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Area of Support — Access to Capital

Connect with access to capital advisors

Get ready for investment and growth

Our trusted finance experts can help you identify financing and grant opportunities. Our advisors have experience in:

  • Preparing the necessary paperwork to apply for bank loans and other financing
  • Exploring financing strategies like small business loans, crowdfunding, etc.
  • Creating sustainable budgets and more

Elevate Hennepin advisors offer strategic guidance for your business to get to the next step. While they may support some implementation activities, business owners are responsible for ongoing maintenance and day-to-day operations. Businesses should be prepared to engage their own resources for complex projects that are anticipated to take more than 25 hours.

Contact an advisor below to help you identify and plan for your critical next step accessing capital or visit our Resource Directory to find more options or resources across all our support categories.

Not sure where to start? Schedule a one-on-one consultation with a Business Navigator.

Access to capital resources

Alternative Financing

Alternative financing for Minneapolis retail, service or light manufacturing.
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Specialties

Access to capital, Government resources, Lending resources,
Specialization
African American or Black; Immigrant
Language
Speaks English

Brooklyn Park real estate/equipment loan

Alternative real-estate and fixed-asset loans for Brooklyn Park businesses.
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Specialties

Access to capital, City specific resource, Government resources, Lending resources, Hennepin County,
Stage
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Language
Speaks English

Business Development Fund

Financial support for job-creating redevelopment projects.
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Specialties

Access to capital, City specific resource, Government resources, Lending resources,
Stage
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Language
Speaks English

City of Dayton Revolving/Low Interest Loan Fund

Low-interest loans for high-priority areas in the City of Dayton.
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Specialties

Access to capital, City specific resource, Government resources, Lending resources, Hennepin County,
Stage
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Language
Speaks English

City of Hanover Low-Interest Loan Program

Low-interest loans for startups, expansions, and retentions in Hanover.
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Specialties

Access to capital, City specific resource, Government resources, Lending resources, Hennepin County,
Stage
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Language
Speaks English

Common Bond Fund revenue program

Loans for growing manufacturing companies.
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Specialties

Access to capital, City specific resource, Government resources, Lending resources,
Stage
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Second stage businesses (10+ employees)
Language
Speaks English

Community Entrepreneurship Program

Community Entrepreneurship Program
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Specialties

Access to capital, Business strategy, Government resources, Hennepin County, Minnesota,
Stage
Idea stage businesses; Startup businesses (0 employees)
Language
Speaks English

ConnectUP! Institute

ConnectUP! Institute is a social finance and enterprise development center. We provide education, consulting and collaboration on innovative social finance.
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Specialties

Access to capital, Financial management, Business strategy, Advisors and consultants, Coaches and mentors, Hennepin County,
Specialization
African American or Black; Asian and Pacific Islander; Social impact businesses; Women; Construction; Nonprofit sector; Disadvantaged businesses; Indigenous / Native American; LGBTQIA+; Latinx; Immigrant; Veteran; Co-op businesses
Stage
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Idea stage businesses; Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Language
Speaks English

IFRI-TRYV

We serve our clients by providing access to resources and capital to empower their businesses.
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Specialties

Access to capital, Business strategy, Financial management, Advisors and consultants, Coaches and mentors, Hennepin County,
Specialization
African American or Black; Women
Stage
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Idea stage businesses; Startup businesses (0 employees)
Language
Speaks English

Latino Economic Development Center

The Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC) was created in 2003 and is the only Latino-led and Latino-focused economic development organization as well as CDFI in Minnesota and the upper Midwest.
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Specialties

Access to capital, Business strategy, Certification, Lending resources, Advisors and consultants, Hennepin County, Minnesota,
Specialization
Disadvantaged businesses; Immigrant; Latinx; Construction; Restaurant sector; Social impact businesses; Indigenous / Native American; LGBTQIA+; Women
Stage
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Idea stage businesses; Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Language
Speaks English; Speaks Spanish

Microbusiness Loan

The Microbusiness Loan program provides essential financial resources to help small businesses grow and thrive.

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Specialties

Access to capital, Lending resources,
Stage
Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Early growth businesses (1-9 employees)
Language
Speaks English

NextStage

NextStage is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to support entrepreneurs at every stage.
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Specialties

Access to capital, Business strategy, Financial management, Advisors and consultants, Hennepin County,
Stage
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Language
Speaks English; Speaks Hmong; Speaks another language; Speaks Somali; Speaks Spanish

MCCD Open to Business

MCCD Open to Business is an association of nonprofit community development organizations committed to expanding the wealth and resources of neighborhoods through housing and economic development initiatives.
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Specialties

Access to capital, Business strategy, Coaches and mentors, Advisors and consultants, City specific resource,
Specialization
Disadvantaged businesses
Stage
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Language
Speaks English; Speaks Hmong; Speaks Somali; Speaks Spanish

Elevate Hennepin Commercial Property Ownership Fund

The commercial ownership fund is financing for business owners to buy and improve commercial space.
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Specialties

Access to capital, Lending resources, Hennepin County,
Specialization
Disadvantaged businesses
Stage
Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Early growth businesses (1-9 employees)
Language
Speaks English; Speaks Hmong; Speaks Somali; Speaks Spanish

Sigma Consulting & Training

Sigma Consulting and Training is a consultancy and training provider specializing in advising and guiding BIPOC-owned small businesses and entrepreneurs.
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Specialties

Financial management, Business strategy, Certification, Access to capital, Accounting, Advisors and consultants, Hennepin County,
Specialization
African American or Black; Immigrant; Co-op businesses; Nonprofit sector; Social impact businesses; Disadvantaged businesses; Asian and Pacific Islander; LGBTQIA+; Women; Veteran; Latinx; Indigenous / Native American
Stage
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Second stage businesses (10+ employees)
Language
Speaks English; Speaks Somali

Elevate Hennepin Small Business Loans

The small business loans are low-barrier financing for startups and established businesses underserved by traditional lending.
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Specialties

Access to capital, Lending resources, Hennepin County,
Specialization
Disadvantaged businesses
Stage
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Second stage businesses (10+ employees)
Language
Speaks Spanish; Speaks Somali; Speaks Hmong; Speaks English

WomenVenture

Tools to help women-owned businesses achieve economic success through planning and assessment, accounting best practices, and financial advising.
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Specialties

Access to capital, Business strategy, Marketing, Advisors and consultants, Lending resources, Hennepin County, Minnesota,
Specialization
Women; Construction; Nonprofit sector; Restaurant sector; Social impact businesses; African American or Black; Asian and Pacific Islander; Disadvantaged businesses; Indigenous / Native American; LGBTQIA+; Immigrant; Latinx; Veteran
Stage
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Second stage businesses (10+ employees)
Language
Speaks English

Upcoming access to capital events

The micro-grants for micro-food manufacturing program (micro-grants program)

 The objective of the Micro-Grants Program is to bolster the financial capability of emerging businesses that are owned by underrepresented entrepreneurs in Minnesota who demonstrate systemic barriers to equitable participation in this sector.

 

The basics of contracts

No matter the service or industry, business is all about relationships. Without relationships, there would be no transactions. In business, those relationships are often formalized and governed by contracts. 

 

DEED monthly small business call

The Minnesota Department of Employment & Economic Development (DEED), Office of Small Business & Innovation is offering a monthly meeting for small business owners.