Latest News
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The St. Paul Chief of Police sent this message to all our businesses:
Dear Saint Paul Business Leaders,
I’m writing to make you aware of upcoming events that may affect the safety and operations of your businesses.
On Monday, March 8, the high-profile court proceedings involving former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin ar...
MN Vaccine Connector
Feb 22 2021Dear Business Leaders,
I wanted to share a new tool that we launched today, the COVID-19 Vaccine Connector, which will help Minnesotans find out when, where, and how to get their COVID-19 vaccine.
The Vaccine Connector is the next step of the state’s vaccination strategy to meet Minnesotans where they are and connect the...
ESABA’s Guide to Supporting Your Local Restaurants
Posted by Metro State New Media Students
Long Haul Through the Winter
The Holidays are very important for families, merrymakers, and small businesses. As we adapt to COVID-19 and the new changes in place to mitigate the spread, some of our hardest hit businesses in th...
The Taskforce began exploring the possibility of building a skatepark at Payne and York last summer.Our leadership includes board members from Midwest Skateboarding Alliance, Mat Graske from Caydence Records & Coffee, Eastside skate enthusiasts, and Krista Schnelle, author of this article.
We held a successful event at Caydence on October ...

Donation Drive at Your Place?
Dec 7 2020The City is working to support unsheltered and homeless individuals and families this winter.
We can help by collecting donations and delivering them, working with the City’s nonprofit partners, and volunteering in outreach or other COVID relief operations.
Your business is welcome to post this list of needed items, collect them, an...
St. Paul Port Authority is on the move! That could mean new furniture at your place. Check it out. Contact Laurie Siever if interested: las@sppa.com

St. Paul’s Gathering Place: Swede Hollow Café
Nov 24 2020St. Paul’s Gathering Place: Swede Hollow Café by students from New Media Class Metro State
What is Swede Hollow Café?
The Swede Hollow Café is located in Saint Paul, MN. This café has been serving the community of Saint Paul since 1997, and is located at 725 E 7th St. Saint Pau...

A Taste of Michoacán on the East Side
Nov 24 2020A Taste of Michoacán on the East Side: La Michoacana Purépecha by students from New Media Class Metro State
The Dream of Michoacán
Enter 2018, when La Michoacana Purépecha first opened its door, bringing to 701 Lake Street authentic and unique frozen treats, a socially responsible business, and making it their personal mission to support indigenous communities, particularly that of Michoacán...
The East Side Funders Group Small Business COVID-19 Relief Fund is accepting applications now through November 20, 2020. The purpose of this fund is to provide COVID-19 relief grants (up to $5,000k) to established small and micro businesses on the East Side of Saint Paul that have BIPOC ownership o...

Laundry Your Way, At Your Convenience
by students from the New Media Class - Metro State
What is “Sunray Laundromat”?
Sunray Laundromat drop off and self-service is a brand-new laundry facility that was built in 2018. It is located on 373 Ruth Street N in St. Paul. The building itself means quite ...

Building Community Leaders Through Tennis
Nov 2 2020Building Community Leaders Through Tennis by students from New Media Class Metro State
St. Paul Urban Tennis- Still going strong
St. Paul Urban Tennis (SPUT) establishment has been a part of the East Side Community for about 29 years now. Over the past two decades, the St. Paul Urban Tennis has seen man...

Unrest and Preparing for the Unpreparable
Oct 26 2020Civil Unrest and Community Responses took front and center on Oct 22nd at our East Side Connect. David Alarcon of Munisupport a Chicago firm that does consulting for emergency response presented alongside Erika Bennett, property manager at Sunray Shopping Center about plans that that property is making to be prepare...
BizRelief Grants... Real Relief
Oct 13 2020BizRecycling has introduced a new Relief Grant. As of now applications will be accepted through October 31, 2020. If members are already familiar with BizR, they can apply directly at this link: https://bizreliefgrant.com/
New things this can be used for:
Covering hauling costs for Orgnaics
Staff impacts due to COVID or increased hauling o...

To Count and Be Counted: Census and Voting
Oct 12 2020Here are the details you need to know about Census and Early Voting.
2020 U.S. Census counting will continue until Oct. 31
It’s not too late: https://my2020census.gov/
Go to https://2020census.gov/en/ways-to-respond/responding-by-phone.html for the list of phone numbers to use to complete your census by phone in one of 14 languages.
Elections and Voting Information
Register t...

ESABA Gala: Who's ZOOMING who?
Sep 11 2020Prediction: You'll feel confident and capable on Thursday if we don't surprise the heck out of you.
Prediction: Your date will love your new ZOOM skills.
Prediction: Un/fortunately, Aretha Franklin will not be singing any new songs based on said skills.
We're getting into the Go Zone with Gala next week and the ESAB...

Business Resources Today
Sep 8 2020BUSINESS ASSISTANCE FUNDS - Thanks for St. Paul Area Chamber for their list of assistance funds
The application for We Love St. Paul/Midway fund remains live. Please apply, and share with any businesses you know were impacted by the civil unrest: See application here.
BizRecycling Relief Grants: Any business that has been negatively impacted by th...

Want to Start A Food Business?
Aug 10 2020Food Industry Plan It! Training program
Learn how to start a successful catering business, food truck, restaurant, or food product company. Are you an aspiring entrepreneur with a passion for the food industry? This program teaches the fundamentals of starting a food business to people who already have culinary experience. You'l...
East Side Resilience Fund
Jul 26 2020Greetings from East Side Funders Group!
Please check out and share this opportunity for East Side nonprofit organizations to receive COVID-19 recovery funding. The East Side Resilience Fund prioritizes supporting organizations led by and for Black people, Indigenous people, and people of color (BIPOC) on the East Side of Saint Pau...
Statewide Masks - Free Mask Distro
Jul 25 2020Statewide Mask Requirement - Mask Distribution Starts Monday
Governor Walz has announced Executive Order 20-81, a statewide mask mandate that will go into effect today, Saturday, July 25.
The executive order requires Minnesotans to wear a face covering in indoor businesses and indoor public settings. Under the order, businesses must require that al...
Good News For Rushline!
Jul 6 2020Good news for Rush Line BRT – project receives $1.25 million federal grant for development plans
This month, the Federal Transit Administration announced a $1.25 million grant to support transit-oriented development plans along the Rush Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) route. Rush Line BRT is a 15-mile transit route with 2...

BizRecycling Grants for Multi-unit Housing
Jul 6 2020BizRecycling has expanded to include multi-unit residential properties, such as apartment buildings. This means that multi-unit residential property owners and managers can now take advantage of the great resources available through BizRecycling, including free consultations with recycling experts and grants to help reduce waste and expand or improve recycling an...
Hayley Ball, New Executive Director
Dear Friends of Urban Roots,
In 2019, Urban Roots celebrated our 50th anniversary building healthy communities in Minnesota. Over those five decades, we have evolved from a group of architects and city planners designing sustainable communities to a youth organization that builds community through food, entrepreneurship, an...