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 2024 winners - Flava Cafe, Storehouse Grocers, Willie's American Guitars, Tiffany's Sports Lounge, and The Curl District
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The Saint Paul City Council recently announced the 8th Annual Saint Paul Business Awards winners. The awards acknowledge and celebrate local businesses that offer community engagement, essential services, investments in their employees, and a commitment to Saint Paul’s values of equity and diversity.
“Saint Paul is home to an incredibly rich and diverse business community, from the Little Africa Corridor, Selby, Grand and Downtown, to the West side and Eastside – all across the city," said Council President and Ward 4 Councilmember Mitra Jalali. "We are honored to host the Saint Paul Business Awards and uplift our community business leaders each year.”
Businesses are selected for an award in several categories based on nominations from the community. The following are the winners of this year’s Business Awards:
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Flava Cafe (623 University Avenue West - Ward 1) received the Alice O’Brien Award, honoring a women-owned business that is committed to equity and empowerment. (Runner-Up: Whole Life Elevation LLC)
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The Curl District (647 Smith Avenue South in Ward 2) is the New Kid on the Block Award winner, honoring a business that has opened in Saint Paul within the last five years. (Runner-Up: Black Garnet Books)
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Tiffany’s Sports Lounge (2051 Ford Parkway in Ward 3) was the recipient of the Traditions Award, honoring a business active in Saint Paul for at least twenty years. (Runner-Up: Keys Cafe Raymond)
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Willie's American Guitars (1381 North Eustis Street in Ward 4) received the People’s Choice Award which honors a business that is recognized for its excellence by Saint Paul residents. (Runner-Up: Brunson’s Pub)
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Storehouse Grocers (781 7th Street East in Ward 7) won the Good Neighbor Award honoring a business that shows a dedication to improving the community. (Runner-Up: Highland Popcorn)
The selection committee, composed of previous award winners, reviewed the applications and made the final decisions. Tom Schroeder, a veteran of the Selection Committee, shared, “It's so heartening to see all the wonderful small businesses that operate in the city. It's businesses like these that make Saint Paul a great place to live and work!”
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October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month! Cyber attacks can impact customer and employee data, reputation, and financial information. The good news is that there are several steps you can take to build your business' cyber defenses and help protect your data.
Educate employees about phishing
Email phishing attempts are one of the common cybersecurity threats. It's important to remember that phishing emails can look like a routine message from a colleague or community partner. Here are some tips to help protect your business from phishing attacks:
- Never enter credentials when prompted via an emailed link.
- Don't open email attachments unless you're sure they're coming from a trusted source.
- Never provide financial information via email. Payment requests and requests for bank account information are some of the most common phishing attempts.
- Before clicking on any link in an email, hover over it to double check the destination. You can also copy and paste the link into Virus Total to scan for viruses.
- Review the sender's full email address. Hover over their email and look for any misspellings or random strings of letters and numbers.
Other cybersecurity tips
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Use strong, unique passwords: Create complex passwords for different accounts and change them regularly. A password manager can help you create and keep track of your passwords.
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Set up multi-factor authentication (MFA): This will require two forms of verification to unlock an account. MFA can be set up for social media accounts, bank accounts, software applications, and more. It helps ensure that no one outside your organization can access your accounts. Learn more about MFA.
Resources for small businesses
The U.S. Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has many resources to help small businesses become more cybersecure. Visit CISA's website or get in touch with CISA's regional office.
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 Check out free small business marketing resources from Visit Saint Paul
Visit Saint Paul is offering free access to a variety of digital marketing educational courses and content that you can explore at your own pace! The Destination Uplift platform has trainings on social media marketing, advertising, email marketing, analytics, and more! The newest courses include Google Analytics Set up for Beginners and Implementing an Automated Email Strategy. Use code PARTNER2024 to set up your free account.
Also, don't miss the Social Media Publishing Tips & Tricks webinar on Tuesday, October 15. More details available in the events section of this email.
Register for Fall into Growing Your Business workshops from Hmong American Partnership
The Fall into Growing Your Business workshops are held in partnership with Chase for Business Senior Business Consultants and Hmong American Partnership (HAP). The sessions are held on Tuesdays and are free and open to the public. Upcoming sessions include Understanding & Building of Credit on October 15, How to Avoid Fraud & Scam on October 22, and How to Set Goal, Build A Budget, & Save on October 29. Register now.
Apply today for the 2025 Ascend Twin Cities Cohort
Ascend Twin Cities, a partnership between MEDA and the Holmes Center for Entrepreneurship, is a professional development program designed to help BIPOC entrepreneurs prepare to scale their businesses through a curriculum focused on contract readiness. Cohort members will attend in-person program sessions twice a month between January – May 2025. Apply by Thursday, October 31.
Get free business counseling through Open to Business program
The Open to Business program provides direct technical assistance and other forms of support to small business owners and entrepreneurs at no cost. All current business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs intending to establish, purchase, or improve a business in Saint Paul are eligible and encouraged to participate. View the October office hours schedule.
Explore the free Back to Basics online course
The non-profit Small Business Majority has a self-paced Back to Basics curriculum to help entrepreneurs navigate finances with confidence. From budgeting basics to peer-to-peer networking, this course equips you with the tools and connections to take your business to the next level. These lessons can help even the most seasoned business owners get out of a financial rut and scale their business.
MN PROMISE Act loan applications still being accepted
The MN PROMISE Act is a state-funded small business revitalization program that provides loans and grants to disadvantaged small businesses located in certain areas of Minneapolis and Saint Paul.
Eligible Saint Paul businesses, nonprofit organizations, and developers can still apply for the loan program, which must be used for site preparation, building construction, infrastructure, landscaping, and other capital improvement costs. Fill out this form to see if your business is eligible for MN PROMISE Act Loan funding. Please note that eligibility does not guarantee funding.
Congratulations to two more Saint Paul businesses — Udo's African Food Store and Restaurant and El Pollo Felix — on the closing of their PROMISE Act loans.
The next application round for the grant program is tentatively scheduled for late 2024.
Access financial and technical support from the City of Saint Paul
The City of Saint Paul offers a variety of financial and technical assistance resources to support small businesses throughout the year. Please see our current list of financial and technical resources. If you would like business resource support from our team, the first step is to submit an Intake Form. Get connected today to learn more about what programs can help you reach your business goals!
Find and pay for STEM interns with free funding
The SciTech Internship Program is a free small business resource to make hiring interns easier and more affordable. Workforce grants of up to $2,500 per student are available now for small and midsized companies offering paid internships in STEM. Watch the program trailer to hear from employers currently benefitting from the program.
Energy efficiency and resiliency upgrades made easy with MinnPACE
Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) is an finance solution for building owners interested in energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrades. PACE offers low-cost, long-term financing for energy and efficiency improvements to businesses that can, in turn, reduce overall energy costs. MinnPACE is administered by the Saint Paul Port Authority and can be used for a wide range of capital costs including HVAC upgrades, building envelope and façade improvements, lighting solutions, windows and installation, and more. Whether you are looking to build new or improve your current building, PACE is a great place to start. Learn more about requirements and qualifying expenses.
Introducing the Rondo Exchange small business incubator
The small business incubator from the The Rondo Community Land Trust (CLT) is now named the Rondo Exchange: Connecting Past, Present, and Prosperity. The application for the incubator is still open, and Rondo CLT is seeking businesses that align with their vision of community wealth-building and prosperity. Learn more and apply.
Advertising opportunity: Downtown Walking Map
Visit Saint Paul is in the process of updating their free downtown walking maps, and your business could include an ad! The Saint Paul Visitor Map is a double-sided flat map available in tear-off pads of 100. An ad would go on over 40,000 maps which are distributed heavily at hotels in Saint Paul, as well as info booths, events, local businesses and metro hotels. Find more info on sizing and prices and email Chelsea to get involved.
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October is Manufacturing Month
October is Manufacturing Month in Minnesota, a time to celebrate our manufacturing businesses and highlight their importance to the Saint Paul economy. Our local manufacturers don’t just make products; they provide good-paying jobs, drive innovation, and support growth in our community.
Along with raising awareness about the vital role manufacturing plays in our local, regional, and national economy, the State of Minnesota’s Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) offers an innovative Automation Loan Participation Program (ALPP), as part of its State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI).
This program helps strengthen our manufacturing sector by facilitating technological advancements, providing key financial support for investments in automation. ALPP provides low-interest, gap financing to qualifying businesses purchasing automation machinery, equipment, or software. For more information on the Automation Loan Program, visit DEED’s dedicated ALPP overview, email SSBCI.DEED@state.mn.us, or call Tiffany Fettig at 651-259-7446.
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Upcoming events
Learn more about the Dual-Training Pipeline program and how it can be used to help you meet your workforce needs through earn-and-learn approaches in the industries of advanced manufacturing, agriculture, child care, health care services, information technology, legal cannabis industry, and transportation. Register now.
Tuesday, October 15
11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Virtual event
Master the art of creating a simple yet effective content calendar to streamline your efforts, discover user-friendly scheduling tools, and learn best practices for crafting eye-catching posts in various formats that will resonate with your audience. Reserve your spot now. Can't make the event? You can still register and the recording will be sent to you following the course.
Tuesdays - October 15, 22, and 29
6 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Virtual event
Discover how to maximize a WordPress website with this free series from Ramsey County Library. On October 15, learn about ongoing maintenance of a WordPress website. On October 22, dive into Google Analytics and how to measure the success of your website outreach. On October 29, explore how to make your site accessible for all users.
Tuesday, October 15
6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Black Tech Talent HQ
Join Black Tech Talent at the kickoff of the "Community Nights" series featuring Saint Paul City Councilmember Cheniqua Johnson! This series is about having an intimate conversation between leaders and community members about the past, present and future so that we can all work together towards progress. Light snacks and drinks will be provided. Buy your ticket now.
Wednesday, October 16 and Wednesday, October 23
12 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Virtual event
Join the U.S. Small Business Administration for the 2024 SBA Cyber Summit. During this free event, discover cutting-edge strategies and solutions from a diverse lineup of experts and gain actionable insights, practical advice, and hands-on guidance tailored to the unique needs of small business owners and entrepreneurs. Reserve your spot now.
Wednesday, October 23
1 p.m. - 2 p.m.
Virtual event
Identity and access management is a fundamental and critical cybersecurity capability for businesses of all sizes. During this free webinar from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), learn practical steps small businesses can take to enhance their identity and access management, resulting in a stronger, more resilient business in the face of increasing cybersecurity risks. Register today.
Thursday, October 24
9 a.m. - 10 a.m.
Virtual event
Join the the University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives, the Minnesota Center for Employee Ownership and other partners to learn about the benefits of converting to a cooperative as a business succession plan. This free webinar is targeted towards business owners of small manufacturers and veterinary clinics in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Learn more and register now.
Thursday, November 7
8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
CHS Field
Hill Capital is excited to host the Hill Capital Summit (formerly Empire Builders) in Saint Paul. These events nurture meaningful connections with a network of experienced entrepreneurs, business owners, and leaders who are focused on sharing their experiences and personal insights on people, money, strategy, and marketing in a safe space that encourages open dialogues. Purchase your ticket here.
Friday, November 15
9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Wilder Foundation
Join the ConnectUP! Institute for the 2024 Mini Summit and learn how to streamline your small business backend using intuitive AI tools! Discover how to optimize your enterprise in marketing, finances, and operations through interactive sessions with tangible takeaways for entrepreneurs, investors, and ecosystem professionals. Reserve your spot.
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Saint Paul moves forward with zoning amendments for cannabis-related businesses
On September 18, 2024, the Saint Paul City Council unanimously approved zoning amendments that outlines where cannabis based businesses can operate in the City of Saint Paul. The changes aim to create a framework for the establishment and operation of cannabis based businesses in the City of Saint Paul with the goal of helping to support the local economy and promote public safety.
Are you interested in learning more about where cannabis based businesses can locate? Explore the City’s new cannabis zoning map! You can also review the licensing and zoning table for more information and detailed descriptions about the state license types and where they are allowed to operate.
The zoning amendments will go into effect later this fall before the State’s Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) begins licensing cannabis based businesses in 2025. To get updates from OCM, consider subscribing to their newsletter.
Report graffiti to the City of Saint Paul call center
Unwelcome artwork on your property? Any designs, symbols, drawings, or other markings on any structure without the owner’s permission are considered graffiti under City code, Ch. 45. The City of Saint Paul call center is available weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and can walk you through the steps to report and remove unwanted graffiti. Call us at 651-266-8989.
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