Earlier this October, the Portland Metro Chamber, in collaboration with Greater Portland, Inc., led a delegation of 118 business and civic leaders to Minneapolis–St. Paul, Minnesota for this year’s Best Practices Trip. The goal: to connect with business, civic, and elected leaders from both Portland and the Twin Cities while exploring the parallels and possibilities between our two regions.
Minneapolis has long been identified as one of Portland’s peer regions, as recently noted in the Portland Metro Chamber’s 2025 State of the Economy report. Minneapolis and St. Paul, like Portland, experienced sharp job losses during the pandemic and have since seen a steady rebound. The Best Practices Trip provided an opportunity to deepen connections between Portland and the Twin Cities and understand how another region is tackling familiar challenges with creativity and collaboration.
Key trip takeaways
Building a stronger regional economy
Through sessions on city governance, sport and art drivers of economic development, talent retention, and business growth, attendees learned how the Twin Cities are leveraging partnerships to build an economy rooted in innovation, equity, and resilience. Attendees were impressed with the number of homegrown companies that remain in Minneapolis, with the interconnectedness of arts and sports in the Twin Cities, with urban universities as centers of employment and development of new talent, and with efforts to retain companies and jobs in both cities’ downtowns.
Revitalizing downtowns in a two-core city
With both Minneapolis and St. Paul serving as economic and cultural centers, the Twin Cities provide a rare case study in dual-core urbanism. The trip offered opportunities to explore how each city is investing in the revitalization of its downtown. Attendees heard from Mayor Jacob Frey, Chair of Hennepin County Council Irene Fernando, City Council Presidents for St. Paul (Rebecca Noecker) and Minneapolis (Elliott Payne), the downtown business association directors for St. Paul (Joe Spencer) and Minneapolis (Adam Duinick), and Attorney General Keith Ellison on topics including converting office space to residential living, supporting business and activations downtown, and addressing public safety concerns.
Harnessing the power of sports and stadium development
Major stadium projects like U.S. Bank Stadium—home of the Minnesota Vikings—have reshaped downtown and catalyzed adjacent growth in the Twin Cities. Attendees enjoyed a private tour of the Vikings stadium and panel conversation on the economic impact of stadium development, featuring Ted Mondale of OIC of America, Ted Johnson of Norden Strategies, Dave St. Peter of Twins, and Steve Vogel of U.S. Bank. The panel highlighted the importance of public-private collaboration in building major sports facilities and amplifying public support through activating stadiums for the arts and focusing on outreach around the state.
Sustaining investment into the arts community
The Twin Cities are home to one of the most vibrant performing arts scenes in the country. Minneapolis, in particular, is known for its support for live theater. Attendees visited cultural venues, including The State Theatre and The Orpheum, spoke with venue managers, and explored how creative districts are helping drive economic development and placemaking. Attendees also heard from leaders from arts organizations, including Hennepin Arts, Minnesota Citizens for the Arts, Minneapolis Foundation, and the City of Minneapolis’ Arts & Culture Affairs Department. This conversation emphasized how the arts and sports can have a mutually beneficial relationship; by working together, these industries can flourish in tandem—an important takeaway for application in Portland.
Activating riverfronts and public space
From the transformative Upper Harbor Terminal redevelopment to the award-winning Water Works Park and Mill District, the Twin Cities are leading the way in reconnecting urban communities with the river. Attendees participated in a guided walking tour of Water Works Park, where they met the planners and community leaders behind the vision, including multiple representatives from the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board (MPRB) and the Minneapolis Parks Foundation. They learned how the MPRB is reclaiming public access to the Mississippi River and improving cleanliness and safety in the city’s extensive public parks system.
The Best Practices Trip was invaluable! It broadened my perspective on what’s possible for Portland and gave me a clear look at what’s working in other cities. Seeing how others are tackling similar challenges sparked new ideas for how we can strengthen our work here at home. I came back inspired and energized, with deeper connections to people who are committed to making real change in our community.
Trip Photos
Thank you to our Trip Sponsors
Presenting Sponsor
Reception Sponsors
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Breakfast Sponsors
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Lunch Sponsors
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Airline + Travel Sponsor
Name Badge Sponsor
Program Sponsor
Notebook Sponsor
Post-Trip Debrief Sponsor
