CREATIVE ENTERPRISE ZONE (CEZ)

What CREATIVE ENTERPRISE ZONE (CEZ) does

The Creative Enterprise Zone (CEZ) is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization and a city-recognized creative district located mid-city between downtown Saint Paul and Minneapolis along the Green Line light rail corridor in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Founded in 2009 out of an initiative of the St. Anthony Park Community Council in response to creative studio displacement during light rail construction and the recession, the organization is dedicated to attracting and supporting creative people and businesses in the district. CEZ operates three core program verticals: Public Space Work (public art initiatives and the 100 Trees environmental greening initiative), Real Estate Services (a community-led investment model and the Neighborhood STAR Loan and Grant Program), and the annual Chroma Zone Mural & Art Festival, which has produced 60+ permanent public murals. Additional offerings include a monthly eNews newsletter, community events, and partnerships with Forecast Public Art, Knight Foundation, McKnight Foundation, the City of Saint Paul, MRAC, LISC, Towerside Innovation District, and others.

The organization is led by a small paid staff headed by Executive Director Angela Casselton (appointed November 2020, the first paid ED since 2016), supported by an all-volunteer board of directors including Chair Melissa Martyr, Vice Chair Chris Smith, Treasurer Stephen Klimek, Secretary Pat Thompson, and members Sandy Boss Febbo, Stacy Holm, Mark Chapin, and Reyd Jordan. In January 2022 CEZ acquired its first commercial property at 2171 University Ave W (former Sunrise Banks branch), establishing a physical headquarters and the foundation of its real estate ownership strategy.

CEZ is 100% self-supported through individual donations, earned income, event and program-specific fundraising, and foundation/city grants. Disclosed funding includes a $200,000 Knight Foundation grant (2019, spread across 2019-2021 Chroma Zone festivals) and a $110,000 pass-through Neighborhood STAR grant from the City of Saint Paul (2021: $60K grants + $50K loans to 10 women-owned/led businesses). No revenue figure is disclosed. The district is described as an Opportunity Zone and the largest center of employment and tax base in Saint Paul, home to hundreds of creative businesses across food and beverage, retail, arts, manufacturing, and design.

Name

CREATIVE ENTERPRISE ZONE (CEZ)

Legal name

Creative Enterprise Zone

Website

https://creativeenterprisezone.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Creative Enterprise Zone (CEZ) is a Saint Paul, Minnesota 501(c)(3) nonprofit and city-recognized creative district that supports hundreds of creative entrepreneurs and businesses through the Chroma Zone Mural & Art Festival, 100 Trees Initiative, Real Estate Services, and the Neighborhood STAR Loan and Grant Program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Development Services

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events without Facilities (711320)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Arts, Culture & Creative Placemaking Enterprises (BPAGALAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cultural Festivals & Events Organizations (BPAGAHAG), Cultural Centers & Multidisciplinary Arts Institutions (THAJADAJ)

Keywords

• Creative district development
• Community arts programs
• Public mural festivals
• Real estate services
• Urban greening initiatives

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Paul, Minnesota

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting the creative district and nonprofit organization.
2. Foundations and Grants: Funding from foundations such as Knight Foundation, McKnight Foundation, Bigelow Foundation, Mardag Foundation, and others supporting arts, community development, and neighborhood programs.
3. Earned Income: Self-support through various earned income activities and programs.
4. Event and Program Fundraising: Specific fundraising for events like Chroma Zone Mural & Art Festival, 100 Trees Initiative, and other community programs.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Creative Enterprise Zone (CEZ) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and city-recognized creative district in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It operates community programs including the Chroma Zone Mural & Art Festival (an annual festival of 60+ public murals and free community events), the 100 Trees Initiative (urban tree-canopy expansion in South Saint Anthony Park and West Midway), Real Estate Services (community-led investment model to prevent displacement and gain control of property), and the Neighborhood STAR Loan and Grant Program (capital funding for women-owned and BIPOC creative businesses).

Product overview

The Creative Enterprise Zone (CEZ) is a nonprofit organization and city-recognized creative district that operates as a platform of community programs rather than a commercial product. The organization provides three core program areas: Public Space Work (including public art initiatives and the 100 Trees environmental initiative), Real Estate Services (including the Neighborhood STAR Loan and Grant Program), and the annual Chroma Zone Mural & Art Festival. Additional offerings include a monthly eNews newsletter and community events. The CEZ does not offer a technology product or software platform; all programs are delivered through direct community engagement, partnerships, and in-person activities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Chroma Zone Mural & Art Festival: Annual mural and art festival featuring public murals and free community events. The CEZ's signature arts program showcasing 60+ public murals.
• BANG IT! Mural Meet
• 100 Trees Initiative
• Neighborhood STAR Program

Products and services

• Chroma Zone Mural & Art Festival Annual festival showcasing 60+ public murals and free community events featuring local, national, and international mural artists across the CEZ district. Open to the public.
• 100 Trees Initiative Environmental greening program planting trees on public boulevards to expand urban canopy, reduce heat index, and improve neighborhood livability. Partners include Bailey Nurseries, Davey Tree Care, Landbridge Ecological, City of Saint Paul Forestry, and University of Minnesota.
• Neighborhood STAR Loan and Grant Program Capital improvement funding program for creative businesses, providing grants and loans for creative sector resilience, neighborhood vibrancy, private investment leverage, access to capital, energy efficiency, job creation, and COVID-19 business support. Administered by the CEZ Real Estate division.
• Real Estate Services Community-led investment model to build wealth, prevent displacement of creative businesses, and gain security and control of real estate through ownership and fair and equitable practices. Includes buildings in the Zone, community investment, and STAR loans and grants.

Quantifiable outcome

• 60+ public murals created through Chroma Zone Mural & Art Festival
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Forecast Public ArtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey partner in producing the Chroma Zone Mural & Art Festival. Forecast Public Art brings expertise in public art programming and community engagement to the annual festival.
• Saint Anthony Park Community Council (SAPCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in community development initiatives. The CEZ nonprofit grew out of an SAPCC initiative to ensure the area's creative nature remains intact.
• Saint Anthony Park Community Foundation (SAPCF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity foundation partner supporting CEZ initiatives and programs in the Saint Anthony Park area.
• Towerside Innovation DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in innovation and economic development initiatives. CEZ and Towerside collaborate on district economics and economic development studies.
• City of Saint Paul Planning and Economic DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity partner supporting CEZ's recognized district status and providing Neighborhood STAR program funding.
• Full Stack Saint PaulminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEZ Executive Director Angela Casselton joined the steering committee of this public-private tech and innovation initiative for Saint Paul.
• Midway ChambercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChamber partner supporting business development and community initiatives in the Midway area including CEZ.
• Bailey NurseriesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDonated trees for the 100 Trees Initiative, supporting environmental greening in the CEZ.
• Davey Tree CareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTree care partner supporting the 100 Trees Initiative through professional arborist services.
• Landbridge EcologicalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEcological restoration company hosting gravel tree beds and providing advice for the 100 Trees Initiative.
• City of Saint Paul ForestryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity partner supporting the 100 Trees Initiative and urban forestry efforts in the CEZ.
• University of MinnesotaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner supporting the 100 Trees Initiative with student involvement and research.
• Taproot Investment CooperativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerValues-driven organization working to increase local ownership and control of commercial real estate. CEZ Executive Director Angela Casselton serves on the board.
• SRF Consulting GroupminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPrepared the 2025 CEZ + Towerside District Economics & Economic Development Study.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): National community-development financial institution that is itself a CEZ funder. Comparable broader-incumbent providing capital and capacity-building to community-led real estate and small-business programs like STAR.
• ArtPlace America: National funder and field-building organization for creative placemaking. Comparable as the broader-incumbent umbrella shaping funding and frameworks that CEZ's placemaking model depends on.
• Northern Lights.mn: Minneapolis-based nonprofit presenting public art, technology, and culture across the Twin Cities. Comparable broader-incumbent cultural programming organization with overlapping artist and audience networks.

Direct peers

• Artspace: Minneapolis-headquartered national nonprofit that creates space for artists and creative enterprises through real estate development. Direct peer to CEZ given its shared model combining creative placemaking with community-led real estate acquisition.
• Forecast Public Art: Minneapolis-based nonprofit and CEZ's operational partner on the Chroma Zone festival. Comparable as a public-art programming organization serving the same Twin Cities creative ecosystem.
• Springboard for the Arts: Saint Paul–based nonprofit supporting artists and creative entrepreneurs through programs, resources, and economic opportunity. Directly comparable to CEZ in mission, geography, and target audience of creative workers in the Twin Cities.
• Neighborhood Development Center: Saint Paul nonprofit that supports community-led real estate and small-business development. Comparable to CEZ's Real Estate Services arm and STAR Program in combining nonprofit-driven investment with neighborhood revitalization.
• Juxtaposition Arts: North Minneapolis-based community arts and creative placemaking organization. Comparable as a creative district–building nonprofit operating a defined geographic footprint and youth-focused arts programming.

Regional players

• Pillsbury House + Theatre: Minneapolis-based nonprofit operating as a community cultural hub offering arts, education, and social services. Comparable Twin Cities peer combining cultural programming with neighborhood revitalization and equity-focused mission.

Emerging players

• A-Mill Arts: Artist-led redevelopment of the historic Pillsbury A-Mill in Minneapolis into affordable artist workspace. Comparable emerging player in the Twin Cities focused on artist-space preservation and creative community building.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/creative-enterprise-zone

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CREATIVE ENTERPRISE ZONE (CEZ)