The program offers no-cost support services in three areas for businesses located in Hennepin County
Hennepin County and the Minneapolis Regional Chamber announce the launch of Elevate Business HC, a public-private initiative offering pro-bono services to businesses located in Hennepin County.
“I’m excited about this opportunity to support small and medium-sized businesses in Hennepin County working in partnership with the Minneapolis Regional Chamber,” said Hennepin County Board Chair Commissioner Marion Greene, District 3. “Small businesses bring vibrancy, creativity, and life to our region. Many of our region’s small businesses are minority and immigrant-owned, serving as the backbone of our communities. We want to ensure that they are able to survive, grow, and thrive now and into the future.”
The programs included in Elevate Business HC are designed to support businesses impacted by COVID-19. They include:
- Technical Assistance: Professional service providers are available for one-on-one consultations to discuss and find solutions for issues impacting individual businesses in a variety of areas including financing, human resources, technology, and many others.
- Peer-to-Peer Roundtables: Reoccurring and facilitated small group discussions segmented by industry and areas of participant interest with a focus on sharing best practices and problem solving.
- Topic-Driven Webinars: Industry and subject matter experts will discuss issues facing employers with a focus on workforce needs in remote environments during the COVID-19 pandemic. These include areas like workforce diversification, employee mental health and wellness, insurance policy review, and many more.
“Hennepin County is making this important investment so that our local entrepreneurs and business leaders have tools and resources they need to build a stronger, more inclusive economy than it was before,” said Patricia Fitzgerald, Hennepin County Community and Economic Development Manager. “Helping businesses navigate critical issues and strengthen their organizations will result in benefits across our county and region.”
“Regions that lay a strong foundation now will be better prepared for success when the most difficult part of the pandemic is past,” said Jonathan Weinhagen, President & CEO of the Minneapolis Regional Chamber. “The Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area grew faster in the period after the Great Recession than our competitive peer regions. Let’s make sure we do the same coming out of the current economic downturn. Elevate Business HC will marshal our resources to help businesses come back strong.”
Funding for Elevate Business HC is provided by Hennepin County through the Federal CARES Act. Hennepin County businesses are encouraged to log on to www.elevatebusinesshc.com to learn more and engage.
