Duluth's poorest neighborhoods could look more attractive to outside investment if an initiative tucked inside recently passed federal tax reform plays out as intended.

The new program allows investors to defer taxes on capital gains if they invest those profits in areas identified as Opportunity Zones, the poorest Census tracts in a state as selected by their governors.

DEED hailed the potential of the program to "bridge public-private partnerships."

Brenda Nolby, owner of Ham Lake-based Jam Hops, was named the 2018 Small Business Person of the Year in Minnesota. Jam Hops offers youth classes and competitive programs for gymnastics and dance, cheerleading and ninja classes, an academic preschool and a theater program.

The Small Business Administration, along with SCORE and DEED's Small Business Development Centers, will honor Nolby and other 2018 winners of the Minnesota Small Business Week Awards at a luncheon in Minneapolis on May 11. 

One of the latest buzzwords in the ​world ​of ​water ​technology ​is "smart water." What exactly is smart water and how does it relate to Internet of Things technology? The Minnesota Trade Office will ​partner ​with ​Uponor ​to ​answer ​these ​and ​other ​questions ​during a water ​technology ​roundtable ​in Apple Valley on May 10. Go here for more details about the Intelligent Water Technology Roundtable.