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Prediction: 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...Continue Reading

BUSINESS 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...Continue Reading

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Food 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...Continue Reading

Greetings 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...Continue Reading

Statewide 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...Continue Reading

Good 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...Continue Reading

BizRecycling 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...Continue Reading

Legal Corps has launched a line to help with legal questions for nonprofits and businesses. See the details and flyers to help spread the word in some of our neighborhood languages:   Intake Line Flyer in Somali Intake Line Flyer in Spanish Intake Line in English Continue Reading

        Wellness Kits for Frontline Community Members   Announcement: ???? Our community is in crisis.???? Many of our neighbors, friends, and relatives are processing grief, trauma, and/or putting their minds, bodies, and spirits on the frontlines to seek justice and fight for the Black Lives Matter movement. We are in the midst of both a...Continue Reading

Ramsey County Small Business Relief Fund Ramsey County is providing emergency assistance to small local businesses adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Small Business Relief Fund will provide grants of up to $7500 to small businesses most in need of support. Go to this link to find out more and apply today: https://www.ramseycountymeansbusiness.com/relief-fundContinue Reading

May 31, 2020 The City of Saint Paul has streamlined processes for restaurant and bar owners who wish to safely reopen on June 1, as permitted by the Governor’s executive orders. On May 27, 2020, Mayor Melvin Carter issued Executive Order 2020-10, which allows for expanded use of outdoor space, waive...Continue Reading

As we work through the tragic events of the last few days, the Minnesota Department of Commerce stands ready to assist business owners, property owners and renters in your community that experienced property damage or loss. Embedded please find two documents, one for business owners and one for residential property owner...Continue Reading

Go here to join the effort to support East Side Businesses damaged in the civil unrest: https://www.facebook.com/donate/625160951680850/ Here is more detail: Supporting our community in the name of solidarity with #Justice4GeorgeFloyd Make a donation to support East Side businesses. Donations will help business owners to rebuild their storefronts, restock inventory, and reopen their businesses...Continue Reading

In solidarity with the Justice for George protests and the ongoing work needed to reform the policies and practices to close disparities in our society, here are two designs for signs brought forward by the East Side Freedom Library featuring the artwork of Leon Wang. Print them off, use the...Continue Reading

In response to COVID-19, East Side Elders has partnered with local restaurants to purchase meals for seniors living right here on the East Side. But we can only do this with the support of community members and businesses like yours. Won’t you partner with us to support seniors in th...Continue Reading

There's been concern about discrimination against Asian Americans and an increase of incidents of harrassment for all people of color. We want to make sure our businesses and residents feel safe and can conduct business without threats of violence or harm. East Siders, if you do witness or experience o...Continue Reading

Recent press on the PPP suggests that our side of town is going to get short changed. Take a look. Up to 90% of minority and women owners shut out of Paycheck Protection Program, experts fear Is that true? To what degree has it been difficult for your business or organization to acces...Continue Reading

Thanks to B. Kyle and our friends at St. Paul Area Chamber for this digest of Small Business Links to resources: Today’s look: "I’m a small business with fewer than 500 employees. What are my options?" Of all of the state and federal programs developed in support of business and nonprofits, ...Continue Reading

Thanks to B. Kyle and the team at St. Paul Area Chamber for this digest of resources for the "Gig Economy:" Today’s look: “I’m an independent contractor or self employed or a 1099 contractor or in a ‘gig business.’ What are my options?” Of all of the state and federal programs developed i...Continue Reading