State lawmakers assess damage as St. Paul businesses rebuild

More than 100 businesses in the Twin Cities are now rebuilding after last week's destructive riots. Many of those are located in the Midway neighborhood on the west side of St. Paul.

The city of Minneapolis is looking for as much as $55 million in state and federal help rebuilding parts of the city.

But St. Paul and Ramsey County made it clear to state lawmakers that they also need help on the east side of the Mississippi River.

State lawmakers toured damaged and boarded up businesses along University Avenue in the Midway area Thursday.

Although the damage isn't as significant as some areas of Minneapolis, dozens of businesses were damaged and at least three buildings in Midway have already had to be torn down.

City and county government leaders said many of the businesses were already devastated by the economic shutdown from the COVID-19 pandemic and will need to increase the financial aid that was requested before the riots.

A special session of the Legislature is likely to begin on June 12, and financial aid to Minneapolis and St. Paul will definitely be on the growing agenda.