What does the MnSBDC do????
Quite simply - we help small business owners turn dreams into reality.
We do that by consulting, training and through the specialized services we offer.
Even the greatest athlete uses a coach to help them move to higher levels. We are the "business coach" for small business, and our best results are achieved by determined, focused small business owners who are willing to roll-up-their-sleeves and get to work.
Need more information?
Click here for our Service Brochure that lists the nine Regional Centers that blanket the state and describes our services in detail. (PDF file format)
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
"Shine a Light" campaign focuses on local businesses
Here's a great opportunity for local businesses, sponsored by two corporate titans. The winning business will receive $100,000 in grant and marketing support, and the winner will be chosen by a vote of the public with results to be announced on Oct. 19.
The overarching message: The efforts of local entrepreneurs represent a path out of the recession.
Here's a news story - share with your favorite local small businesss.
Here's a great opportunity for local businesses, sponsored by two corporate titans. The winning business will receive $100,000 in grant and marketing support, and the winner will be chosen by a vote of the public with results to be announced on Oct. 19.
The overarching message: The efforts of local entrepreneurs represent a path out of the recession.
Here's a news story - share with your favorite local small businesss.
Obama Administration Announces Efforts to Increase Access to Contracting Opportunities for Minority-Owned, Small Businesses
Release Date: August 18, 2009 - - Contact: Tiffani Clements (202) 401-0035
Release Number: 09-58 - - Internet Address: http://www.sba.gov/news
Secretary Locke, Administrator Mills will lead government-wide initiative; federal officials to participate in more than 200 procurement events across the country
WASHINGTON – The Obama Administration today reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that minority-owned and small businesses, including women- and veteran-owned businesses, have greater access to federal government contracting opportunities.
Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and Small Business Administrator Karen Mills announced a government-wide plan that includes federal agency procurement officials holding or participating in more than 200 events over the next 90 days to share information on government contracting opportunities, including those available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
“Small and minority-owned businesses must play a significant role in our efforts to restore economic growth. Small businesses employ half of the nation’s private sector workforce; create a large share of the Nation’s new jobs; and introduce many groundbreaking ideas into the marketplace,” President Barack Obama said. “It is essential that we provide our Nation’s small businesses with maximum practicable opportunity to participate in Federal Government contracting.
“In order for the Federal Government to better meet or exceed the goal of 23 percent of prime contracts for small businesses, Vice President Biden and I have tasked Small Business Administrator Karen Mills and Commerce Secretary Gary Locke with leading a federal government-wide initiative to increase outreach,” Obama continued. “Over the course of the next ninety days agency officials will take an important step forward by holding or participating in more than two-hundred events focused on sharing information on government contracting opportunities.”
“In these tough economic times, the Recovery Act is providing billions of dollars in opportunity and incentives to help businesses grow – and the President and I are committed to ensuring that small and minority-owned businesses are part of our economic recovery every step of the way,” said Vice President Joe Biden. “By taking advantage of the expertise of an array of companies, we are going to be able to build a stronger, more secure foundation for long-term economic growth.”
“It has been a priority from day one of this administration to ensure that small and minority-owned businesses are aware of and have access to federal contracts and funding opportunities,” Locke said. “Over the past 40 years, minority-owned businesses have grown from 300,000 to nearly 4 million today. Their success and the success of small American businesses are vital to our economic recovery.”
“Government contracts can play a key role in helping small businesses turn the corner in terms of expansion and job creation,” Mills said. “But make no mistake, the benefits the government receives are equally as impressive – working with small businesses allows the federal government to work with some of the most innovative companies in America – with direct line to CEO”
As part of the Commerce-SBA initiative, over the next 90 days:
· Federal agency procurement officials will hold or participate in more than 200 events to share information on government contracting opportunities, including those available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
· SBA and Commerce will expand their outreach to fellow contracting officials across the federal government, passing along best practices for outreach and education to every agency to ensure they have the tools they need to meet their annual contracting goals.
· Locke and Mills will promote small business contracting opportunities in remarks, events and discussions with small business groups across the country, including minority, women and veteran groups.
Beyond the next 90 days, Commerce and SBA will support, monitor and track the impact of these efforts going forward to help ensure the Administration is maximizing opportunities for small businesses.
Small business owners can find out about federal contracting opportunities by visiting www.fedbizopps.gov. Local Commerce and SBA officials are also available in local offices across the country to assist small businesses interested in contracting opportunities. Contact information for local offices can be found www.commerce.gov and www.sba.gov.
# # #
Release Date: August 18, 2009 - - Contact: Tiffani Clements (202) 401-0035
Release Number: 09-58 - - Internet Address: http://www.sba.gov/news
Secretary Locke, Administrator Mills will lead government-wide initiative; federal officials to participate in more than 200 procurement events across the country
WASHINGTON – The Obama Administration today reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that minority-owned and small businesses, including women- and veteran-owned businesses, have greater access to federal government contracting opportunities.
Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and Small Business Administrator Karen Mills announced a government-wide plan that includes federal agency procurement officials holding or participating in more than 200 events over the next 90 days to share information on government contracting opportunities, including those available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
“Small and minority-owned businesses must play a significant role in our efforts to restore economic growth. Small businesses employ half of the nation’s private sector workforce; create a large share of the Nation’s new jobs; and introduce many groundbreaking ideas into the marketplace,” President Barack Obama said. “It is essential that we provide our Nation’s small businesses with maximum practicable opportunity to participate in Federal Government contracting.
“In order for the Federal Government to better meet or exceed the goal of 23 percent of prime contracts for small businesses, Vice President Biden and I have tasked Small Business Administrator Karen Mills and Commerce Secretary Gary Locke with leading a federal government-wide initiative to increase outreach,” Obama continued. “Over the course of the next ninety days agency officials will take an important step forward by holding or participating in more than two-hundred events focused on sharing information on government contracting opportunities.”
“In these tough economic times, the Recovery Act is providing billions of dollars in opportunity and incentives to help businesses grow – and the President and I are committed to ensuring that small and minority-owned businesses are part of our economic recovery every step of the way,” said Vice President Joe Biden. “By taking advantage of the expertise of an array of companies, we are going to be able to build a stronger, more secure foundation for long-term economic growth.”
“It has been a priority from day one of this administration to ensure that small and minority-owned businesses are aware of and have access to federal contracts and funding opportunities,” Locke said. “Over the past 40 years, minority-owned businesses have grown from 300,000 to nearly 4 million today. Their success and the success of small American businesses are vital to our economic recovery.”
“Government contracts can play a key role in helping small businesses turn the corner in terms of expansion and job creation,” Mills said. “But make no mistake, the benefits the government receives are equally as impressive – working with small businesses allows the federal government to work with some of the most innovative companies in America – with direct line to CEO”
As part of the Commerce-SBA initiative, over the next 90 days:
· Federal agency procurement officials will hold or participate in more than 200 events to share information on government contracting opportunities, including those available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
· SBA and Commerce will expand their outreach to fellow contracting officials across the federal government, passing along best practices for outreach and education to every agency to ensure they have the tools they need to meet their annual contracting goals.
· Locke and Mills will promote small business contracting opportunities in remarks, events and discussions with small business groups across the country, including minority, women and veteran groups.
Beyond the next 90 days, Commerce and SBA will support, monitor and track the impact of these efforts going forward to help ensure the Administration is maximizing opportunities for small businesses.
Small business owners can find out about federal contracting opportunities by visiting www.fedbizopps.gov. Local Commerce and SBA officials are also available in local offices across the country to assist small businesses interested in contracting opportunities. Contact information for local offices can be found www.commerce.gov and www.sba.gov.
# # #
Monday, August 17, 2009
ATTENTION INVENTORS!
For Immediate Release - - Contact: Inventor’s Network - - 651-602-3175
THE BEST ADVICE FROM IDEA TO PAYOFF
Everybody—from students to bankers to stay-at-home parents—has a great idea with the potential to change the way we live, work or play. The problem is that most people never follow through on making their idea a marketable reality. And in today’s economic climate many may feel too intimidated to invest their time and resources into creating something new.
Louis Foreman, the executive producer of the Emmy award–winning PBS show Everyday Edisons and the co-author of The Independent Inventor’s Handbook (Workman; $14.95; July 2009) aims to dispel those fears. According to Mr. Foreman, there has never been a better time in recent history for innovation: “It has been innovation that has led this country out of recessions in the past, and it will be innovation that creates new opportunities in the future.”
The Independent Inventor’s Handbook is the guide for those young (and not-so-young) innovators. Every step of the invention process is clearly explained, from prototype to finished product. Louis has met thousands of “ordinary people who have extraordinary ideas” through the casting calls of his television show, so he’s got plenty of real-life stories to share and is available to comment on the areas that are ripest for innovation today.
Mr. Foreman will be speaking at this month’s Inventors’ Network meeting. The above mentioned book will be available for sale at this event. Please join us to purchase your book and meet Louis Foreman.
Inventor’s Network
Date: September 15th, 2009
Time: 7:00PM, - 9:00 PM
Doors open for registration: 6:30PM
Fee: Non-members $15.00
Place: Dunwoody College of Technology
Holden Center Meeting Room
818 Dunwoody Blvd
Minneapolis, MN 55403
For Immediate Release - - Contact: Inventor’s Network - - 651-602-3175
THE BEST ADVICE FROM IDEA TO PAYOFF
Everybody—from students to bankers to stay-at-home parents—has a great idea with the potential to change the way we live, work or play. The problem is that most people never follow through on making their idea a marketable reality. And in today’s economic climate many may feel too intimidated to invest their time and resources into creating something new.
Louis Foreman, the executive producer of the Emmy award–winning PBS show Everyday Edisons and the co-author of The Independent Inventor’s Handbook (Workman; $14.95; July 2009) aims to dispel those fears. According to Mr. Foreman, there has never been a better time in recent history for innovation: “It has been innovation that has led this country out of recessions in the past, and it will be innovation that creates new opportunities in the future.”
The Independent Inventor’s Handbook is the guide for those young (and not-so-young) innovators. Every step of the invention process is clearly explained, from prototype to finished product. Louis has met thousands of “ordinary people who have extraordinary ideas” through the casting calls of his television show, so he’s got plenty of real-life stories to share and is available to comment on the areas that are ripest for innovation today.
Mr. Foreman will be speaking at this month’s Inventors’ Network meeting. The above mentioned book will be available for sale at this event. Please join us to purchase your book and meet Louis Foreman.
Inventor’s Network
Date: September 15th, 2009
Time: 7:00PM, - 9:00 PM
Doors open for registration: 6:30PM
Fee: Non-members $15.00
Place: Dunwoody College of Technology
Holden Center Meeting Room
818 Dunwoody Blvd
Minneapolis, MN 55403
Friday, August 14, 2009
MnSBDC - 2008 Annual Report
This link will take you to the Minnesota SBDC Annual Report for 2008. (PDF file size is approximately 2.75Mb)
http://mnsbdc.com/PDFs/SBDC_AnnualReport2008.pdf
QUICK SNAPSHOT OF CLIENT RESULTS:
Obtained Financing 71.3%
Started a Business 70.0%
Improved Productivity 68.6%
Increased Sales 66.2%
Increased Cash Flow 65.0%
Added Employees 54.5%
Return on Investment (ROI) = = = = = > $13.14
This link will take you to the Minnesota SBDC Annual Report for 2008. (PDF file size is approximately 2.75Mb)
http://mnsbdc.com/PDFs/SBDC_AnnualReport2008.pdf
QUICK SNAPSHOT OF CLIENT RESULTS:
Obtained Financing 71.3%
Started a Business 70.0%
Improved Productivity 68.6%
Increased Sales 66.2%
Increased Cash Flow 65.0%
Added Employees 54.5%
Return on Investment (ROI) = = = = = > $13.14
The "3/50 Project" to save local, independent small businesses - originating from Minneapolis!
Did you ever consider your personal impact on the community you live in by how you spend your consumer dollars?
Retail consultant Cinda Baxter has, and she came up with a simple way to have an immediate, personal economic impact on your community;
http://www.the350project.net/home.html
The idea is to commit $50 each month to locally owned businesses. Since the MnSBDC works primarily with locally owned businesses, this program is a great way to support the same businesses that are clients of the MnSBDC.
Did you ever consider your personal impact on the community you live in by how you spend your consumer dollars?
Retail consultant Cinda Baxter has, and she came up with a simple way to have an immediate, personal economic impact on your community;
http://www.the350project.net/home.html
The idea is to commit $50 each month to locally owned businesses. Since the MnSBDC works primarily with locally owned businesses, this program is a great way to support the same businesses that are clients of the MnSBDC.
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