Bringing Jobs to Saint Paul’s Eastside

The Saint Paul Port Authority has a successful track record attracting and protecting jobs across the City of Saint Paul. In most cases, we focus on light industrial companies that are positioned for growth, pay living wages, and offer both employee benefits and room for advancement. With Hillcrest, our goal is to bring 1,000 new jobs to Saint Paul’s Eastside.

Check out this Star Tribune article about jobs at Hillcrest.

Jobs on the Eastside

Did you know Cub Foods is District Two‘s largest employer? We’ve had numerous conversations with community leaders and most agree: The Eastside needs more jobs with higher pay. Let’s use 2019 as an example. Although unemployment had dipped below 6 percent before the pandemic, 33 percent of households still made less than $35,000/year. The fact is, having a job and thriving in a job aren’t always the same thing. Our goal is to change this.

*Source: Minnesota Compass

“On the Eastside, we have a very heavy immigrant, refugee, and working class community. A lot of folks don’t get the proper investment that they need to get jobs with Fortune 500 companies. [Hillcrest] is such a wonderful start to that.”

Council Member Nelsie Yang

Working Closer to Home

So what are the transportation issues? To start, most Eastsiders prefer a commute of 30 minutes or less to get to work (Source: Eastside Employment xChange data). And yet, according to Minnesota Compass, 39% of Eastsiders’ commutes exceed 30 minutes. Furthermore, 6% of households rely on public transportation and 12% don’t have a car. Having a living wage job, closer to home, alleviates these stress factors and provides a better pathway to financial stability.

“We know that transportation is a really significant barrier for many of the families on the Eastside. Bringing additional jobs to the Eastside is a really exciting way to open up new economic opportunities for residents.”

Rachel Speck, employer liaison, Eastside Employment Xchange.

“It’s an excellent idea having jobs in the neighborhood. Many residents are one car households so many could walk to work or bike to work. That’s really important for this area.”

Paul Skytte, District Two

Partnering with the Eastside Employment Exchange

How will Eastsiders learn about job opportunities coming to Hillcrest? Our partnership with the Eastside Employment xChange will play a big part in this initiative. Similar to the work they’ve done at Beacon Bluff, the Xchange will connect with employers to capture information about jobs, hiring processes, and ideal job candidates. They will then work with the employment agencies that work directly with residents to facilitate employer/employee matches.

“I love how the Saint Paul Port Authority is tied into the Eastside Employment Xchange. I think it’s brilliant because now we’re talking with different members of the communities of color and they are directly engaging to find out what are some of the [employment] challenges.”

William Schultz, owner, Vivid Concepts Media and ESABA board member

Light Industrial Neighbors

But what does it mean to live near a light industrial business? Let’s start with what light industrial isn’t. Light industry isn’t smokestacks, pollution, or dark, dank working conditions. On the contrary, light industry offers clean, safe environments. Light manufacturers tend to focus on consumer goods. In our other business centers, there are companies that brew beer, bake buns, manufacture medical devices, and other similar endeavors.

These businesses also make positive contributions to the City. While relocating, they make significant investments in the community. Once their doors open, they are eager to hire locally. In addition, light industrial employers tend to be more open to hiring people who have been in the justice system and need a second chance.

New jobs may be available at the Hillcrest site as early as 2024.