What if every neighbor could shape the future of their community—not just with ideas, but with tools grounded in belonging, culture, and prosperity?
Welcome to the Belonging Economy Generator—a powerful civic innovation tool created by Dr. Bruce Corrie and the Belonging Institute. Designed especially for residents of Saint Paul, this generator helps you analyze and frame your project, policy idea, or community plan through 10 powerful principles of shared prosperity and belonging.
Whether you’re crafting a funding pitch, building a new community hub, or trying to make sense of how your idea could affect different neighborhoods, this tool is your guide.
🧠What Does the Generator Do?
The Generator evaluates any civic idea using a Belonging Economy Scorecard. It gives you a score (1–5) across 10 categories that matter most to creating a just and vibrant Saint Paul—things like environmental justice, youth leadership, shared wealth, and cultural power.
Even better? The tool is multilingual (yes, you can use it in Spanish, Hmong, and more), and carbon-offset thanks to Clime Co.
And because it draws on real planning documents, maps, and data from the City of Saint Paul and Ramsey County—including the Saint Paul 2040 Comprehensive Plan, Climate Action Plan, Cultural Destination Map, zoning tools, and vacant property lists—your evaluation is rooted in real-world policy.
🌟 Why It Matters
This isn’t just another survey or planning document. The Generator turns every Saint Paul resident into a civic innovator. It gives you the vocabulary, vision, and framework to think like a community developer, grant writer, city planner—and most importantly, a changemaker.
🔍 Test Drive the Generator
Use the tool to evaluate ideas like:
- A 50-unit affordable housing project in Como Park.
- A youth-led arts entrepreneurship program on the East Side.
- A cultural food market powered by local entrepreneurs in Frogtown.
Each project gets assessed through 10 principles (see below), and you’ll get constructive feedback and ideas to make it even stronger.
đź’ˇ The Scorecard: 10 Principles of a Belonging Economy
- Shared Wealth and Community Ownership
- 21st Century Talent Development
- Belonging for All
- Climate Resilience & Sustainability
- Cultural Assets as Economic Drivers
- Creative, Non-Tax-Based Financing
- Empowering Youth
- Digital and Data Ownership for All
- Inclusive Innovation Ecosystems
- Intergenerational Wealth and Stability
Each category includes specific, equity-focused questions that help you refine your idea.
🎯 Ready to Try It?
👉 Click here to launch the Belonging Economy Generator
Start by entering the details of your project—be as specific as possible, including the neighborhood or location. The more detail you share, the more tailored your insights will be.
🧠Ask Nivo—your Belonging Economy Guide—will walk you through your evaluation.
đź“Ł Join the Beta Test Team!
We’re building this tool together, and your voice matters. Share feedback, ideas, or results with Dr. Bruce Corrie at corrie@ibelonghere.me. Help shape the future of civic engagement in Saint Paul.
✨ You’re not just proposing a project. You’re building the Saint Paul we all belong to.
Here’s an evaluation of the proposed 50-unit affordable housing apartment project in the Como Park neighborhood of Saint Paul using the Belonging Economy Generator Scorecard and aligned with city frameworks:
🧠Project Summary:
- Project: 50-unit affordable apartment complex in Como Park
- Public Subsidy Requested: Yes
- Neighborhood: Como Park (zoned primarily RM2, allowing multifamily up to 5 stories)
🏗️ Belonging Economy Generator Scorecard
| Principle | Score (1–5) | Rationale | 💡 Improvements |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Shared Wealth & Community Ownership | 3 | Creates affordable units but no clear community ownership model. | Include land trust, tenant co-op options, or shared equity models. |
| 2. Talent Development | 2 | No evidence of job or skill-building components. | Partner with local trade schools for youth internships and building maintenance training. |
| 3. Belonging Across Race & Walk of Life | 4 | Affordable housing addresses racial equity gaps in home access. | Include community gathering spaces and diverse tenant engagement strategies. |
| 4. Environmental Sustainability | 3 | Potential to include climate-resilient infrastructure; unclear from initial proposal. | Integrate energy efficiency, stormwater management, and solar features per Climate Action Plan. |
| 5. Cultural Assets as Economic Drivers | 2 | No stated tie-in to cultural entrepreneurship. | Activate ground floor for local artists or cultural vendors, especially given Como’s historic and artistic roots. |
| 6. Creative, Non-Tax Financing | 3 | Project seeks public subsidies, but unclear on alternatives. | Tap into CDFIs, Ramsey County’s redevelopment and housing resources, and green bonds. |
| 7. Youth Empowerment | 2 | Lacks direct youth engagement. | Include programming via nearby recreation centers or partners like Sprockets. |
| 8. Digital & Data Equity | 2 | No digital inclusion component. | Ensure broadband access, digital literacy programming, or community Wi-Fi. |
| 9. Innovation Ecosystems | 2 | Not connected to innovation or entrepreneurship. | Partner with local business incubators or Metro State to create a live/work hub. |
| 10. Intergenerational Wealth | 4 | Affordable housing helps stabilize families. | Add financial literacy and path-to-ownership components. |
đź“Ť Zoning & Neighborhood Context
- Zoning: Likely RM2 (allows up to 5-story multifamily), fitting for a 50-unit design.
- Nearby Amenities: Como Park’s schools, bus lines, and cultural draws align well with dense, walkable housing.
- Vacant Properties: Explore vacant parcels in adjacent areas like Snelling or Energy Park Drive for expansion or additional mixed-use sites.
🧠Alignment with City Plans
- Saint Paul 2040 Plan: Strongly supports infill housing, especially multifamily in areas like Como with transit and amenities.
- Climate Action Plan: Encourages energy-efficient construction and equitable climate strategies in new housing.
- Equity Priorities: Supports reduction of cost burden for renters and addresses the 11,000-unit shortfall at 30% AMI.
đź’° Creative Financing Tools
- County & State: Site Cleanup grants, Infrastructure funds, and housing redevelopment tools.
- Private & Nonprofit: Tap into nonprofits listed in the Minnesota Attorney General’s nonprofit directory.
- Alternative Models: Explore cooperative housing finance and community land trust funding.
âś… Recommendations
Ensure Climate Compliance: Meet Saint Paul’s building energy benchmarks and consider solar or geothermal features.Add Co-Ownership Pathways: Land trust or shared equity to deepen wealth-building.
Partner with Local Institutions: Nearby schools and vocational centers can be partners in training and service delivery.
Integrate Cultural & Economic Functions: Include space for BIPOC-led small businesses or art studios.
The Generator tool is an educational and civic engagement resource. It is not a substitute for professional legal, financial, or planning advice. All evaluations and recommendations are based on general civic principles and publicly available data. By using this tool users understand this is an educational tool only and should exercise caution and due diligence in using the tool other than that for educational purposes and are solely responsible for any decisions or actions taken based on the tool’s output and are reminded to verify all facts, data, or any input derived through this tool. Dr. Bruce Corrie, affiliated parties, and the developers of this tool disclaim any liability for outcomes resulting from its use. Query energy offset via carbon credits from Clime Co.
📢 Join the movement
Have an idea? Want to host a community workshop or test the Generator in your Ward or District Council? Contact us to get started – corrie@ibelonghere.me
