Midtown Community Works Partner Profile

Peter McLaughlin

BACKGROUND

Peter McLaughlin has been involved in the public sector throughout his adult life, from his work immediately out of college as an aide to the Mayor of Trenton, N.J., to his years as a Minnesota State Representative, (1985-1990), to his current service as a Hennepin County Commissioner (1991 to present). He also has an extensive history of involvement in the business and nonprofit communities, including the Urban Coalition, the Minneapolis Community Business Employment Alliance, and organizations focused on the arts, housing, homelessness, and community development. He is a vigorous advocate of a stronger transit system, including LRT, and currently serves as the Chair of the Hennepin County Regional Rail Authority. Long an advocate of public/private partnerships as a model for accomplishing community development, he is a founding member of the Phillips Partnership and the Midtown Community Works Partnership.

Thoughts on MCW

“ The growth of effective strategic partnerships is among the most exciting and dynamic approaches to problem-solving that has emerged during my tenure as a County Commissioner. Through my involvement in numerous initiatives, I have learned the importance of mobilizing the strengths of the public and private sectors, and the community. With any initiative, success requires a clear, bold vision, workable strategies to make the vision a reality, and a deep sense of optimism in the face of barriers and cynicism. The Midtown Community Works Partnership is a great example of the effectiveness of this model. The partnership spans the spectrum of Greenway’s stakeholders—active community members; a strong presence from the various public entities; and enthusiastic and committed representatives from the private sector. As the public sector works to deliver more to its citizens on an ever-tightening budget, we are grateful for the additional talent, enthusiasm, and resources available to us through our strategic partnerships.

“ As we work toward revitalizing our south Minneapolis neighborhoods, we must remain mindful that development cannot occur in isolation, and that we must find new and innovative ways of reconnecting these communities to the broader regional economy. A key component to our strategy is fostering infrastructure and transit-oriented development that remains focused on the needs of the communities it serves. The Hiawatha LRT line, new freeway access to and from I-35W, and improvements to Lake Street are all important to achieving this goal. In addition to its obvious potential as a unique urban asset, the Midtown Greenway also has an important role to play. By providing a connection to the larger regional transit system, for instance, the Greenway will enable neighborhood residents to “reverse commute” and take advantage of employment opportunities in the southern suburbs. I am glad to join with the MCW strategic partners to help work on projects that will realize positive results for the people who live and work in Minneapolis.”