Small Business Partnerships Program

DEED partners with local and regional community-based organizations across the state to support the startup, growth, and success of Minnesota’s diverse entrepreneurs and small business owners through the delivery of high quality free or low cost professional business development and technical assistance services.

Our partners represent and empower the success of businesses owned and operated by Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) individuals, veteran, women, persons with disabilities, and entrepreneurs located in Greater Minnesota.

If you are seeking assistance to grow your business explore the Partners tab below to find a qualified provider that can help meet your needs.

Additional resources for business can be found in Get Help From Our Experts.

This program is supported by Minnesota State General Funds through 2021 Minnesota Law, 1st Special Session, Chap. 10, Sec. 2, subd. 2(b)

Partners and Contacts
Performance and Results
Contact

Partners and Contacts

Here is a list of organizations that DEED has partnered with to provide high quality free or low cost professional business development and technical assistance services. Many of these organizations also provide additional services such as loan capital.

Use our interactive directory that can be filtered based on your needs. This page will open in a new window.

Organization	Mission Statement	Address	Contact (Phone Number, Email)	Languages Served
Development Corporation of Austin	Aggressively supporting new and existing businesses and institutions in the Austin Area.	329 N. Main St, Ste 106L Austin 55912	507-433-9495 austindca@austindca.org	English Spanish
Metropolitan Economic Development Association	Helping BIPOC Entrepreneurs Succeed	1256 Penn Ave N Minneapolis 55411	612-332-6332 contact@meda.net	English Spanish
Veden Center for Rural Economic Development	The Veden Center for Rural Engagement is a think tank dedicated to creating prosperity through innovative partnerships and development of opportunities for the region. Ongoing work includes thought leadership with a focus on rural America post COVID-19, bridging urban and rural business opportunities, incubation and acceleration services for veterans, new Americans and economically disadvantaged populations and creating new pathways for student success following their higher education experience.	2900 University Ave Crookston 56716	218-281-8344	English Spanish
Seward Redesign, Inc.	Redesign engages the energy and creativity of residents and businesses to implement development that responds to community priorities and creates living-wage jobs, affordable housing, and a vibrant local economy.	2619 E Franklin Avenue Minneapolis 55406	612-877-8170 hibo@redesigninc.org	English Somali
LEDC	LEDC's mission is to transform our community by creating economic opportunities for Latinos.	804 Margaret St St. Paul 55106	612-724-5332 info@ledcmn.org	English Spanish
Small Business Development Center - Northeast Region	The Northland Foundation invests in people and communities to support a thriving northeastern Minnesota.	202 W Superior St, Suite 610 Duluth 55802	218-723-4040 info@northlandfdn.org	English
African Economic Development Solutions	Wealth building within African immigrant communities.	1821 University Ave, Suite S-145 St. Paul 55104	651-646-9411 info@aeds-mn.org	English Somali Amharic Oromo
Lunar Startups	Lunar Startups is creating equitable entrepreneurial ecosystems by providing education, support, and connectivity to leaders who identify as Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC), women, LGBTQ and are founding high-impact ventures with the goal of building community wealth and developing entrepreneurial capabilities.	370 Wabasha St N, Ste 900 St. Paul 55410	651-504-0184 hello@lunarstartups.org	English
Entrepreneur Fund	To actively partner with entrepreneurs to create growing businesses, thriving communities, and a diverse regional economy.	202 W Superior St, Ste 311 Duluth 55802	218-623-5747 info@entreprenuerfund.org	English
Small Business Development Center - Central Region	Through a statewide network of professional business consultants, the SBDC can provide the professional guidance small businesses need to make the critical strategic decisions necessary for long-term growth, profitability and success.	355 5th Ave S Saint Cloud 56301	320-308-2254 klross@stcloudstate.edu	English
Lake Street Council	Lake Street Council engages, serves, and advocates for the Lake Street business community in Minneapolis to ensure the vitality and prosperity of the commercial corridor.	2925 Chicago Ave, Ste 190 Minneapolis 55407	612-822-0232 info@visitlakestreet.com	English Spanish Somali
Initiative Foundation	To empower people throughout Central Minnesota to build a thriving economy, vibrant communities, and a culture of generosity.	405 1st St SE Little Falls 56379	877-632-9255 info@ifound.org	English Spanish Somali
WomenVenture	WomenVenture's mission is to empower women to achieve their economic goals by building profitable and sustainable businesses that transform communities.	165 Western Ave N, Ste 8, Office 100 St. Paul 55102	612-224-9540 info@womenventure.org	English
ACER Inc.	African Career, Education, & Resource Inc. (ACER) is the leading issue-based community organization working to uplift and amplify the African Diaspora to build power for systemic change that advances racial and economic equity in our communities.	6800 78th Ave N, Suite 101 Brooklyn Park 55445	763-657-7711 info@acerinc.org	English
Northside Economic Opportunity Network	NEON's mission is to build wealth for low- to moderate-income entrepreneurs in North Minneapolis and surrounding communities.	1007 West Broadway Ave North Minneapolis 55411	651-401-1505 info@neon-mn.org	English
Springboard for the Arts	Springboard for the Arts' mission is to support artists with the tools to make a living and a life, and to build just and equitable communities full of meaning, joy, and connection.	262 University Ave W St. Paul 55103	651-292-4381 info@springboardforthearts.org	English Spanish Somali Hmong Chinese Lao
Hmong American Partnership	HAP's mission is to empower the community to embrace the strengths of our cultures while achieving our potential. HAP achieves its mission by: Improving the lives of individuals and families in our diverse communities through culturally sensitive social services. Strengthening neighborhoods through housing, community and economic development opportunities. Promoting the rich heritage of our ethnic communities. (https://hmong.org/about-us/vision-and-mission/)	1075 Arcade St St. Paul 55106	651-495-9160 askHAP@hmong.org	English Hmong Karen
Small Business Development Center - West Central Region	The West Central MN SBDC works with entrepreneurs and existing small businesses to assist them with starting and growing their businesses in Becker, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, Pope, Stevens, Traverse and Wilkin counties in MN.	901 8th St S Moorhead 56562	218-299-3037 SBDC@cord.edu	English
CLUES Inc.	CLUES' mission is to advance social and economic equity and wellbeing for Latinos in Minnesota by building upon our strengths and cultures, uplifting our community, and activating leadership for systemic change.	797 E 7th St St. Paul 55106	651-379-4200 info@clues.org	English Spanish Somali
Greater Bemidji	Greater Bemidji's mission is to drive development and promote prosperity in the greater Bemidji region.	102 First St W, Ste 101 Bemidji 56601	218-444-5757 dhengel@greaterbemidji.com	English Spanish
NextStage	To support Entrepreneurs at every stage	Normandale Lake Blvd Bloomington 55437	952-921-2381 info@nextstagemn.org	English Spanish
African Development Center	The Mission of the African Development Center is to grow businesses, build wealth, and increase reinvestment in the African communities of Minnesota.	1931 South 5th St Minneapolis 55454	612-877-8264 clukudu@adcminnesota.org	English Somali Amharic Swahili
BETA	Our mission is to inspire the next generation of Minnesota entrepreneurs and give them the skills and resources necessary to be successful.	1317 Marshall St NE Minneapolis 55413	hello@beta.mn	English
Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers	To work collectively to build strong stable communities by leveraging resources for the development of people and places	3137 Chicago Ave Minneapolis 55407	612-789-7337 info@mccdmn.org	English Spanish Somali Hmong Tonga/Nyanja & Bemba
Scott County Center for Entrepreneurship	The Scott County CFE Business Accelerator program supports the growth of emerging businesses in an entrepreneurial environment that encourages collaboration, fosters job creation, and provides connections to key resources.	4601 Dean Lakes Blvd Shakopee 55379	952-496-8830 jfoust@scottfss.org	English
4-Directions Development, Inc	To provide entrepreneurial, economic, and community development services in the areas of technical assistance, education, financial, and facilities.	23744 State Highway 1 E Red Lake 56671	218-679-4332 amay@4directionsrl.org	English
Small Business Development Center - North Central Region	The North Central SBDC provides training and assistance to help entrepreneurs and small business owners start, grow, and succeed.	501 West College Dr Brainerd 56401	218-855-8140 sbdc@clcmn.edu	English Spanish
Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation	Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation is a regional development and philanthropic organization that fosters economic and community vitality in 20 counties of southern Minnesota through a culture of collaboration and partnership.	525 Florence Ave Owatonna 55060	507-455-3215	English
Small Business Development Center - South Central Region	The SBDC offers no-cost, customized consulting to businesses throughout their entire life cycle, from the excitement of the idea stage and the thrill of the launch to the challenges of growth periods and distressed times.	424 N Riverfront Dr #202 Mankato 56001	507-389-1008	English Spanish Somali
Minnesota American Indian Chamber of Commerce	Promote, Advocate and Create Economic Prosperity on behalf of American Indian businesses, organizations, professionals, and tribal enterprises in a global market.	E Franklin Ave Minneapolis 55404	612-877-2117 info@maicc.org	English
New American Development Center	Building a strong and vibrant African Immigrant community through sustainable community and economic development programs by leveraging resources and addressing cultural needs	2614 Nicollet Ave S #207 Minneapolis 55408	612-823-0180 info@nadcmn.org	English Somali Oromo Arabic Swahili
Small Business Development Center - Southwest	Providing businesses at all stages the expertise and resources to succeed.	Southwest MN State University 1501 State St, Ste 201 Marshall 56258	507-537-7386 SBDC@SMSU.edu	English Spanish
Asian Economic Development Association	Create economic opportunities for MN Asian communities. We provide integrated services in small business development, asset development, financial capability, workforce development, and cultural placemaking.	422 University Ave W, Ste 13 Saint Paul 55103	651-222-7798 biz@aedamn.org	English Hmong Chinese Cambodian Vietnamese
Kandiyohi County and City of Willmar Economic Development Commission	To be a catalyst for economic growth of the greater Kandiyohi County Area.	222 20th St SE Willmar 56201	320-235-7370 edc@kandiyohi.com	English Somali

Performance and Results

Here you will find annual reports on the outputs and outcomes of this program.
- State Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Report (pending).
Contact

For questions or a referral to an appropriate partner in your area contact us at mnsbp.deed@state.mn.us.