Central Corridor love coming to a yard near you

The official marketing push for Central Corridor businesses remains tied up in red tape, but that's not stopping other initiatives from rolling out.

Among the grassroots efforts are yard signs in which residents can profess their heart-shaped love for businesses affected by light-rail construction.

The idea is to steal a few glances during the election season, and direct eyeballs to the website for Discover Central Corridor, a buy-local campaign, says Zach Schwartz, a public affairs manager with the St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce. You can also follow the campaign on Twitter at @DiscoverCCLRT.

Organizers are distributing the signs through the district councils and other neighborhood organizations.

Also keep your eye out for the 2012 version of a Central Corridor coupon book:

The books were distributed through neighborhood newspapers this month. You can also grab one at Cub Foods (University Avenue location), Park Midway Bank and University Bank, American Bank, St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce and Midway Chamber of Commerce.

The two chambers put together the efforts with help from the Central Corridor Funders Collaborative.

(Images courtesy of St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce)

• In a few years, the nation's tallest building may not be in New York or Chicago
• Cop-suit payouts higher in Minneapolis than Baltimore
• New Minneapolis logo: Now with fewer sailboats
• St. Paul saves dilapidated billboard