Happy Jolly Llamas!
Richfield resident's business featured by Elevate Hennepin
Hannah Olson’s business Happy Jolly Llamas can “llamatize” any event.
Olson brings her two-year old llamas, Dill and Pickle, to private parties, business events, weddings and community festivals, among other places. Customers can even send someone a surprise “llama gram” featuring a 30-minute visit with Dill and Pickle at their doorstep.
Olson took her love of llamas and transformed it into a thriving business with the help of CEO Start and Elevate Hennepin.
CEO Start is a group-learning opportunity that offers entrepreneurs a safe space to test and validate their business ideas with a network of peers. Olson said she learned business fundamentals, tested her assumptions, but also got a hearty dose of peer support from other new entrepreneurs.
“That peer support and confidence was really what I needed to keep going,” she said.
Are you inspired by Hannah's story and want to test out your business idea?
Applications are open until February 11 for the next cohort of CEO Start.
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CEO Start is open to anyone in Hennepin County with a great business idea. Participants will work together in person to assess and validate their concept as the foundation for a viable business; or understand why it might not work. |
A group of 10 to 15 entrepreneurs will work through the nationally recognized CO.STARTERS program. Over the course of 11 weeks, participants will closely examine their ideas with peers, through industry research, facilitated discussions, and interviews with potential customers. To wrap up the training, participants will work with a professional pitch coach to hone their message and share their idea with their community.
Participants will leave the program with a deeper understanding of how to create a sustainable venture, articulate their models, and repeat the process with their next great idea.
Eligible entrepreneurs can join this group-learning opportunity at no cost, a $3,000 value, thanks to ongoing investments in the business community from Hennepin County.
Spots are limited and fill quickly for this competitive program. Learn more, see eligibility guidelines and apply by February 11. The next session of CEO Start will run from March 11 to May 20, 2025. In-person sessions will be held in Bloomington.
Our audience is your audience – talk to us about sponsoring a Richfield Recreation event this summer!
Contact Richfield Recreation to learn more: recreation@richfieldmn.gov or 612-861-9385.
Local Sales Tax Update
On November 5, 2024, Richfield voters overwhelmingly approved a half-percent local sales tax to support an $80 million investment plan to fund Richfield recreational amenities. Click here to view election results.
In a collaborative effort, the Clerk’s office, Communications, Finance and Executive Departments are finalizing preparations for the recently approved local sales tax in Richfield. The 0.5% (one half of one percent) local sales tax applies to all taxable goods purchased in Richfield, whether purchased by residents or non-residents.
The funds generated by this tax will be allocated to the construction of a new Richfield Community Center building, improvements at the Veterans Park Complex, and the construction of a new Wood Lake Nature Center. The sales tax will generate $65 million, and be added to $15 million in state and federal funding that has already been secured by the City of Richfield. Richfield residents will pay for about 1/3 of the project costs, with an estimated $3.92 per month in additional local sales taxes. Click here to learn more about the plan and projects.
Businesses will be required to begin collecting and applying the new tax to transactions starting April 1, 2025.
Click here to read the Minnesota Department of Revenue Sales Tax Notice for Richfield.
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Save money and energy with Xcel business programs
With winter here, many businesses are faced with high energy bills. Did you know that Xcel Energy has cost savings programs and rebates that can help you improve your energy efficiency and save money?
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