The Metropolitan Council has announced an investment of $15.75 million in a series of development and redevelopment projects aimed at expanding affordable housing, preserving existing units, and improving access to transit and employment across the seven-county metro area.
This funding, which comes from the council’s Livable Communities Demonstration Account and Transit-Oriented Development programs, is primarily supported by taxpayer dollars collected through a regional property-tax levy authorized under Minnesota law.
The grants, totaling $15.75 million, have been awarded to 15 projects located in Apple Valley, Bloomington, Cottage Grove, Brooklyn Center, Columbia Heights, Falcon Heights, Hopkins, Little Canada, Minneapolis, Saint Paul, and the Saint Paul Port Authority.
According to the council, the 2025 grants will facilitate the construction of 1,672 new affordable housing units while preserving 306 existing affordable homes and adding 484 market-rate units. Overall, these developments are anticipated to provide a total of 2,462 housing units for the region.
Additionally, these projects are expected to create or retain 969 jobs, with 817 of those classified as living-wage positions that include benefits. The awards are part of the council’s commitment to its Livable Communities Demonstration Account and Transit-Oriented Development programs, which prioritize initiatives that promote housing near transit and essential services. These programs emphasize efficient land use, mixed-income housing, and connections to employment opportunities.
Sarah Berke, senior manager for Housing and Livable Communities at the Met Council, said the region’s affordability challenges continue to deepen.
“Families across the Twin Cities are finding it harder than ever to afford a place to call home,” Berke said. “These grants support communities working with developers to create much-needed housing, enabling people to live in the cities where they work. The financing to build and preserve affordable housing is extremely complex and relies on many partners.”
The income mix for the 1,672 newly funded affordable units includes:
- 300 units for households earning up to 30 percent of the area median income (AMI), or roughly $39,700 annually for a family of four
- 355 units for households earning 31–50 percent AMI ($39,701–$66,200)
- 1,017 units for households earning 51–80 percent AMI ($66,201–$104,200)
According to the Met Council, demand for this year’s funding outpaced the supply. The council received 24 applications totaling $33.1 million, which is more than double the available funds. Proposals reportedly underwent a multi-stage review by council staff and the Livable Communities Advisory Committee, an external body of subject matter experts. Grants were awarded to the highest-scoring eligible projects in accordance with existing geographic and award guidelines.
The Met Council stated that the Livable Communities program will open its next funding round in 2026, with updated guidelines expected to be released next year.
