In this week’s business resource newsletter, scroll with us to learn about the following:
- Two tips to get unstuck in your business
- Elevate Answers: Getting your small business certified
- Biz Tip: Alternative funding
- Event spotlight: Patent Public Search at the library
- Confidential survey: Food waste
Do you know someone who would benefit from info on any of these topics? If so, we invite you to forward this newsletter to them.
At any stage of a business, it’s easy for leaders to get stuck.
Elevate Hennepin advisor Angel Even, founder of Led by TRUTH, is one of several expert strategic thinkers and coaches who prides herself on helping business owners get unstuck.
While she has a lot of tips, tactics, and frameworks to guide her advisees, she says two tricks are especially helpful. One, focus on the money or the end goal. Two, block time for what needs to get done to move forward.
Get a little preview of how she works with advisees below and if you're feeling stuck in the day-to-day, connect with her or another Elevate Hennepin advisor who specializes in strategic planning.
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 Applying for certifications like Minority-Owned Business Enterprises (MBE), Women-Owned Business Enterprises (WBE), Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE), and Emerging Small Business Enterprises (ESBE) offers specialized financial benefits and connects you to a network of entrepreneurs. To get certified, check out the CERT Program, a collaboration between Hennepin County, Ramsey County, Minneapolis, and Saint Paul, serving 15 metro counties.
Certified Access Academy is another option specially tailored for women of color entrepreneurs. Facilitators guide a group of business leaders through the steps to identify the right certification and navigate the process together.
Certified businesses gain visibility in state and local directories, access to grants, and invitations to specialty events with other certified business owners. These certifications are especially valuable for businesses operating locally and at the state level.
Not sure where to start? Through the Elevate Hennepin platform, schedule a meeting with a Business Navigator and get connected. to an advisor who can guide you through the process and determine your eligibility.
Some religious rules prohibit charging interest on loans, which poses an extra challenge for business owners in various religious groups, including the Muslim business community.
However, the City of Minneapolis provides an Alternative Financing program designed for businesses. This program supports building improvements and equipment purchases. If you are an entrepreneur who adheres to religious principles against paying interest, there are still avenues available to borrow money crucial for starting a business.
Outside Minneapolis, there are other options as well. Connect with an advisor that specializes in access to capital or culturally appropriate financing options at Elevate Hennepin today.
Hennepin County is looking for comments from businesses to better understand the issue of food waste to develop effective strategies to reduce the top sources of human-made greenhouse gasses.
The county is interested in learning what types of wasted food your business produces, what sorts of practices are currently implemented to reduce wasted food, and what resources may be beneficial to you. Please complete a brief survey about your current kitchen and serving practices to help inform the Hennepin County Food Waste Prevention Plan.
We appreciate your time and participation!
If you're interested in patenting a product, process, or anything else, it can be difficult to know where to start. Tomorrow, experts from Hennepin County Library's Patent and Trademark Resource Center Program and The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office will host a webinar introducing the first step: the patent public search.
This search helps ensure your innovation hasn't already been patented.
Online event, June 27, 1 p.m.
Information session: Get your business started with CEO Start
Come learn how CEO Start can help you get your business started from Elevate Hennepin staff. CEO Start powered by CO.STARTERS is a 10-week cohort-based program that prepares aspiring and existing entrepreneurs with insights, relationships, and tools to turn their ideas into viable businesses.
Online event, Wednesday, June 26, 7 - 8 p.m.
Register today
The unique challenges of marketing a service
Are you struggling to market your service-based business? This workshop from Elevate Hennepin education partner SCORE will provide valuable insights and strategies for effectively marketing a service-based business.
Online event, June 27, 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Register today
Subcontracting opportunities
Identify the best practices for small businesses finding subcontracting opportunities in this webinar from the Small Business Administration. During this webinar, attendees will get support understanding small business categories, meet with SBA contracting leaders, and learn how to locate subcontracting opportunities.
Online event, July 9, 9 a.m. 10 a.m.
Register today
City of Minneapolis small business support
Meet with a representative from City of Minneapolis Small Business Team to learn about their resources for small business owners and entrepreneurs. No appointment necessary.
In-person event, July 2, 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.
5100 34th Avenue S. Minneapolis, MN, 55417
Register today
Thanks for following along with us! If you know someone who could use any of the resources above, please forward this newsletter or tell them to sign up!
We’ll be back in your inbox in a couple weeks. Until then, you can follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram! Be a part of our online community by sharing your #ElevateHennepin stories and tagging @ElevateHennepin in your posts.
Have a great week!
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