Open to Business

To support the growth of small businesses

Who can participate

Applicants can include entrepreneurs and small business owners.

Entrepreneurs, small business owners, or people thinking about starting a business in suburban Hennepin County can receive one-on-one business consultations.

Financing and loan applications are administered by Open to Business.

Free consulting

Access technical and financial assistance including business plan development, feasibility studies, marketing, loan request preparation, finance projections, and other services.

Financing and loans

Work with advisers to identify borrowing needs and financing options. These can include direct financing and loans for:

Inventory
Working capital
Asset and equipment purchases
Real estate
Acquisition
Start-up costs

Open to Business is a program of the Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers. Please contact an Open to Business advisor to learn more:

Businesses in Minneapolis, Brooklyn Park, Brooklyn Center:

Kadra Abdi (kabdi@mccdmn.org, 612-454-0785)

Businesses in all other cities in Hennepin County:

John Endris (jendris@mccdmn.org, 612-843-3278)

Funding for cities

Hennepin County has limited matching grants up to $12,500 available for cities who wish to start or grow an Open to Business program. Contact Mary Matze at mary.matze@hennepin.us or 612-348-9812.

Community impact

Since 2012, the program has supported 2,465 businesses.

In 2019, of the businesses who received financing or loans through the program:

40% were women entrepreneurs
43% were minority entrepreneurs
53% were low income entrepreneurs