Track the Plan: Strategy 8

Dial set at 25 percentStrengthen business retention and expansion infrastructure to support communities

In alignment with recommended actions from Strategy 8, the following metrics focus on fostering economic competitiveness, innovation and transformation to demonstrate the Economic Competitiveness & Inclusion Plan’s impact.

Expand network of business advisors.

  • Ramsey County was awarded $1.5 million in congressionally directed spending in late 2022. The planning stage of the Re-Imagination Resource Center started in August of 2024. A Request for Information (RFI) was deployed in April of 2025 to assess the needs of various Business Community Organizations (BCOs). A Request for Proposal (RFP) is anticipated in June 2025. This pilot program aims to support BCOs in delivering training, technical assistance and mentorship to small business owners. If the program proves successful, additional funding will be pursued to expand and sustain the assistance.  
  • Continued investment with the Open to Business program. Open to Business provides direct technical assistance and other forms of support to small business owners and entrepreneurs. In 2022, Open to Business served 64 existing businesses and 26 start-ups. 71% of program participants are from racial and/or ethnic communities. In 2023, 150 businesses were served mainly in the retail, service and food industries. In 2024, the program served 153 businesses, with a noticeable increase in the number of businesses from the health and fitness sector seeking assistance.
  •  CEO Now was launched in 2024 with the goal of supporting early-stage companies that are in the process of establishing their operations, building a customer base and achieving financial stability. CEO Now provides targeted technical assistance in a cohort format to help them build strong business fundamentals, increase their chances of long-term success and position themselves for future growth. The first round of the program successfully graduated six CEOs from Ramsey County. 

Enhance the Ramsey County Means Business website to identify and market shovel/ development-ready sites.

  • The RamseyCountyMeansBusiness.com website underwent a redesign in 2024, featuring updated content, refreshed visuals, and improved links. Two enhancements were included:
    • An Incentive Dashboard helps businesses easily access information on relevant resources available at the city, county, state and federal levels. 
    • Site Selector includes listings for retail spaces, warehouses, office and coworking spaces, land and industrial buildings.  

Encourage community participation in MN-DEED’s Shovel Ready site certification.

  • No updates at this time.

Invest in and advocate for small business organizations

  • See reference to $1.5 million Small Business Re-imagination Center project above.
  • Initiated Critical Corridors Commercial Corridor Initiative program which supports small business coalitions, chambers of commerce and nonprofits in strengthening suburban small business districts. Funding investments include district-wide marketing, branding, and promotion initiatives; design and implementation of wayfinding, signage or other public realm enhancements and technical assistance related to business activities.   

Leverage Chamber of Commerce organizations and provide resources to support business retention and expansion.

  • Initiated Critical Corridors Commercial Corridor Initiative program which supports chambers of commerce in strengthening suburban small business districts through potential investment in business recruitment activities and establishment of small-business incubators.

Establish a county-wide strategic investment fund in support of business growth and expansion.

  • CEO Now business Institute was launched in 2024 with the goal of supporting early-stage companies that are in the process of establishing their operations, building a customer base and achieving financial stability. These businesses often face challenges such as limited resources, lack of formal business planning, and the need for foundational support in areas like marketing, finance, operations and compliance. CEO Now provides targeted technical assistance in a cohort format to help them build strong business fundamentals, increase their chances of long-term success, and position themselves for future growth. The first round of the program successfully graduated six CEOs from Ramsey County.
  •  Initiated Critical Corridors Commercial Corridor Initiative program which invests in business recruitment activities and establishment of small-business incubators in suburban Ramsey County.