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 Elevate Hennepin is Hennepin County's initiative to help businesses start and grow.
 When Karen O’Connor, co-owner of Mother Earth Gardens, joined CEO Next, she wasn’t chasing more locations or a bigger revenue, she was thinking about the legacy of her business.
See how she identified the next steps for her successful business and reignited her entrepreneurial spirit in CEO Next, a cohort from Elevate Hennepin.
 Annual growth in advisees working with Elevate Hennepin consultants.
Through 2025, Elevate Hennepin continued to provide transformational support for businesses through no-cost consulting, cohorts, and a curated hub of vital resources. This work has guided nearly 4,648 entrepreneurs to start a business, grow, and scale.
Applications are closing soon for the next session of the Certified Access Academy – an eight-week, Elevate Hennepin cohort-based training opportunity to support disadvantaged businesses to become certified and compete for government and corporate contracts.
Applications will remain open through April 21.
Participants will join a virtual cohort and work with experienced facilitators to fast-track the completion of the Central Certification Program (CERT) as well as the State of Minnesota Office of State Procurement certification applications.
The session starts on April 30.
 Minnesota’s tech and entrepreneurial community comes together to spark ideas, share knowledge, and build something bigger than themselves. This spring, that tradition continues at Minnebar20, Minnesota’s largest and longest‑running technology "unconference."
In-person event, May 2, 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Best Buy Headquarters
7601 Penn Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55423
Nonprofit compliance - legal requirements and best practices
Operating a nonprofit—whether as a board member or key staff—comes with significant legal and fiduciary responsibilities. Ensure you're on the right track in this webinar from LegalCORPS.
Online event, April 16, 3 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Register today
Meet your AI team - save time and grow using AI agents
AI can be a powerful tool for small businesses, but many people only use it for simple prompts and one-off tasks. Join Elevate Hennepin education partner SCORE to move beyond basic AI tools and see how small business owners are building custom AI teams.
Online event, April 21, 1 p.m. - 2 p.m.
Register today
Unlocking accessibility: How ERAF can transform your business
Discover how the Employer Reasonable Accommodation Fund (ERAF) can help your business thrive while fostering a more accessible workplace. Small to mid-sized businesses in Minnesota can receive reimbursements of up to $30,000 for providing reasonable accommodations for job applicants and employees with disabilities.
Online event, April 22, 2 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Register today
Prepare for event success: plan for peak demand, operations, and execution
Choosing to participate in a major event like the FIFA World Cup, the Olympics, trade shows, and festivals can be a big opportunity to reach new customers and sales. Join Elevate Hennepin education partner SCORE to learn how to prepare your business to run smoothly and perform at its best during major events.
Online event, April 28, 1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Register today
By investing in business owners, Hennepin County is building a foundation to create a more inclusive and thriving economy that strengthens communities.
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