Minnesota Business - Big and Small

This week I want first to zoom out and highlight Minnesota’s business landscape. Time magazine just released its annual World’s Best Companies list, and six Minnesota companies made the cut. A great reminder of the strength and reach of our state’s largest employers.

InterCity Leadership Visit to Detroit, Oct. 28-30 - Last Call! 

Join more than 100 Twin Cities leaders for three days together in Detroit as we learn about their downtown revitalization, riverfront development and more. Registration closes Sept. 25 or when the trip is full. 

We still have space for more Sponsors and Exhibitors

Join us for our fourth annual Career Connect Day on October 14, 2025, at the ​Saint Paul RiverCentre as we welcome more than 2,000!

This event helps high school students explore their future career possibilities and we are currently seeking sponsors and exhibitors - learn more.

Weekly Office Fruit Deliveries 

Support workplace wellness with BrightSide Produce’s fresh fruit and vegetable delivery service! We provide weekly office fruit bowls filled with snackable, high-quality produce, making it easy for employees to stay healthy and energized. What’s more, BrightSide Produce is a local nonprofit working to improve access to affordable fresh produce. Your weekly deliveries support our mission! https://brightsidempls.org/pages/workplace-fruit-bowls

From the icy realm of Boreas to the sparkling lights of the Circus Juventas Big Top… King Boreas the 88th, John Harrington, will trade snowflakes for sequins as the Honorary Chair of The Big Top Ball, happening Saturday, November 8. This signature event is more than just a celebration — it’s a fantastic opportunity for local businesses to connect and show their support for youth arts and education through the Circus Juventas scholarship fund. Tickets are going fast – Click HERE to reserve your spot today.

A heartfelt thank you to our generous sponsors who make this event possible: R.F. Moeller Jeweler, DUAL STUDIOS, Blaze Credit Union, Larson Dental, Highland Bank, and Securian Financial.

Blaze Credit Union is searching for a Sr. Social Media & Content Creator to join their digital marketing team and drive our brand presence across digital platforms. If you’re passionate about storytelling, creating engaging content, and driving meaningful digital engagement, this is your opportunity to shine!

In this role, you’ll:

📌 Lead and execute creative social media strategies

📌 Capture and produce standout photography & video content

📌 Manage brand engagement across digital platforms

📌 Collaborate with partners and internal teams to amplify Blaze’s impact

Click HERE to join their team!

Move Minnesota - Community members are invited to meet at the Fountain in Rice Park, 109 W. 4th St., on Sunday, Sept. 28, at noon for a guided METRO Gold Line Transit Tour to the Sun Ray Transit Center. The ride includes a visit to Evie’s East Side Transportation Get-Together with the SouthEast Community Organization and partners, where attendees can learn about alternatives to car ownership and provide input on expanding Evie Carshare and EV Spot Chargers in the East Side.

The event runs from noon to 2 pm and features treats, trivia, and giveaways, along with information on the region’s growing multimodal transit options. Go-To Cards covering roundtrip fare will be provided. The group departs Rice Park promptly at 12:10 pm and will return by 2 pm, though participants may choose to stay at Sun Ray and return on their own. Check in near the fountain and sign a waiver before departure.

Click HERE to register.

Join Move Minnesota on Tuesday, Sept. 23, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Dual Citizen Brewing Company, 725 Raymond Ave., to celebrate the success of the No Car, No Problem campaign. Launched this summer, the metro-wide initiative promotes convenient, affordable alternatives to driving and has reached millions across the Twin Cities through vibrant ads and resources designed to inspire car-free travel.

The celebration will feature remarks from local transit champions, including Rep. Samantha Sencer-Mura, Rep. Katie Jones, and Saint Paul Councilmember Molly Coleman. Attendees can enjoy a light dinner, refreshments, and photo ops with a Metro Transit bus wrapped in campaign artwork.

Click HERE to register.

HepCat / JohnJeanJuan Downtown St. Paul Updates

Terry John Zilla is busy and making changes at his downtown base of operation.

People can still eat and stop at HepCat in the Osborn Building – but the coffee shop has a temporary home for the next few months.

Construction has started on the original HepCat to expand it.

• HepCat has been part of the Osborn lobby for the past three years. It offers breakfast and lunch alongside coffee and tea drinks. Much of its business has come from the building's tenants.
• After construction is done, the coffee shop will be reoriented to attract customers from outside the building and future tenants in the Ecolab University housing development.
• The expanded HepCat’s footprint will be 5 times bigger than it is now and will be designed to have more space to encourage tenants and customers to gather in the lobby.

Let them eat cake – really tasty cake.

Terry John’s JohnJeanJuan pastry group is hosting a special cake tasting event on September 18 from 4-8PM in the Osborn Event Center and Gallery Kitchen in the Osborn 360 Building. People will be able to sample 10 types of cake, 24 different flavors of buttercream – and have a sweet way to end the day.

It’s one of an ongoing series of events and tastings Terry John and his team are hosting in his Osborn event space. Click HERE to learn more.

Want to be a part of the Winter Carnival legend? Apply for one of the many royalty positions available, including Queen of the Snows, Royal Guard, Senior Royalty, Junior Royalty, and Klondike Kate. In addition to participating in traditional Winter Carnival events, our Ambassadors make hundreds of appearances throughout the year at local, regional, and national festivals as well as nursing homes, schools, and hospitals on behalf of the Winter Carnival and City of Saint Paul. For more information and to apply, click HERE.

The Saint Paul Winter Carnival relies on hundreds of volunteers each year. Please visit OUR WEBSITE to join the team.

Yorth Group Term of the Month: Restorative Development

The restorative development approach delivers systems-based solutions that benefit communities instead of addressing challenges piecemeal. Restorative developments support holistic and long-term ecological, economic, and social balance while preserving and promoting cultural heritage. Success is achieved by creating infrastructure and social systems that replace challenges (“liabilities”) with support (“equity”).

APPLE VALLEY, Minn. – Royal Credit Union (Royal) will be hosting shred events at several Royal offices during the month of September. Shred events are an opportunity for members and the public to properly dispose of their personal documents and files for free. Royal is partnering with Merrick, Inc. to safely dispose of documents. At these drop-off events, attendees can bring their documents to shred into the office during regular lobby hours and place them into secured bins. A limit of two brown paper grocery bags or one file-sized box per person will be enforced at all events to ensure everyone has a chance to shred their critical documents. It is recommended to limit the documents you bring to those that contain confidential information such as social security numbers, financial account numbers, or other secure information. Acceptable items to shred include personal records, bills, receipts, bound paper, and file folders. Read more HERE.

One in eight women and one in 2,800 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, according to the American Cancer Society. To raise awareness and funds for research and support, the society is hosting its Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk on Saturday, Oct. 11, from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Mall of America. The indoor, family-friendly event will feature education, resources and personal stories from community members. Participants can register at makingstrideswalk.org/twincitiesmn to start a fundraising team. Organizers encourage the community to walk in honor of mothers, daughters, sisters and a future without breast cancer.

Tickets for Kids is hosting an annual dinner and gala on the floor of Target Center on Thursday, September 25 starting at 6PM. St. Paul Area Chamber member Jeff Perry and his Sonic Dream trio will be providing live music. Enjoy cocktails, light appetizers, dinner, live auction, live music and basketball games all while helping an organization who provides free access for low-income and at-risk kids to attend the arts, cultural, educational, and athletic venues of their community.

For more info and tickets, click HERE.

September funding opportunities available for Ramsey County development projects. Three Community & Economic Development programs will open their application periods in September. These programs support redevelopment, preservation and new development projects across Ramsey County. 

• Critical Corridors Development + Infrastructure: The application period opened on Tuesday, Sept. 2. 
• Emerging and Diverse Developers Program: The application period opened Monday, Sept. 8. 
• Environmental Response Fund: The application period opens Monday, Sept. 15. 

Together, these three programs provide opportunities to advance projects that strengthen neighborhoods, expand economic opportunity and support a more resilient, inclusive and equitable Ramsey County. More details about 

each of the funding opportunities.

DEED’s Small Business Assistance Office has published the 43rd edition of its comprehensive Guide to Starting a Business in Minnesota. The Guide is available in a digital format on the DEED website and has the same content and format as the hard copy. The Guide contains a concise summary discussion of major issues, questions and concerns that are most commonly raised by those starting a business. Explore the digital guide. 

MINNEAPOLIS — On Thursday, Sept. 18, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Black Business Enterprises will host the Strength & Strategy Lab, a full-day, hands-on workshop designed for early-stage entrepreneurs looking to shift from hustle to sustainable growth. Held in Minneapolis, the event combines CliftonStrengths coaching with targeted business strategy to help participants gain clarity on their leadership style and business goals, develop actionable, revenue-focused plans, and build the confidence and tools necessary for long-term success. Visit the LINK for more information.

Mark your calendars for a magical late-summer afternoon with The Current at Holman’s Table on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025, from 4 to 7 p.m. The free, public event will feature a DJ set by The Current’s Zach McCormick, live music from Maygen & The Birdwatcher, food from Rock Elm Rig and a selection of refreshing beverages. Bring your friends and enjoy good music, great food and summer vibes before the season ends.

View more HERE

The Airport Foundation MSP invites you to attend the State of the Airport Annual Luncheon on Thursday, September 18 at the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis Hotel. The premiere Twin Cities business luncheon - hosted by the Airport Foundation MSP and the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) - brings together more than 600 local business and civic leaders to gain insights on the national air travel industry and the latest developments at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP), one of the most influential drivers of the local economy. 

To learn more about the event, becoming a sponsor, purchasing a table or half table, or individual seats, please click HERE.

WORKFORCE

Tree Trust Offers Paid Job Training for Young Adults

Tree Trust is accepting applicants ages 18–28 for its Branches employment training program this fall and winter. The program is open to those with a high school diploma, GED, or completion of 12th grade and enrollment in a transition program.

The next cohort runs Sept. 3–Nov. 12, 2025, with another following from Nov. 17, 2025–Jan. 30, 2026. Participants work Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–3 p.m., earning $16/hour while gaining experience in tree care and landscape construction. Perks include free daily transportation, paid work gear, certification in CPR/First Aid and arboriculture, driving permit/license support, and a dedicated employment coach.

Click HERE to apply.