Minneapolis to celebrate Black Business Week July 24-30

The city of Minneapolis is set to celebrate its third annual Black Business Week, from Monday, July 24 to Sunday, July 30, ahead of the nationally recognized National Black Business Month in August. The goal of the week is to better amplify, strengthen and support Black business development in Minneapolis.

This year’s Minneapolis Black Business Week centers on generational wealth and the ways that the financial successes of today’s Black entrepreneurs can be passed down to future generations.

Find event details below:

• Black Business Week kickoff event
  5-8 p.m. Monday, July 24
  56 Brewing, 3055 Columbia Ave. NE
  Leaders from the local business community join organizations and City staff in discussions on building generational wealth and a Black middle class in Minneapolis. People who come by can also check out a Black Market featuring a variety of Minneapolis vendors and resource tables that include the City’s Small Business Team and the Civil Rights Department’s procurement and contracting division. 

• Ward 5 job fair
  3-6:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 25
  Workforce Center, 800 W. Broadway
  Youth (ages 14+) can learn about opportunities for internships, jobs and entrepreneur mentorship.

• Certified Access information session
  11 a.m.-noon, Tuesday, July 25
  Virtual event 
  Learn about Certified Access and how it can support entrepreneurs in getting certifications as minority-owned businesses, woman-owned businesses or other disadvantaged business enterprises.
  
• East African Panel Discussion and Resource Fair
  2-6 p.m. Wednesday, July 26
  Brian Coyle Center, 420 15th Ave. S.
  This event is geared towards helping businesses in the city’s East African community and highlighting the resources they can access to start or grow a business. At 2 p.m., hear about entrepreneurship among young, East African women at a panel discussion. Then at 4, participants can connect to community resources for businesses.
  
• Real estate project tours
  3-4 p.m. Wednesday, July 26
  2406 McNair Ave. N
  705 N 42nd Ave.
  
  Two separate tours take participants through Black-led real estate development projects, with a social hour to follow.
  • The McNair Avenue tour is of twin homes recently constructed by real estate developer Alex Frank, who also serves as an advisor with The City’s Developer Technical Assistance Program (DTAP). Alex Frank has developed multiple homes through The City’s Minneapolis Homes program since 2016 and also participates as a mentor in ULI Minnesota’s Real Estate Diversity Initiative Program for BIPOC and Women real estate professionals.
  • The 42nd Avenue tour is of a redevelopment being led by emerging real estate developer and entrepreneur Anissa Keyes. A founder of Arubah Emotional Health Services, Anissa Keys is also a DTAP participant and a recipient of The City’s Ownership and Opportunity Fund. Her renovation of the historic Camden Bank building is currently underway and will provide 20,000 square feet of commercial space to BIPOC small business owners when completed.
    
• Protecting your Legacy
  5:30-7:30 p.m., Wednesday, July 26
  Neon, 1007 W. Broadway Ave. 
  Legal Workshop for businesses focusing on protecting business assets for the future.  Succession planning, wills/trusts, and more tools to support eventual retirement and generational wealth building. 
  
• Doing Business with the City   
  12-2 p.m. Thursday, July 27
  Sabathani, 310 E. 38th St.
  Business owners can learn how they can get contracts with the City as a vendor.  Includes information on certifications.

• Chameleon Pop Up
  11 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday, July 27
  Nicollet Avenue between 7th and 8th streets.
  Pop-up market on Nicollet Mall featuring Black vendors.
  
• The Black Market Summer Series Pop Up Event
  4-8 p.m. Saturday, July 29 
  Farmers Market Annex, 200 East Lyndale Ave. N.
  Pop-up market at the Farmers Market Annex focuses on Black vendors.

For more info, and to register for events, visit minneapolismn.gov/BlackBusiness.