Friends of Downtown Northfield

The Friends of Downtown Northfield works every day to advance the interests of Downtown Northfield building and business owners and to attract visitors to downtown. 

The Friends is the only organization in Northfield that is focused entirely on the health and vitality of downtown Northfield. For the last 22 years, we have filled an important gap by organizing, advocating, and implementing projects to benefit the entire downtown – work that requires financial support of donors like you!

Please consider making a gift of any size to help us pursue initiatives like our recent accomplishments:

• Partnered with the Riverwalk Market Fair to host Five Third Thursdays Downtown in 2023
• Awarded a grant from the Minnesota State Art's Board. Through a rigorous selection process, and partnership with Northfield's Arts and Culture Commission identified the top eight artists whose projects encompassed murals, poetry, interactive events, and mosaics. These selected artists were then supported in bringing their creative visions to life, enriching the community through vibrant public art installations and engaging cultural experiences. 
• Rebranded the organization formerly known at the Northfield Downtown Development Corporation as the "Friends of Downtown Northfield," which better aligns with our goals of securing broad support for and participation in keeping downtown strong.
• Renewed our accreditation with Main Street America, the leading national voice for preservation-based economic development and community revitalization. This means the Friends is in the top tier of Main Street programs across the country, and that we are successfully pursuing all four of MSA's approaches – Economic Vitality; Design; Promotion; Organization – to comprehensively revitalize our downtown district.
• Established a new relationship with the City of Northfield and strengthened support for the Main Street America program by making Assistant City Planner Revée Needham the coordinator of our MSA program and a liaison to the Friends board.
• Helped amplify initiatives such as the City's Tourism Recovery Grant Program and Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation programs such as free business coaching for Northfield entrepreneurs and an Inclusive and Equitable Communities Grant program for nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations.
  • Also submitted a letter of support for SMIF's grant application to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development for a successful Main Street Revitalization Grant

All of these activities took time, energy, and support. Great downtowns don't just happen! They require public and private investment and collaboration between many organizations and individuals.

A gift to the Friends will help us work together on a vibrant and vital downtown in 2023. Beyond working closely with the city, the Chamber of Commerce, and other organizations, we plan to stage Bridge Square Block Parties all summer; to support activities like Crazy Daze, the Riverwalk Market Fair, and the 2022 Hispanic Heritage Celebration; to offer another round of funding for Artists on Main Street; and to hold new public forums for business and property owners.

Thank you!

FODN Board of Directors

• Jane Bartho, Northfield Chamber of Commerce
• Max Boardman, Northfield High School Youth Member
• Audrey Hinman, Northfield High School Youth Member
• Francisco Murillo, Northfield Public Library
• Daniel Hollerung (Secretary), St Olaf College
• Teresa Jensen, Consultant to City of Northfield
• Cody Larson, Little Joy Coffee and Groundwire Coffee Roasters
• Amy Peterson, The Measuring Cup and Monarch Gift Shop
• Aaron Street, Remaking Ventures
• Christopher Tassava (President), Carleton College
• Josh Zimmerman (Treasurer), Salesforce

The Friends is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, so your contribution is tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. You can rest assured we will continue to do all we can to support the people and places that make downtown Northfield so great.