Educational Program - Programs provided by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs to help with business skills, connections, and potential growth, including workshops and training. For current programs, click here Loans and Advising - Loans with no-cost advising. Loans offered: - City of Cook Economic Recovery Fund: Loan for local business in the city of Cook who are recovering from the summer 2024 flood - Gap Financing: Loan covers the "gap" between various sources of funding and the total cost of the project. Used for commercial real estate projects, such as mortgage or major renovation and has more flexibility than traditional lenders - Healthy Food Fund: Specialized loan for local food retailers and producers that helps with replacing dated equipment, investing in technology, expanding business, purchasing inventory, hiring staff, updating building, purchasing new or existing store, and more - SBA Microloan: Start up loan for working capital, inventory, or equipment purchase - Working Capital Loan: Loan provides access to cash for various projects and investments such as marketing campaigns, purchased inventory, upgrade equipment, or expand business operation.

Provides information and resources to individuals who are interested in starting a business. Services include: - Consultations with the Small Business Assistance Office to help individuals understand or have questions about starting a business. Monthly meetings are held on the second Tuesday of the month for small business owners. - Information about considerations when starting a business, organizing the business, structure, forming partnerships, differences of business entities, business licenses, permits, business tax liabilities, and filing documents with the Secretary of State - MN Reservist and Veteran Business Loan Program: Provides business loans to companies that are affected when certain employees are called to active duty and individual veterans who have returned from active duty and want to start their own business. Types of loans include business loans and startup business loans. Terms include one-time, interest-free loans of $ 5,000 to $20,000, with 54 months of no repayment for the first 18 months and equal monthly payments over the remaining 36 months. More information can be found online at https://mn.gov/deed/business/financing-business/deed-programs/reservists/. - Small Business Development Center offices are located throughout the state to provide professional expertise and guidance to help clients manage their businesses - Tips on a business plan overview, basic accounting principles, business finance basics, types of business insurance, hiring employees, protecting intellectual property, and business management basics

Provides information, resources, and tools to help small business owners and entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses. Services include: ?- Free business counseling to owners or prospective owners of small businesses. NOTE: Provides a counseling service only. SCORE members are not employees of clients. ?- Mentorship program with other business entrepeneurs - On-site field visits if requested for counseling - Workshops on basic information needed to start a new business. Other workshops include creating a marketing plan, business plan, or getting financing.

Educational Program - Programs provided by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs to help with business skills, connections, and potential growth, including workshops and training. For current programs, click here Loans and Advising - Loans with no-cost advising. Loans offered: - City of Cook Economic Recovery Fund: Loan for local business in the city of Cook who are recovering from the summer 2024 flood - Gap Financing: Loan covers the "gap" between various sources of funding and the total cost of the project. Used for commercial real estate projects, such as mortgage or major renovation and has more flexibility than traditional lenders - Healthy Food Fund: Specialized loan for local food retailers and producers that helps with replacing dated equipment, investing in technology, expanding business, purchasing inventory, hiring staff, updating building, purchasing new or existing store, and more - SBA Microloan: Start up loan for working capital, inventory, or equipment purchase - Working Capital Loan: Loan provides access to cash for various projects and investments such as marketing campaigns, purchased inventory, upgrade equipment, or expand business operation.

- Promotes minority and women-owned businesses, Veteran-owned and Service-disabled Veteran-owned Businesses, and HUBZone businesses by offering an online data management portal for suppliers to register the products and/or services they offer. - Publishes the DIR National Minority and Women Business Directory, Supplier Diversity Information Resource Guide, and Purchasing People in Major Corporations. - Sponsors nationwide purchasing seminars on doing business with diverse suppliers; Online Data Management Portal available to members allowing them to manage their supplier diversity program with a single integrated tool.

Provides aspiring small business owners with the tools, resources, and guidance needed to succeed. Services include: - Business Technical Assistance: Comprehensive support in business planning, operations, and scaling - Culturally Relevant Entrepreneurship Training: Tailored programs that address unique challenges and opportunities for diverse communities - Micro Lending: Provides access to small loans designed to kickstart and grow businesses - Workshops and Resources: Interactive sessions and materials to enhance business acumen and connect entrepreneurs to vital resources

Aims to provide all youth in the greater Twin Cities area a clear pathway to lifelong, sustained, wealth-building careers with zero college debt. This will help youth support themselves, their families, and the future of the community. Academies offer different pathways and areas of interest for students such as: - Healthcare - STEM/IT - Automotive - Construction - Manufacturing/Engineering - Business/Marketing/Finance - Education/Public Service - Agriculture

A resource of information for businesses online. Available information includes: - Accounting principles - Business plans and business finance basics - Data for businesses, such as cost of living, wage statistics, current economic highlights, job vacancies, unemployment statistics, trends, and labor markets - Exporting and international trade training, market research, statistics, and questions about importing - Financing a business and financing programs to help companies and communities retain existing jobs and create new jobs - Finding workers, workforce assistance, jobs on CareerForce, hiring, incentives, and tax credits - Insurance, taxes, intellectual property, and management basics - Licensing and permits needed for specific businesses - Starting a business and organizing a business structure - Statewide partner organizations to provide consultation or advice to help businesses grow - Support for Cannabis businesses

Educational Program - Programs provided by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs to help with business skills, connections, and potential growth, including workshops and training. For current programs, click here Loans and Advising - Loans with no-cost advising. Loans offered: - City of Cook Economic Recovery Fund: Loan for local business in the city of Cook who are recovering from the summer 2024 flood - Gap Financing: Loan covers the "gap" between various sources of funding and the total cost of the project. Used for commercial real estate projects, such as mortgage or major renovation and has more flexibility than traditional lenders - Healthy Food Fund: Specialized loan for local food retailers and producers that helps with replacing dated equipment, investing in technology, expanding business, purchasing inventory, hiring staff, updating building, purchasing new or existing store, and more - SBA Microloan: Start up loan for working capital, inventory, or equipment purchase - Working Capital Loan: Loan provides access to cash for various projects and investments such as marketing campaigns, purchased inventory, upgrade equipment, or expand business operation.

Educational Program - Programs provided by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs to help with business skills, connections, and potential growth, including workshops and training. For current programs, click here Loans and Advising - Loans with no-cost advising. Loans offered: - City of Cook Economic Recovery Fund: Loan for local business in the city of Cook who are recovering from the summer 2024 flood - Gap Financing: Loan covers the "gap" between various sources of funding and the total cost of the project. Used for commercial real estate projects, such as mortgage or major renovation and has more flexibility than traditional lenders - Healthy Food Fund: Specialized loan for local food retailers and producers that helps with replacing dated equipment, investing in technology, expanding business, purchasing inventory, hiring staff, updating building, purchasing new or existing store, and more - SBA Microloan: Start up loan for working capital, inventory, or equipment purchase - Working Capital Loan: Loan provides access to cash for various projects and investments such as marketing campaigns, purchased inventory, upgrade equipment, or expand business operation.