Minneapolis’ Resilience Journey

With strong commercial, financial, and transportation industries, Minneapolis excels in many measures of prosperity. However, that prosperity is not felt equally across the city: only 36% of black students graduate from high school in four years, and black city residents are three times more likely to be out of work than white residents. The City of Minneapolis believes that a more inclusive economy that provides more opportunities for people of color is imperative for long-term economic growth and stability.

The city is one of the busiest rail hubs in the US, with daily shipments of crude oil and ethanol passing in proximity to residential neighborhoods and the Mississippi River. The City of Minneapolis is concerned that a hazardous material incident could impact up to a quarter of the city’s population, straining response capabilities that would need to span multiple agencies.

The city is also actively preparing for climate risk, which will likely include more heavy rain events, high windstorms, and heatwaves, and the ensuing strain these events will place on urban infrastructure.