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P L A N N I N G P R A C T I C E positions,but they have prob- lems with day care, trans- - - portation and, especially, _ = . . ,• I ,, speaking and writing English," �. he says. Escobedo has begun a 30- �� - week program with a local `, =;' '' • ' public school to offer English lessons to 60 Hispanics. Simi- lar efforts have begun through = Ramsey County to teach the community's burgeoning Southeast Asian population..For those who speak English, the Job Bank offers training for jobs in warehouses, produc- tion facilities, and the hospi- tality industry. Some say still more effort is needed. "I don't think a lot(of Southeast Asians)know about Milburn, project director of Bank, namely workers. The [the initiative], especially in the Phalen Corridor Initiative, East Side business commit- the minority communifies," the nonprofit agency now co- nity wants to see that any says Chao Lee, an outreach ordinating corridor-related ac- new companies locating in specialist with District Two tivities. "The changes in the the Phalen Corridor hire at Community Council. "The neighborhood were alarming." least half their workforce from people planning the corridor Countless meetings were the neighborhood,if not right have not reached out to the held until three priorities were away at least within at few minority community that set: a transportation corridor, years, lie says. much, either. It's led more at job creation, and brownfield New companies are likely the business and government remediation,. Unlike other because the local economy is level." projects,where the city's plan- strong, and in fact light indus- Others have begun to take ning department and the St. trial firms have shown inter- notice. In the Dayton's Bluff Paul Port Authority take the est in the Phalen Corridor,says area, several aging Victorian lead, the Phalen Corridor Ini- John Young, vice-president of homes have been restored and tiative had many contributors. the St. Paul 'Port Authority, one sold this year for more "The people helped define is- which is paying for the cleanup than $150,000, the first in the sues and we worked together at Will iamsHill. He notes that neighborhood to break that in a partnership," says Nancy the Williams Hill development . mark. Frick, a St. Paul city planner already has attracted the in- "The Phalen Corridor Ini- who works oil the initiative. terest of several businesses tiative gives us a chance to "That relationship was reph- looking to fill one of its six pull ourselves up and turn cated on the political side,with parcels. ourselves around," says Ber- the community's politicians Some East Siders will need nard Baumann, a native of working for funding of Phalen help landing the new jobs. the neighborhood who works Corridor Initiative projects.And Many in the Hispanic and at 3M and serves as the presi- there was foundation involve- Hmong communities are first dent of the East Side Area ment—the 3M Foundation gave generation Americans or in Business Association. "-This $100,000 for the environmen- the process of gaining citi- is the best thing to happen to tal impact statement,which is zenship, says Xavier Esco- the East Side since the 3A1s unique in my experience." bedo, coordinator of the East of the world moved in." Side Job Bank at Merrick Com- Franh Jossi Marketing the corridor munity Services )itself one One resource is abundant• of the initiative's projects)- Jossi is a freelance writer in St. says Craig Johnson of Norwest A have people to place in Paul.