fit that phrase, does anything?” said Kraus-Anderson Executive Vice President Rich Jacobson. “When we were approached to participate in this program, it was an easy ‘YES.’ The RRR Fund is an important mechanism for helping owners of these damaged buildings get back on their feet. It’s also a way to support many BIPOC-owned firms to build their capabilities and grow within our industry.”
CATEGORY: Community Involvement