Business Support

St. Louis Park recognizes that businesses are essential for a strong local economy. Below are resources and assistance to help businesses succeed.

Financing resources

The City of St. Louis Park is committed to assisting the establishment, growth and expansion of local businesses.

View financing resources

General business resources

Elevate Hennepin – Hennepin County businesses of all sizes can access no-cost advising, find business events, and identify local, state and federal business-support resources.

GreaterMSP – promotes job creation, provides regional marketing, and assists in business expansion and recruitment.
MBMentors – provides free and confidential mentoring, coaching, workshops, and business planning guidance to help businesses start, grow, and succeed.

SCORE – provides free and confidential advice to entrepreneurs and small business owners in every industry.
Wayzata West Metro Chamber of Commerce – helps foster economic growth and community connections through networking opportunities, business resources, events and partnerships that strengthen the local business community.

Small business resources

The City of St. Louis Park is committed to providing assistance to small businesses and helping them succeed. Small businesses can utilize all the general business resources on this page, as well as the resources listed below.

Small business liaison

The city's small business liaison can assist and be a resource to anyone thinking about starting, expanding or relocating a business in St. Louis Park. The liaison can:

Explain and help navigate the city approval process so you avoid expensive surprises or delays.
Assist in communicating with city departments.
Answer questions regarding city policies, programs, processes, permits, services and licensing.
Search available properties.
Provide additional resources.

Contact Jase Pater, small business liaison, at jpater@stlouisparkmn.gov or 952.924.2523 for more information.

NextStage

Looking to start or grow a business? The city's small business support program, NextStage, offers free, one-on-one, confidential business consulting to help entrepreneurs through the process. This program provides small business owners with access to the technical assistance and financing options they need to succeed.

Contact Hiromi Yokoi, business advisor, at hiromi@nextstagemn.org or 612.331.0210 to schedule a video meeting.

Elevate Hennepin

Elevate Hennepin, an initiative from Hennepin County, is designed to support businesses of all sizes in their efforts to grow, create jobs and evolve. Through this program, businesses can access no-cost advising, find business events, and identify local, state and federal business-support resources. Businesses can receive up to 25 hours of consulting from each advisor on a variety of topics.

Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Small Business Hub

The small business hub is a one-stop shop for all of DEED's resources for small businesses, including financing, starting a business, resource guides and expansion assistance.

Small Business Development Center, University of St. Thomas

The Small Business Development Center offer two programs. The first program was developed in partnership with the Opus College of Business and the SBDC. It is a self-paced course designed to help aspiring entrepreneurs test their business idea, write a business plan, assess risk and prepare for legal, financial and ethical operations. The second program is the Community Entrepreneurship Program. It is a 10-month, hands-on program that includes a six-week business training bootcamp, personalized mentorship, consulting, resource connections, a micro-grant, and networking to help launch or grow a business

Property search

Searching for a business location in St. Louis Park? Use the property search tool to find available business property in the city. It includes listings of retail, industrial and multifamily properties for sale or lease. The listings are provided and maintained in partnership with Minnesota Commercial Association of Real Estate.

Find available properties

Manufacturing businesses

Below are external local and state resources available to help manufacturing businesses.

Enterprise Minnesota

Enterprise Minnesota helps manufacturing companies grow profitably and serve as the voice of Minnesota's manufacturing industry.

Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP)

Manufacturing Extension Partnership offers industrial programs that cover lean manufacturing, sustainable energy and environmental services and information technology.

Minnesota Investment Fund

Minnesota Investment Fund provides financing to help add new workers and retain high-quality jobs on a statewide basis.

Minnesota Precision Manufacturing Association (MPMA)

Minnesota Precision Manufacturing Association has introduced, led and supported initiatives and education to keep manufacturing a strong and vital component of Minnesota's economy.

Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC)-owned businesses

Below are a number of external local and state resources available to help minority-owned businesses.

African Development Center

The African Development Center assists Minnesota's African community in starting and growing businesses. Sharia-compliant funding is available.

Central Certification (CERT) Program

Central Certification (CERT) Program is a small business certification program recognized by Hennepin County, Ramsey County and the City of St. Paul for Minority-Owned Business Enterprise (MBE), Women-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE) and Small Business Enterprise (SBE).

Emerging Entrepreneur Loan Program

The Emerging Entrepreneur Loan Program provides loan capital for businesses that are owned and operated by minorities, low-income persons, women, veterans and/or persons with disabilities.

LegalCORPS

LegalCORPS provides free assistance in non-litigation business law matters to low-income owners of small businesses in Minnesota.

Latino Chamber of Commerce (Minnesota)

The Latino Chamber of Commerce provides assistance to empower Latino businesses in Minnesota

Minnesota Black Chamber of Commerce

The Minnesota Black Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to the economic growth, job creation and advocacy of its member businesses and the community.

Minneapolis Minority Business Development Center (MBDA)

Minneapolis Minority Business Development Center (MBDA) helps ethnic minority businesses create or retain jobs and build economically vibrant entrepreneurs and businesses.

Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers

The Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers (MCCD) provides small business assistance and loans for emerging entrepreneurs.

Metropolitan Economic Development Association (MEDA)

The Metropolitan Economic Development Association (MEDA)offers business consulting, lending and market opportunities for minority entrepreneurs.

National Association of Minority Contractors (NAMC) Upper Midwest

The National Association of Minority Contractors addresses the needs and concerns of minority contractors and services Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Iowa.

North Central Minority Supplier Development Council

The North Central Minority Supplier Development Council provides business development services to corporate members and certified MBEs to enhance relationships and maximize business opportunities.

Neighborhood Development Center (NDC)

The Neighborhood Development Center provides flexible, risk-tolerant loans and Sharia-compliant financing and other financial tools for start-ups and existing businesses.

Women-owned businesses

Below are a number of external local and state resources available to help women-owned businesses.

Association of Women Contractors (AWC)

The Association of Women Contractors assists women-owned companies in the construction industry to become an active voice in the business community.

Emerging Entrepreneur Loan Program

The Emerging Entrepreneur Loan Program provides loan capital for businesses that are owned and operated by minorities, low-income persons, women, veterans and/or persons with disabilities.

National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) Minnesota

The National Association of Women Business Owners Minnesota provides a local avenue for women entrepreneurs to connect with their peers through regular networking, educational programs, mentorship and support.

Small Business Administration's women-owned businesses

The Small Business Administration's women-owned businesses offers women-owned businesses comprehensive training and counseling on a vast array of topics in many languages to help start and grow their businesses.

Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC)

The Women's Business Enterprise National Council is an advocate of women-owned businesses as suppliers to America's corporations. It provides certification for women-owned businesses and tools to help them succeed.

Women Entrepreneurs of Minnesota (WeMN)

Women Entrepreneurs of Minnesota provides personal and professional growth opportunities for entrepreneurial women leaders through education, mentoring, peer advisory and collaborative networking.

WomensNet

WomensNet offers small business grants for women in Minnesota.

Woman Owned

Woman Owned offers online business information, networking assistance and a number of resources for setting up, running and growing businesses.

WomenVenture

WomenVenture is an SBA loan provider offering loans up to $50,000 to qualified borrowers to launch or grow small businesses.

Workforce resources

Below are a number of external workforce resources.

Minnesota Workforce Council Association

Minnesota Workforce Council Association (MWCA) oversees publicly funded workforce development services and offers high-value employer workforce services.

Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development

Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development partners to provide training and support to unemployed and dislocated workers, and financial assistance for businesses seeking to upgrade the skills of their workforce.