Jay Sachetti joined Jeff O’Brien, partner at Husch Blackwell and Dyanne Ross-Hanson, president of Exit Planning Strategies talked about the market for mergers and acquisitions, exit planning opportunities for companies that don’t end up for sale and how companies can maximize their eventual sale price during an early October panel at the first Upsize on Tap event at Summit Brewing Co. in St. Paul.
When the state Legislature passed a law requiring employers to provide paid leave and safe time for employees, Justin Bieganek started hearing differing details from friends, colleagues and peers.
Many Twin Cities businesses have disappeared the last two years, victims of the COVID-19 pandemic or destroyed by rioting in Minneapolis.
Others have gotten help in recovering, some from a program created jointly by Hennepin County and the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce. Elevate Business HC launched in May 2020 with the goal of matching business owners with a collection of experts who can help them with issues ranging from financing to marketing.
While born of difficult times, Elevate Business has grown into a program aimed to help diverse businesses grow well into the future. Patricia Fitzgerald, director of economic development at Hennepin County, visited with Upsize to discuss the program.
Tellijohn: Please describe how Elevate Business helps small business owners?
Fitzgerald: Elevate Business is a program that provides small businesses in Hennepin County an online one-stop shop where they can search for specific expertise and connect with any of over 20 business advisers for free consulting that meets their interests.
Business advisers with diverse backgrounds include a range of specialized legal, financial, marketing and even IT professionals that provide culturally competent services in a variety of languages. The program was created to tackle challenges faced by small businesses stemming both from COVID and racial injustice. So far, more than 700 businesses have accessed free services, and over 1,000 have registered.
Tellijohn: Who is eligible for assistance through the program?
Patricia Fitzgerald,
Fitzgerald: Any business owner in Hennepin County with a commercial or home-based location can participate in Elevate Business. Additionally, residents of Hennepin County that need guidance on how to start a business in Hennepin County may also access no-cost business advising through Elevate Business.
Tellijohn: This came about through COVID — what’s the future of the program once we emerge from the pandemic?
Fitzgerald: While the program began with pandemic response centered services, those services have expanded and are centered around providing business support that will help businesses thrive long-term, beyond the pandemic.
Accessing funding, finding affordable commercial space, and navigating licensing and permitting are common issues business owners seek to address through Elevate Business. Others are looking to up their online presence, seek support to launch new social media marketing efforts or mentoring support to talk thru new opportunities and options.
Elevate is intended to survive past the impact of the pandemic as a long-term business support strategy.
Tellijohn: How can people find out more about Elevate?
Fitzgerald: Businesses can learn more about Elevate on our Hennepin County program page: https://www.hennepin.us/economic-development/programs/Elevate-Business-HC
Businesses can sign up for Elevate Business and browse services on our online portal: https://startupspace.app/hub/ElevateBusiness
To get the latest updates on the program, people can connect with Hennepin County on LinkedIn or sign up for our business support newsletter
Contact: Patricia Fitzgerald is director of economic development at Hennepin County: ec******************@******in.us; www.hennepin.us/elevate; www.linkedin.com/showcase/hennepin-county-economic-development
The use of fractional executives — those hired by companies on contract to work a fraction of the hours at less cost than full-time hires — has been on the rise for years. That accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic. John Arms, co-founder of Voyageur U, helped establish the organization to help educate free agents on what it takes to make it as a fractional executive. He’s now put that knowledge into print, recently releasing the book “Consult Your Way to a Full-Time Job.” Arms joined Upsize Minnesota Editor Andrew Tellijohn to talk about how the book can help potential fractional executives carve their new paths.
Branding expert Kate DiLeo wrote a book about how branding agencies need to do less storytelling and more listening to better meet their clients’ needs.
