City of Saint Paul minimum wage increases coming July 1, 2024
Business size matters! Starting July 1, 2024, the minimum wage rate for specific business sizes will increase:
- Large business (101-10,000 employees) wage rate will increase to $15.57.
- Small business (6-100 employees) wage rate will increase to $14.00.
- Micro (5 or fewer employees) business wage rate will increase to $12.25.
- Macro business (10,001+ employees) wage rate remain at $15.57 through 2024.
Saint Paul employers must count all employees, whether full-time or part-time, hired jointly with another employer, or temporary, including employees working remotely. Please see the Minimum Wage website for more information.
Interested in shared ownership? Check out the LOCAL Fund!
The LOCAL Fund is comprised of two grant programs – Worker Ownership and Community Ownership – that support worker cooperatives and real estate investment cooperatives. Interested in learning more about shared ownership? Watch the May 30 info session recording, schedule a consultation with the Shared Ownership Center at Nexus Community Partners, and save the date for an Employee Ownership Lunch and Learn on Wednesday, July 24 from 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. (watch for details in next month's newsletter).
Nexus Community Partners is also looking for two community members that either live, work, or own a business in the City of Saint Paul to join the LOCAL Fund Worker Ownership Grant Committee for a one-year term. Learn more and apply now.
AEDA Learn and Earn Fellowship waitlist registration is open
The Learn and Earn Fellowship through the Asian Economic Development Association (AEDA) is a 12-week immersive experience crafted to turn your entrepreneurial dreams into reality! AEDA will provide business training, financial education, and digital literacy and participants will earn stipends for learning and will be eligible to receive business startup grants. Limited spots are available, so submit your application for the 2024 Fall Cohort waitlist today. This Learn and Earn program is supported by Ramsey County and the City of Saint Paul through the American Rescue Plan Act.
ConnectUp! accelerator applications are open through June 30
Two accelerator programs through ConnectUp! Institute are ready to accept the next cohorts of game-changing entrepreneurs. The Lunar Startups Accelerator specializes in growth, connection, and innovation for Black, Indigenous, people of color, LGBTQ+, women, and non-binary entrepreneurs.The Capital Readiness Accelerator helps mid-level founders get ready (and stay ready) for business funding opportunities. Apply for both programs by Sunday, June 30.
Apply now for Plan It! classes from Neighborhood Development Center
Whether you’re just getting started, have recently started operations, or are a current business owner seeking additional training, Plan It! from the Neighborhood Development Center will teach you the fundamentals of running a business and assist you in developing a solid business plan. Both the Traditional Plan-It and Food Industry Plan-It fall cohorts start in late August. Submit your online application by Thursday, July 25, 2024.
Your Saint Paul small business may be eligible for below-market financing! The Minnesota Inclusive Growth Fund is designed to increase access to flexible and affordable capital. The fund offers 5% fixed rate loans up to $350,000 that can be used for working capital and more. Check out the terms and eligibility and start the pre-application process.
Register for Free Value Proposition Design online course through the University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota MIN-Corps program partners with Launch Minnesota to help you turn your innovation into a fundable, high-growth business using the Lean Startup approach to refine concepts and accelerate market launch. This five-session online course is open to the public and free to all. Enroll now — class starts Thursday, June 20.
Launch Minnesota Innovation Grant application period now open
The Launch Minnesota Innovation Grants target the most promising innovative, scalable technology businesses in the state. Eligible startups may receive up to $35,000 to cover business expenses such as research and development, employee wages, or technical assistance and services. Applications are due Sunday, June 30.
QuickBooks offering $10,000 grants to small businesses
Intuit QuickBooks is awarding 20 business owners across the U.S. with $10,000 in grant funding and three months of coaching to help run and grow their business. Check your eligibility and submit your application essay describing how the grant will help overcome challenges or achieve a business dream by Sunday, June 30, 2024.
Reminder! Waste Reduction & Innovation Grant applications due June 14
The BizRecycling Waste Reduction & Innovation Grant is available to eligible businesses, nonprofits, and schools for planning, equipment, supplies, and capital improvements that result in the significant reduction of solid waste that the business creates. The 2024 application submission deadline is Friday, June 14 at 4 p.m.
Free ecobee smart thermostats for Saint Paul businesses
Xcel Energy commercial customers in Saint Paul may be eligible for free ecobee3 lite smart thermostats and free installation from Center for Energy and Environment (CEE). Smart thermostats allow you to monitor your business’s HVAC system remotely and adjust multiple thermostats from your smartphone. Request your free installation today.
More cost saving programs from Xcel Energy and CEE
Request a Workplace Safety Consultation Visit
The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry offers FREE on-site safety and health consultations. Employers can find out about potential hazards, improve their safety management systems, and even apply for a safety grant of up to $10,000 to abate safety hazards. Request a workplace safety consultation now.
Mindful Business Owners Collective cohort launches this summer
The Mindful Business Owners Collective program focuses on exploring an individual’s mindset and wellness practices to navigate troublesome the ups and downs of running a business. It comprises a small cohort of business owners that runs for six weeks virtually, with 90-minute sessions. Sign up to be on the waitlist for when the next cohort opens.
Check out the Ramsey County Inclusive Employer Toolkit
Attention Saint Paul employers! Ramsey County's Inclusive Employer Toolkit is available to help businesses build diverse and inclusive workplaces. Find resources that you can use to build diversity, equity, and inclusion into all areas of the employee life cycle, from recruitment, hiring, and onboarding to retention.
Connect with small business support from the City of Saint Paul
The City of Saint Paul can connect you to a variety of programs and referrals to support small businesses. If you would like business resource support from our team, the first step is to submit an Intake Form. Reach out today to learn more about what programs can help you reach your business goals!
Share your perspective as a small business owner in the Twin Cities
Between August 6 and 7, researchers at University of Minnesota and Michigan State University will hold multiple focus groups with small business owners in the Twin Cities to discuss the local business environment and business-community relationships. They are especially interested in customer-facing businesses with fewer than 150 employees. Focus groups will be roughly 90 minutes long and held at Carlson School of Management in groups of 8-10 small business owners.
- Multiple time slots are available on August 6-7
- A limited number of Zoom slots may also be available
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Participants will be compensated! The research team will cover parking costs and refreshments, plus a $75 gift card as compensation for your time.
- The researchers will ensure that everything you say in the focus group will be kept confidential and anonymized unless you explicitly say otherwise.
Fill out this form if you’re interested in participating.
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