FAQs

Ramsey County Means Business is an online business resource portal that centralizes local, state, and regional business incentives, tools, and economic development information to support business owners, site selectors, and entrepreneurs exploring opportunities in Ramsey County, Minnesota.

The website is operated by Ramsey County’s Community & Economic Development (CED) and Workforce Solutions teams. These Ramsey County departments help facilitate growth, provide business support services, and connect users with economic and workforce development resources.

For further questions not covered here, contact the Ramsey County Community & Economic Development team via the website Contact page or by phone at (651) 266-8010.

Yes. Ramsey County offers a high quality of life with a diverse population, strong schools, rising incomes, and a highly educated workforce. Residents have access to parks, recreational activities, cultural amenities, museums, sports, and arts, along with convenient transportation options, including light rail, interstates, and an international airport.

Ramsey County Workforce Solutions is the county’s workforce development division, connecting job seekers and employers to training, employment, and hiring resources. It provides career counseling, skills training, and job placement services for residents, while helping businesses with recruitment, candidate matching, workforce planning, and access to workforce programs to build a strong local talent pipeline.

Yes. The industry offers positions with opportunities for advancement, flexible scheduling and career growth, and employers can share openings to connect with local job seekers interested in these fields.

Yes. Ramsey County Job Connect is a free online job board where employers can post open positions and job seekers can search and apply for opportunities. It helps businesses connect with local candidates and allows job seekers to register for job alerts and explore openings across a variety of industries.

The Workforce Training Dashboard provides a directory of local training resources, including technical skills training, digital literacy programs, incumbent worker training, and customized workforce development programs to support company-specific needs.

The Workforce Innovation Board (WIB) of Ramsey County is a business-led board. Members represent business, community-based organizations, education, economic development, organized labor, and workforce partners to oversee and guide local workforce development strategies. As one of 16 legislatively mandated Workforce Boards in Minnesota, it helps align training and employment programs with employer needs, advises on initiatives that expand job opportunities, and supports efforts to build a skilled, competitive workforce in the county.

Partners include school districts, community colleges, apprenticeship programs, unions, and community-based organizations. These partners provide training, internships, and career pathways for both youth and adult workers.

The Inclusive Workplaces Cohort is a free executive learning program for local businesses focused on advancing workplace inclusion. Participants join a peer-learning community guided by facilitators who provide tools and strategies to boost employee engagement, retention, and productivity while fostering welcoming, people-first workplaces. The program is sponsored by the WIB and supported by its Equity and Partnership & Outreach Committees.

Building Your Own Future is a career pathway initiative that connects job seekers with construction unions, community-based training providers, and local colleges, helping businesses efficiently fill skilled construction positions.

Career Pathways programs in secondary schools and community colleges provide internships, training, and guidance to help students and young adults enter the workforce with industry-relevant skills.

Yes. Reports and data on industry trends, workforce demand, and skill requirements help employers and job seekers make informed decisions about hiring and career planning.

Businesses in Ramsey County can access grants, low-interest loans, tax increment financing (TIF), façade and redevelopment programs, and free technical assistance through Open to Business. State programs such as the Minnesota Investment Fund and Minnesota Job Creation Fund also support job creation and capital investment. All available options can be explored through the county’s online Incentives Dashboard.

Featured projects include:

• Rice Creek Commons, a 427-acre redevelopment of the former Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant into a mixed-use community in Arden Hills.
• Saint Paul Riversedge, a major riverfront revitalization project in downtown Saint Paul.
• The New Brighton Exchange, a transformation of former industrial land into a vibrant mixed-use district.

The organization partners with local stakeholders to support companies through site selection. A collaborative group of economic developers, planning and zoning professionals, engineers, surveyors, and architects helps businesses identify and evaluate available properties, navigate local processes, and access workforce and incentive resources for relocation or expansion. The website provides useful information here.