Asian Economic Development Association – Little Mekong, St. Paul, MN
The Asian Economic Development Association (AEDA) implemented Arts-Driven Place-Making in 2012, after light rail construction along the University Avenue corridor threatened culturally significant small businesses in the neighborhood. With their limited profit margins, client base, and access to capital, many Asian immigrant businesses lost revenue or closed.
In response, AEDA worked with local artists and small business owners to launch the annual Little Mekong Night Market in 2015. The market’s goal is to preserve cultural arts by providing technical assistance to small businesses and using creative arts to draw visitors to the neighborhood, highlighting its diverse communities. Today the market serves 80 Asian- and BIPOC-owned small businesses and draws thousands of visitors each year.