St Louis Park

Starting or Expanding a Small Business

Small businesses are in integral part of the economic vitality of St. Louis Park.  The City is committed to providing entrepreneurs with the assistance they need in order to grow and expand their enterprises.  Please consult the following links for more information on business resources. 

Open To Business (click here)

Small business consulting services are available to all St. Louis Park businesses through the City's Open to Business Program. 

Trained staff can assist you.....

• Conduct business feasibility studies
• Prepare business and marketing plans
• Develop financing and cash flow projections
• Determine true borrowing needs
• Access traditional and non-traditional capital
• Evaluate financing options
• review leases
• Find answers to other small business-related questions

Consultations with a business advisor are one-on-one, free, and confidential. 

30-minute walk-in meetings are available on the fourth Monday of each month from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at St. Louis Park City Hall located at 5005 Minnetonka Blvd.  It is recommended that appointments be scheduled in advance. 

Appointments with our consultant can also be scheduled at your place of business. 

For more information or to arrange an appointment contact: 
          
          Rob Smolund, Enterprise Facilitator, at
          612-789-7337, Ext. 11 or
          rsmolund@mccdmn.org

Consulting services offered through Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers (MCCD)

SCORE “Counselors to America’s Small Business” (click here)

SCORE is a national, nonprofit organization dedicated to the formation, growth and success of small businesses. Its volunteer counselors are working or retired business owners, executives and corporate leaders. They provide free and confidential advice to entrepreneurs and small business owners in every industry. SCORE has a branch office in St. Louis Park located at.

        8700 W 36th Street Suite 125a
        St. Louis Park, MN 55426

The office is staffed Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. as well as on several afternoons.

Contact by phone: 952-938-4570;
or email: minneapolis@score-mn-org 

Small Business Development Center (SBDC), University of St. Thomas (click here)

The University of St. Thomas’ SBDC provides no-cost consulting to small businesses and entrepreneurs in the Twin Cities area. It helps business owners develop business plans, strategies, attract customers, increase sales and improve profitability. Consultants have extensive, practical experience in marketing, finance, accounting, operations and/or business planning. Most have advanced degrees and have been business owners.

For more information contact: 

Twin Cities Small Business Development Center
University of St. Thomas
Opus College of Business
Terrence Murphy Hall 100
1000 LaSalle Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55403
(651) 962-4500
smallbus@stthomas.edu

MCCD Loan Program (click here)

 

The Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers (MCCD) offers direct small business loans ranging from $2,000 to $25,000.  Larger loans up to $50,000 are available when MCCD partners with a local bank to provide financing.  Loan repayment terms on direct loans of up to $25,000 generally range from 3 to 5 years. 

For more information, contact: 

     Rob Smolund
     (612) 789-7337, ext. 11

or go to www.mccdmn.org