Sixteen projects designed to enhance St. Paul neighborhoods along the Green Line light-rail corridor have been awarded a total of $530,000 in grants this week by the Knight Foundation.

The grant amounts range from $75,000, given to a public arts project commemorating black railroad workers and to restoration of the Victoria Theater, to $3,700 for a wayfinding public art project near the Fairview Avenue station.

Other winning projects include beautification of the Interstate 94 bridges, installing green community space alongside Big Daddy's BBQ, and expanding a community plaza and street market in the Little Mekong district.

The winners were chosen from among 579 applicants to the Knight Green Line Challenge, a $1.5 million program to develop Green Line neighborhoods in St. Paul. The program will continue for two more years.

Eleven community reviewers narrowed the list to 48 finalists, with the winners chosen by reviewers and representatives of the Knight and St. Paul foundations.

For a complete list of the winners, go to www.knightgreenlinechallenge.org/.