St. Paul – Today, the Department of Employment and Economic Development is announcing recipients of the Small Business Partnership Grant Program: non-profits and public entities who will provide and facilitate business development and technical assistance to entrepreneurs and small businesses. This program was increased by $7M to $9.8M by the legislature and signed by Governor Walz to provide resources to businesses across Minnesota who have faced unprecedented challenges over the past two years.

The purpose of this grant is to support the start-up, growth, and success of Minnesota's entrepreneurs and small business owners through the delivery of high quality free or low-cost professional business development and technical assistance services.

The successful implementation of these grant funded projects will help facilitate an economic environment that produces job growth and supports the economic success of Minnesota individuals, businesses, and communities by providing opportunities for growth. Over half this funding is being directed towards organizations and projects that will focus almost exclusively on Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) business owners and entrepreneurs.

"This period of disruption in our economy is fertile ground to start a new business – evidenced by the big surge in new business starts we're seeing in Minnesota," said DEED Commissioner Steve Grove. "Over the next few months, winners of these grants will be setting up and executing programs that will provide support for entrepreneurs, particularly those run by BIPOC leaders."

The recipients of the grants include:

• 4-Directions Development, Red Lake, $120,000
• African Career, Education & Resource, Brooklyn Center, $120,000
• African Development Center, Minneapolis, $393,750
• African Economic Development Solutions, Saint Paul, $198,000
• Asian Economic Development Association, Saint Paul, $348,000
• Austin Community Charitable Fund, Austin, $65,000
• BETA Group, Minneapolis, $150,000
• Clues, Minneapolis, $231,052
• Concordia College Small Business Development Center, Moorhead, $73,114
• Entrepreneur Fund, Duluth, $600,000
• Greater Bemidji, Bemidji, $379,100
• Hmong American Partnerships, Saint Paul, $300,000
• Initiative Foundation, Little Falls, $200,000
• Kandiyohi County & City of Willmar Economic Development Commission, Willmar, $76,000
• Lake Street Council, Minneapolis, $200,000
• Latino Economic Development Center, Saint Paul, $600,000
• Leech Lake Financial Services, Cass Lake $120,000
• Lunar Inc, Saint Paul, $120,000
• Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers, Minneapolis, $480,000
• Metropolitan Economic Development Association, Minneapolis, $600,000
• Minnesota American Indian Chamber of Commerce, Roseville, $120,000
• MNSBIR, Minneapolis, $120,000
• New American Development Center, Minneapolis, $350,991
• NextStage, Minneapolis, $221,250
• North Central Small Business Development Central Lakes College, Brainerd, $400,000
• Northland Foundation Small Business Development Center, Duluth, $350,000
• Northside Economic Opportunity Network, Minneapolis, $300,000
• Red Wing Ignite, Red Wing, $352,154
• Scott County CDA-CFE, Shakopee, $105,075
• Seward Redesign Inc, Minneapolis, $120,000
• South Central Small Business Development Center Mankato State University, Mankato, $296,000
• Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, Owatonna, $150,000
• Southwest State University Small Business Development Center, Marshall, $200,000
• Springboard for the Arts, Saint Paul, $112,047
• St Cloud State University Small Business Development Center, Saint Cloud, $120,000
• University of Minnesota Crookston Small Business Development Center, Crookston, $237,217
• WomenVenture, Minneapolis, $600,000

Earlier this fall, DEED opened the competitive process to receive applications. We held several webinars and outreach sessions regarding the grant opportunity. Once grant contracts are completed later this year, these organizations can begin work serving businesses.

DEED is the state’s principal economic development agency, promoting business recruitment, expansion and retention, workforce development, international trade and community development. For more details about the agency and its services, visit the DEED website, the JoinUsMn.com website, or follow us on Twitter.