Eight local artists and entrepreneurs are set to fill empty retail spaces around downtown and Uptown Minneapolis.

Upwards of $750,000 is being spent by the city to subsidize two years of rent.

Last year, the city paid to help five arts organizations in downtown, including Flavor World, which opened in May. Flavor World specializes in events, products and services for artists.

"Things have been going great," Drew Kinkade, Flavor World owner, said. "It's been so fun to build out this space, find more ways to activate, it brings people through the door."

"Economic development takes investment, and the approach that the city is taking with the Vibrant Storefronts program is a really commonsense way to connect the dots and address the need," said Ben Shardlow, chief of staff for the Min

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