RECORD OF SUCCESS

From making the Cirrus Innovation Center possible to securing Costco to saving the paper plant; from investing in start-ups to actively recruiting hundreds of millions of dollars in new development investment across the city, we’ve never been in a stronger economic position.

• Oversaw a record number of building permits – with interest in new businesses and development continuing to grow.

• 2023 marks our fourth consecutive year of record private sector investment – with a half billion dollars of investment in 2021 alone.

• Created Mayor’s Downtown Task Force which provided 27 recommendations for re-envisioning and strengthening downtown - the heart of our city.

• Streamlined city permitting process making it more effective and responsive.

From growing good job opportunities for women, persons of color, and other traditionally under resourced people, to targeted community investment, to re-envisioning our tourism strategy, we’re building an inclusive economy built around what makes Duluth unique, our people and place.

• Created Community Investment Zones – Lincoln Park/Central Hillside – to prioritize “barometer neighborhoods” for an all of City/Community approach and target persistent inequities. The Lincoln Park craft district is one example of success.

• Convened BIPOC businesses and created first ever BIPOC Business Directory.

• Set business subsidy workforce criteria for city investments to grow good job opportunities for women, persons of color, and other traditionally socially disadvantaged people.

• Eliminated the previous “pay to play” approach to tourism marketing and promotion

• Launched a new tourism strategy to connect tourism’s economic impact to city-wide businesses and amenities. Since implementing, we are leading the state in hotel occupancy and are up 13% in tourism tax collections over 2019.

• Established a new vision with Spirit Mountain and the Zoo - for the first time in recent memory, both treasured spaces made money and have a bright future.

• Initiated, in partnership with the Duluth Chamber of Commerce and Northland Foundation, our first cohort of new entrepreneurs supported through the Builders + Backers Idea Accelerator.

From launching a new Housing Trust Fund, to creating a new Housing planning position, to developing incentives to attract innovative new developments, we’ve made unprecedented investments in housing. Under Mayor Larson’s leadership, we’ve seen the largest growth in affordable housing in 30 years.

• Since 2016 we have added over 1,700 new housing units across Duluth.

• With LISC, we launched Duluth’s Housing Trust fund with a $16 million start-up private-public investment to help build housing across income levels coupled with the $19 million from the American Rescue Plan targeting affordability.

• In the past year, we have invested in more than 350 new units of housing – and 500 units are currently being planned in downtown alone.

• Created ReBuild Duluth to stimulate innovative projects to infill empty Duluth lots – this program has attracted dozens of innovative housing projects, such as tiny house construction for otherwise unbuildable narrow lots.

• Identified priority sites within neighborhoods across the city to add density and increase housing options.

From streets, sewers, and stormwater, to rebuilding the Lakewalk, to ensuring access to reliable high-speed internet for everyone, we’ve invested in strengthening the basic systems we all need to thrive.

• Achieved an 850% increase in street repairs—2 miles a year when we took office to 17 miles this past year.

• Doubled the number of street maintenance workers.

• Achieved a 100% patch rate for the first time in 20 years.

• Created and implemented the Duluth Street Plan with $7 million a year long-term funding from a dedicated sales tax.

• Rebuilt Superior Street and underlying steam pipes, conserving 20 million gallons of Lake Superior water every year and providing an energy savings for hot water customers of 26%, on average.

• Rebuilt the Lakewalk and Seawall by the DECC, and finally fixed the Minnesota Slip “blue bridge”

• Secured $1,000,000 in federal money to assist the Aerial Lift Bridge repair work.

• Established and are implementing a plan to remove lead from city and private pipes.

• Pledged all Duluth residents and businesses would have access to affordable, reliable high-speed internet by 2028 -- collecting data now to open our broadband pilot project to 1900 Lincoln Park residents.

From committing to net-zero by 2050, to creating a first, ever Sustainability office, to unprecedented investments in energy efficiency, to partnering to build new renewable projects, we’re making Duluth a leader in the emerging clean energy economy

• Achieved a 32% reduction in the city’s municipal greenhouse gas emissions since taking office.

• Committed to the Cities Race to Zero to achieve net zero carbon-neutrality by 2050; a 50% reduction by 2030.

• Implemented multiple firsts:
→ Community-City Energy Plan Commission to guide municipal energy savings/transformation
→ Sustainability Officer position to catalyze and shepherd sustainability and climate efforts
→ Developed and are implementing a Climate Action Work Plan with cross-departmental shared goals

• Secured over $9 million in sustainability and energy transformation grants for the City, since 2020.

• Created a transition plan for Duluth’s coal-fired Steam Plant to renewables – to date, coal usage reduced by 92% and greenhouse gas emissions reduced by 20%.

• Received recognition for our work by winning the coveted Environmental Initiative Climate and Energy Award for Decarbonizing Duluth.

• Partnered with MN Power to build 1.6-megawatt solar farm on city property.

• Implemented energy efficiency investments in lighting and buildings which have saved energy while garnering over $63,000 in energy saving rebates.

• Secured long term solar energy deal with MN Power resulting in over $340,000 in energy savings.

• Added city-owned solar assets at the Library, Lester Ski Trail, and Canal Park, which have produced almost 300,000 kilowatt hours of electricity, and $30,000 in savings.

• Adopted new “Building Owner Performance Requirements” for all City-owned buildings with an emphasis on energy efficiency.

From providing innovative mental health and opioid crisis response support for first responders, to strengthening downtown policing, to implementing Community Policing 2.0, we’ve worked to make Duluth’s public safety professionals the most effective, most trusted, best supported in the state. And as a result, we’ve achieved at 22% reduction in crime under Mayor Emily Larson’s leardership.

• Hired, with community involvement, two police chiefs (Chief Mike Tusken and Chief Mike Ceynowa) both committed to taking Duluth’s Police Department to Community Policing 2.0 - a new higher level of community engagement and trust building.

• Developed a robust intentional recruitment effort to attract and retain a diverse group of talented and compassionate police officers.

• Created Substance Abuse Response Team (SURT) - focusing on opioid users to help assist them with finding treatment and other harm reduction strategies.

• Collaborated with HDC to create/fund the Crises team – the CORE team is made up of peace officers, social workers, and a Registered Nurse.

• Adopted 50 new policies, and revised nearly 50 more, to advance Duluth to become Minnesota’s first public safety department to reach CALEA accreditation - the platinum standard for community-trusted policing.

• Implemented a racial bias audit, training, and tracking statistics to eliminate racial inequity.

• Expanded police-community engagement – e.g., youth fishing trips and ice cream trucks to provide opportunities for different types of community conversations.

• Revived the conversation about “community courts” to address chronic offenders through targeted plans that address their behaviors and meet their needs.

• Funded, with leadership and support with the Duluth City Council, wage increases and protective gear for Duluth Police.

• Worked with the community to adopt policies directing interaction and engagement with undocumented and unsheltered populations.

• Invested in a street outreach worker for Greater Downtown Council / Downtown Duluth to support proactive public safety contact.

From investing in the maintenance and safety of our parks, to re-establishing youth programming, to providing recreational equipment for those without, we’ve worked to make sure that all Duluthians, regardless of income or neighborhood, can enjoy the outdoor spaces that make Duluth unique.

• Invested in restoring Duluth’s destination parks through seven major park renovations including Lincoln Park which received the only National Park funding designation in Minnesota.

• Re-established youth programming in five core parks by funding youth-serving organizations.

• Built Waabizheshikana Trail – formerly known as the Western Waterfront Trail, this path now reflects an honest story and depiction of our current and ancestral story.

• Bridged the Adventure Gap by building equity into park programs to make parks accessible and funding adventure and outdoor equipment for those who do not have or cannot afford it.

• Identified key green spaces to protect in Duluth’s comprehensive plan.

• Established with clarity Duluth’s status as a nationally significant outdoor recreation destination.

• Constructed 20 miles of special use trails, 15 miles of new or renewed wheelchair-accessible trails, 10 new or renewed playgrounds, and 18 new or renewed sport courts.

From hiring, to launching a first-ever City Equity Action team, to creating a “one-stop” source to access and voice complaints about city services, we’ve worked to make equity and community involvement central to the way we do our work.

• Convened a community-wide effort to write Duluth’s Comprehensive plan – Imagine Duluth 2035 – with an explicit new emphasis on equity and sustainability.

• Elevated the Duluth’s Human Rights Officer into the Mayor’s office.

• Created a “one stop” report center for Duluthians to access city services or register complaints on potholes, snow issues, and more.

• Initiated City Hall in the City to bring key administration leaders to engage with residents in their own neighborhoods.

• Established an internal Equity Action Team to drive equity efforts within the city administration and workforce.

• Partnered with City Council to create LGBTQ+ Commission and African Heritage Commission while simultaneously prioritizing and diversifying Board and Commission recruitment.

• Implemented equity-informed budgeting including a community-led Priority Based Budgeting system with community input.