Small Business Expo

This month is our inaugural Small Business Summit and Expo on April 26. I am especially excited about this event, because it’s being delivered through a partnership of three chambers: the St. Paul Area Chamber, the Minnesota Black Chamber, and the Minnesota Hmong Chambers of Commerce. Other organizations are joining us as well, including the Oakdale Area Chamber and the Grand Avenue Business Association. We want maximum exposure to reach as many small business leaders as possible. The event itself will be important due to its delivery of resources; and we hope it will lead to more shared programming in the future!


The event model is in direct response to needs voiced by the entrepreneur and small business community. This sector is looking for resources, opportunities, and introductions. And they want to be connected to one another. This Summit and Expo is designed to provide both. We will have a full day of a business expo, as well as several tracks of training for small businesses and emerging entrepreneurs alike, including a track on how to do business with government. What has surprised me has been the strong interest from large businesses, as well. As companies continue to be ever more intentional about working with small businesses, particularly BIPOC-owned businesses, this event promises to be even more than we'd hoped in terms of bringing both together. Get a table for the expo, or simply attend the programming and check it out for yourself. Expo tables are filling fast, so don’t wait!

And what is this event ushering in? A season of ever stronger partnerships. My perspective continues to evolve, as I recognize the increasing importance of working together with other organizations to best serve the employer community. There are so many chambers in this region, and each has a unique voice that deserves to be amplified.  Where it makes sense to share resources and programming, I am very interested in doing so!  This Summit and Expo is a great example of that. 
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See you in the trenches,
B