Ramsey County Invests in Local Businesses Through Two Programs

Ramsey County is investing more than $1 million over the next five years in the Open to Business program and the CEO Next Business Institute. Both are designed to create jobs and support business growth.

A new partnership with the Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers will allow the county to offer Open to Business beginning Sept. 1. The program provides new and early-stage businesses access to technical assistance needed to launch, grow and prosper. By providing advice and counseling to participants, business service specialists help them achieve entrepreneurial goals.

Open to Business is offered to participants with no application process or participation fee. Business service specialists provide support navigating in such areas as start-up and expansion financing, business plan development, licensing, zoning and regulatory issues.

The CEO Next Business Institute, which takes the place of the Economic Gardening program, guides leaders of second-stage companies through advanced business and market research, peer and cohort learning, and expert forums.

Privately held businesses with 10 - 99 employees and $1 - 50 million in revenue are invited to apply through Sept. 30 to participate in the 2019-20 program. Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott and Dakota counties contract with the Edward Lowe Foundation, which administers the program, to allow qualifying businesses to participate for free.