Celebrate Small Business

It’s Small Business Month! First off, a challenge: pledge to spend $50 with a small business in your community this month. You’ll be making a real difference!
 
Last Friday, May 9, during National Small Business Week, together with our chamber partners we hosted our 2nd Annual Small Business Summit and Expo, presented by Wells Fargo – and it was a huge success! Over 65 vendors and 300 participants joined us for a day of learning, networking, and celebrating small business success.
 
Congratulations to the 2025 Minnesota SBA Award Winners:

1. Veteran’s Small Business Champion: John B Yang, Digital Synergy
2. Veteran Owned Small Business of the Year: Jeff Anderson, ATEK Distribution
3. Women in Business Champion: Carol Anderson, Morrison County Community Development
4. Women Owned Small Business of the Year: Donnella Westphal, Jule’s Bistro
5. Young Entrepreneur of the Year: Brittany Howard, Victory Business Solutions
6. Encore Entrepreneur of the Year: Paul Kirkman, Victual
7. SBDC Excellence & Innovation Center Award - West Central Region Minnesota Small Business Development Center located at the Minnesota State Moorhead
8. Small Business Person of the Year: Beth Benike, Busy Baby, LLC
9. Family-Owned Small Business of the Year: Curtis, Anthony, Dean, & Sharon Reichmann, Reichmann Cattle Company, LLC 

 
Small Business Resources You Should Know About:
🔹 MN PROMISE Act – Round 2 grants/loans launching soon. Sign up for updates.
🔹 Plan It! Fall Cohort – NDC’s business training program. Apply by June 27.
🔹 Credit UP! Workshops – May 13 & 20, 5:30–7 p.m., NDC (625 University Ave).
🔹 QuickBooks Online Training – Free, virtual with WomenVenture. June 4, 11 & 18.
🔹 Metro State University’s Cyber Clinic – Free cybersecurity consulting for small businesses.
🔹 City of Saint Paul Business Support – Submit an intake form to get connected with the City and/or its various partners.
🔹 Startup Toolkit – May 13, 9–11 a.m., WomenVenture ($50). Covers business setup & banking.
🔹 MN DEED Monthly Small Business Call – May 13, 2–3 p.m. Topic: Using AI to simplify your business.
 
And finally, a nod to our makers:
The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal just announced the 2025 Minnesota Manufacturing award winners.
 
Congratulations to the innovators driving our economy forward! Let’s keep the momentum going. Small business is big in Minnesota!
 
See you in the trenches,
B

Chamber Check-in 5/13/25