Small business advocate Lynn Pingol says Minnesota’s governor and Senate candidates avoided her proposed debate on federal contracting rollbacks, even as legislation threatens key SBA programs. Editor Jasmine McBride has the story.
small business
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U.S. Bank’s new online resource empowers small businesses
U.S. Bank’s Business Resources Central is helping small business owners like Jeena Gurung Vomhof of Namaste Brows and Boutique build financial plans, pitch skills and systems for growth. Sponsored content explores how the free digital tool is putting real resources in the hands of Twin Cities entrepreneurs.
Posted inTracey’s Keepin' It Real
Tracey’s Keepin’ It Real: Frank Brown and Tina Schlief on Customer Service, Communication, and the Dos and Don’ts of Doing Business
“The customer is always right” is a myth, says Minuteman Press Uptown owner Frank Brown. On this episode of Tracey’s Keepin’ It Real, Brown and consumer Tina Schlief join host Tracey Williams-Dillard for a candid conversation about customer service, communication and why Black-owned businesses need to stop offering discounts on request.
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Sheer Treasures celebrates culture, wellness and community after 53 years
From selling incense door to door in North Minneapolis to 53 years in business, M. David and Gail Ricks built Sheer Treasures into a Northtown Mall staple rooted in culture, wellness and community.
Posted inOpinion
A Federal Rule Change Threatens Minnesota’s Small Businesses. Especially the Ones Our Communities Depend On
R. Lynn Pingol writes that a proposed OMB rule change would strip away the supplier diversity programs, technical assistance and SBA 8(a) pathways that small Black, immigrant and women-owned businesses depend on to access federal contracts, threatening the corridors communities rebuilt after years of crisis.
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Neighborhood Development Center Spotlights Community Businesses Through Hidden GEMS Campaign
The Hidden GEMS on University Avenue campaign spotlights Flava Coffee and Cafe, Angelea’s Soul Food Kitchen and The Collective Salon Studios as part of NDC’s St. Paul Commercial Corridor Program celebrating the people and places that make the corridor special.
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Building financial confidence from the inside out
Operation HOPE financial coach Achante Brown is bringing nearly a decade of banking experience back to North Minneapolis, offering free one-on-one coaching through a U. S. Bank partnership that has served more than 230 clients on West Broadway.
Posted inBusiness
Orange Barrels, Empty Tables: East 7th Street Businesses Fight to Survive MnDOT Construction
A seven-month MnDOT reconstruction project on East Seventh Street in St. Paul is threatening the survival of dozens of immigrant- and minority-owned businesses on the East Side corridor, with $5,000 grants covering just one month of a seven-month impact.
Posted inOpinion
Policy shifts are reshaping Black and immigrant business economy
Procurement expert R. Lynn Pingol argues that Minnesota’s small businesses are facing a perfect storm of federal shocks, from DEI restrictions to DBE rollbacks and SBA delays, landing hardest on Black, immigrant and BIPOC-owned firms with the least margin for disruption.
Posted inFinance
Chase opens community branch in Minneapolis’ Longfellow neighborhood
Chase has opened a new Community Center branch in Minneapolis’ Longfellow neighborhood, bringing financial education, free workshops and expanded banking access to South Minneapolis as part of the bank’s continued Twin Cities expansion.
Posted inOpinion
Black women built the workforce, why are we locked out of it?
Nikki Porcher argues that the unemployment crisis among Black women is a systemic failure, not a personal one, and calls for workforce systems that center Black women’s lived experience and support their proven economic power.
Posted inEvents
Free Zoom event to support Black food and agriculture businesses
Sheletta Brundidge food business event offers guidance to food, beverage and agriculture entrepreneurs in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.
Posted inCommunity Voices
Small businesses are the key to economic growth in our community
Small businesses fuel community growth, job creation, and generational wealth. MEDA highlights why investing in BIPOC entrepreneurs strengthens local economies and neighborhoods.
Posted inTracey’s Keepin' It Real
Strength & Strategy Series Episode 2: Business Planning and Strategy
Episode 2 of the Strength and Strategy Series explores how strong leadership, efficient operations, and solid infrastructure help entrepreneurs move from ideas to real growth. Tracey talks with Octavia “Tav” Treadway and Tommy McNeal about building systems, strengthening teams, and creating a reliable foundation for long-term success.
Posted inTracey’s Keepin' It Real
Strength & Strategy Series Episode 1: Business Planning and Strategy
Episode 1 of the Strength & Strategy Series with business planning, cash flow, and pricing
Posted inPolitics
Frey booed at forum as challengers question transparency
Mayor Jacob Frey drew boos and tough questions at the AALF forum as challengers DeWayne Davis, Omar Fateh, Jazz Hampton, and Brenda Short challenged his record on small business support and transparency ahead of the November 4 election.
Posted inFinances FYI
Harnessing emerging technologies to power your business
Small business owners are increasingly integrating AI and other emerging technologies to enhance efficiency, competitiveness, and customer satisfaction, with 48% planning to implement AI tools this year.
Posted inEvents
Elevating Black Voices: Third Annual Black Entrepreneurs Day at the Minnesota Capitol
Black Entrepreneurs Day at the Minnesota State Capitol is back for its third year, offering Black business owners and community leaders the opportunity to connect with legislators and advocate for the resources they need to succeed.
Posted inBlack Business Spotlight
Black Business Spotlight: Corporate Headquarters
Ashley Hightower and Tasha Nembhard launched Corporate Headquarters as a creative outlet to find their own passion and to protect their hair.
Posted inBusiness, Finances FYI
Taking your small business to the next level
Once you’re open for business, it’s time to start thinking about how to grow and scale your company for longer-term success.