Seeking Accountants and Attorneys
We are seeking proposals from qualified attorneys and accountants to participate in the SSBCI 2.0 Technical Assistance Program to provide technical assistance to Minnesota businesses.
Eligible Responders must be attorneys or accountants licensed by the State of Minnesota who are qualified to provide one-on-one services to small businesses in Minnesota owned by Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Individuals (SEDI) and/or Very Small Businesses (VSB).
Proposals must be received by email and the application via the web-based form. This is an ongoing solicitation through June 30, 2027. Proposals must be received by 4:30 p.m. Monday, August 31, 2026.
Learn more
Do You Dream of Starting a Business?
The Community Entrepreneurship Program (CEP) is a 10-month program for those who have already started a venture but need help growing.
The program includes a two-week business training bootcamp, mentorship, consulting support, connections to community resources and networking experiences with local entrepreneurs.
The next cohort begins in Eden Prairie on September 12. CEP is offered in conjunction with the University of St. Thomas Schulze School of Entrepreneurship and the Small Business Development Center.
Learn more and register
September Small Business Call: SBA Resources & Support
Join our monthly Small Business Call to learn about the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) programs, services, and resources designed to help small businesses start, grow, and expand. Discover how the SBA supports businesses through access to capital, counseling and training, government contracting opportunities, disaster assistance, and specialized resources for manufacturers.
Register for September
Previous Small Business Call recordings
 New Data Highlights Minnesota's Child Care Needs
Minnesota’s need for accessible, affordable child care is expected to grow. The state’s population of children under age five is projected to increase by nearly 8,900 before 2045, with Central Minnesota seeing the greatest growth.
At the same time, child care remains a significant expense. In 2024, average annual infant care cost $20,592 at a child care center, compared with $9,880 through family child care. Minnesota also lost 2,537 in-home child care providers from 2019 to 2023, while the median wage for child care workers ($17.51 per house in early 2026) remained below the state’s estimated basic cost of living for a single adult.
Together, these findings underscore the importance of supporting child care providers, workers and families throughout Minnesota.
Learn more about DEED’s Office of Child Care
Food. Ag. Ideas: The Minnesota Model - October 27
Next month, Naturally Minnesota will host its ninth annual Food. Ag. Ideas. conference, bringing together farmers, founders, researchers, investors, and industry leaders for a full day of conversations exploring this year's theme: The Minnesota Model.
GLP-1s alone could remove $50B from food and beverage sales by 2030. Tariffs, trade wars, and climate volatility are cracking supply chains that once felt unshakable. Consumer trust in food has never been lower, or more commercially consequential. That's exactly what Food. Ag. Ideas. 2026 is built to unpack.
Learn more and register
MN Cup Announces Finalists
MN Cup has selected 27 companies to move forward to the finalist round of its competition. Three companies were selected from each of MN Cup’s nine divisions. At the end of August, judges will select nine division winners from among the division finalists. These division winners will take home $25,000 and earn the chance to compete for the $50,000 grant prize on September 14 during Twin Cities Startup Week.
Learn more
Business Services Pop-Up Event - September 23
The Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State will host a pop-up business filing event that will bring in-person assistance to the St. Cloud community. During the event, staff from the Business Services division will be available to help with business filings, including new registrations, renewals, amendments and apostille authentications.
Learn more
September 14-18: Twin Cities Startup Week
September 17-18: Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities (CEC) Conference
October 1: Minnedemo42
Startup and Small Business Calendar
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