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Photo courtesy of Visit Saint Paul

Ramsey County Re-Imagination Resource Center

Ramsey County Community and Economic Development has launched the Re-Imagination Resource Center, a new initiative designed to strengthen the ability of local Business Community Organizations (BCOs) to better serve entrepreneurs and small businesses throughout Ramsey County, including Saint Paul! The initiative will support seven partner organizations over the next two years by helping them expand services, improve technical expertise, and build stronger training and mentorship programs for business owners. Participating organizations include WomenVenture, Latino Economic Development Center, Hmong American Partnership, Asian Economic Development Association, Minnesota Consortium of Community Developers, African Economic Development Solutions, and Neighborhood Development Center.

For small business owners in Saint Paul, the Re-Imagination Resource Center is intended to create more accessible pathways to business support and growth resources. The initiative focuses on three core goals: enhancing the technical capabilities of business support organizations, expanding entrepreneur training and mentorship, and increasing financial assistance available to participating businesses. Through participating BCOs (listed above), entrepreneurs may be eligible for technical assistance, business education, mentorship, and microgrants tied to training completion.

City News and Updates

Introducing the "Our Saint Paul" Newsletter

The City of Saint Paul is introducing a new, biweekly newsletter to help community members stay informed of the work happening across our city. The Our Saint Paul Newsletter provides a biweekly digest of important updates on projects, programs, resources, engagement opportunities, and upcoming events.

Sign up to get at-a-glance updates delivered directly to your email inbox so you can stay informed and get involved. The Our Saint Paul Newsletter is delivered via email every other Friday.

City of Saint Paul Economic Development Strategic Plan Business Survey

The City of Saint Paul invites Saint Paul business establishments to participate in a brief survey. The information you provide will help inform the policies intended to guide the City's economic growth and resilience in the coming years.

This survey is being conducted on the behalf of the City of Saint Paul by TIP Strategies, an Austin-based economic strategy firm. The survey is completely confidential. No identifying information is collected, and results of the survey will be provided in aggregate only.

Thank you for taking the time to participate in this important effort. All survey responses must be completed by Sunday, May 24, 2026, at 5:00pm CT.

2026 Construction Has Started

The cones, barrels, road closed signs, and detour signs are popping up across the city and more are coming. While for some these signs of construction might mean traffic and frustration, for Public Works this means our projects are moving forward and our streets, sidewalks, sewers, and public right of way are being improved. It also means that our partner agencies and private utilities are also working to improve the city’s infrastructure.

Between Common Cent projects, Safe Routes to School projects, sewer projects, alley projects, and sidewalk projects, Public Works staff are busy planning, engaging residents, designing, engineering, and managing construction.

To learn more about Public Works construction projects, see an interactive map of Saint Paul Public Works projects, and find links to other agencies’ construction activities: www.stpaul.gov/Construction

Free Professional Headshots

Looking to update your professional photo? The Saint Paul Public Library is hosting a Professional Headshot Series in May. Come dressed in business casual or formal attire and take the next step toward putting your best face forward. We look forward to capturing your moment!

Saturday, May 16 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. at Dayton’s Bluff Library, 3 - 5 p.m. at Highland Park Library

Monday, May 18 1 - 3 p.m. at Rice Street Library, 6 - 7:30 p.m. at Arlington Hills Library

Join the City's Labor Standards Advisory Committee

The City of St. Paul maintains a Labor Standards Advisory Committee (LSAC) of community members from the business community and labor organizations. The LSAC is tasked with advising and supporting the Labor Standards Enforcement and Education Division of the office of Human Rights & Equal Economic Opportunity (HREEO). We are currently soliciting input and membership from the business community. If you're interested in learning more about what we do, please consider attending a meeting (regularly held at 6pm on the second Thursday each month), whether in-person or remotely. We would love to hear from you!

Internship Opportunities with the Saint Paul City Council

Is a college student in your life looking for an exciting internship this summer?  The City Council is seeking applicants for an internship to assist with the Saint Paul Business Award process. This position is available June 2026 through September 2026.

Access Financial and Technical Support from the City of Saint Paul

The City of Saint Paul partners with business support organizations and groups throughout the Twin Cities. If you would like direct business support from our team, the first step is to submit an intake form. Get connected today to learn more about what programs and resources can help you reach your business goals!

DSI Call Center

From garbage to graffiti, The City of Saint Paul call center is here to help get code violations taken care of. Real, knowledgeable people are available on weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to answer questions, log complaints, and get your problem one step closer to being solved. Give us a call at 651-266-8989.

Ramsey County launches $320 million development plan (MPR | April) 

Aldi grocery store hosts ribbon-cutting at former downtown St. Paul Lunds (Pioneer Press | May) 

Billy's Victorian, a century-old Frogtown bar, changes hands  (Pioneer Press | May)  

Resources for Businesses

PROMISE Act Funding Update

The Minnesota PROMISE Act is a state‑funded small business revitalization program that offers grants to eligible businesses in Minneapolis and Saint Paul to support long‑term stability and growth.

To date, the MN PROMISE Act has awarded grants to 1007 businesses, totaling $15.8 million. Of those, 350 Saint Paul businesses received $5.9 million in funding.

There is still $43.7 million available in Round 2 funding.

To help business owners learn about the opportunity and apply with confidence, the PROMISE Act hosts free, virtual Prepare for the PROMISE information sessions, as well as weekly Application Labs that provide hands‑on support. Eligible businesses are encouraged to apply as soon as they are ready.

👉 Apply Now

👉 View Info Sessions

👉 Schedule an In‑Person Application Lab

👉 Schedule 1:1 Virtual Support on Zoom

If you prefer to speak with a team member, you can reach the PROMISE Act team directly at 651‑379‑8102.

LEDC's Small Business Relief Fund

Created to support existing businesses impacted by Arcade & East 7^th Street construction, Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC) is working to support businesses during construction – helping them stay open, maintain cash flow, and keep employees working during this difficult period. Supported by the East Side Area Business Association (ESABA), East Side Neighborhood Development Company (ESNDC), and Rooted Philanthropic, the fund was established to serve East Side Saint Paul businesses, and offers advantageous loan terms, for East Side Businesses.

NDC's Credit Up! Program

Neighborhood Development Center’s (NDC) Credit Up! is comprised of two programs, CUP! Financial Empowerment (in-person) and the CUP! Small Dollar Loan Program, designed to give entrepreneurs an opportunity to learn about the importance of credit and put good credit habits to practice. Build your credit and financial skills through NDC's two-session course, with one-on-one coaching to learn financial foundations and key lessons in credit. Completion may make you eligible for a small-dollar loan to help continuously building. Next session starts June 9^th.

Free Minnesota Paid Leave Business Legal Assistance

Minnesota’s Paid Leave program brings new requirements for employers across the state. LegalCORPS offers no-cost legal advice, funded by the State of Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.  Meet with an attorney for no charge to receive practical guidance on compliance and how to prepare your workplace. Email Mamoun at malassouli@legalcorps.org to set up an appointment!

WomenVenture's Small Business Essentials Course

This 5-session course will help prepare your business for launch by exploring marketing, finance, operations, and legal considerations. This class will meet online via Zoom from 6-8pm on Thursdays, starting on June 15th and ending on July 13th. Visit the WomenVenture website for course objectives and details. Note, WomenVenture courses are designed to be interactive. At the beginning of the first class, we ask each participant to introduce themselves, and we often utilize breakout rooms for small group discussions. Additionally, each participant is required to present a 2–3-minute talk about their business during Small Business Essentials graduation if they would like to receive a Certificate of Completion.

Entrepreneur on the Rise (EOTR): Real Estate Development

This concentrated certification of completion program introduces participants to the core principles of real estate development. Through interactive modules, case studies, and expert-led workshops, learners explore site selection, feasibility analysis, financing, design, construction, and asset management. The program emphasizes ethical development, community impact, and practical tools for launching real estate projects. This 3-session virtual course begins on June 6.

Leading with Efficiency: City of Saint Paul's Fire Station Upgrade

The City of Saint Paul recently completed a major remodel of a downtown building, restoring it to serve again as a working fire station, installing dual fuel heat pump rooftop units to advance their building decarbonization goals. See how the City staff brought this project to life in partnership with the Next Gen Rooftop Units program. This program advances the adoption of next gen rooftop units to help meet the growing demand for energy efficient building solutions. This project shows buildings can cut energy use, meet emission goals, and take practical steps when aging equipment needs replacement. Explore educational resources, rebate guidance, and other program offerings at nextgenrtus.org to prepare for your next HVAC upgrade.

Small Business Environmental Improvement Loans

The MPCA provides loans at zero-percent interest to small businesses for capital equipment purchases that help the company meet or exceed environmental regulations, and covering costs associated with the investigation and cleanup of contaminated sites. The Small Business Environmental Improvement Loan program accepts applications on a continuous basis. Learn more and access program application here. E-mail completed applications to smallbizfunding.pca@state.mn.us.

Get FREE Expert Business Advice!

Whether you are just developing your business idea, or have been in business for years, SCORE mentors are here to help you. No question is too big or too small. Meet with a mentor via email, video, or phone. SCORE mentoring is free and confidential.

Upcoming events

stpaul.gov/ped
stpaul.gov/business-resources
@SaintPaulPED on Twitter

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