
Elevate advising, community ‘cheerleading’ propels The Arts Creative forward
When longtime art teacher Katie Ross got the idea to start The Arts Creative in Bloomington, she had great ideas for classes, insights for connecting with students and building community. Finding capital, developing marketing, and business finances were not her strengths.
“That’s been a little bit of a learning curve for me, so I’ve been taking full advantage of everything I can,” said Katie. “I’ve got a lot of support from Elevate Hennepin.”
Katie worked with several advisors, including NextStage and AM & Associates, for support organizing her thoughts and developing a solid business plan. She worked with JLLB Media to develop a successful marketing strategy and see through the eyes of her consumers. She worked with Clear Talk Accounting to develop a solid financial management plan. And she worked with Springboard for the Arts to learn from other entrepreneurs with an art background and raise funds for one of her art camps.
She also joined CEO Start to bring all her insights together into a robust business strategy that she pitched to fellow entrepreneurs and her community in Bloomington.
“What can I say,” said Katie. “I really, really appreciate the support and resources from Elevate.”
Watch her story and how the “cheerleading” helped keep her moving forward when building her business got hard.
Show all resources
Get connected to professional resources, tools, and guidance from business experts.
Schedule a consultation
Meet one-on-one with a Business Navigator to assess your best next step.
Real businesses, real stories.

Advisor Tashie George offers support and connection
Tashie George has built several successful businesses and now she's guiding small business owners and idea-stage entrepreneurs on how to avoid the many roadblocks she faced as the lead advisor with IFRI-TRYV, a nonprofit small-business support organization.

LumberStash finds the right tool in Elevate Hennepin
A pry bar and a seat with wheels is all Jeremy Marshik needs for a lot of his day-to-day work at LumberStash, but he looked to Elevate Hennepin consulting for guidance on finding the right digital tools to help his business grow.
Related upcoming events
Secure the Capital You Need to Grow: A Step-by-Step Guide
Join Elevate Hennepin education partner Finsync for the Secure the Capital You Need to Grow webinar to learn how to access funding, connect with investors, banks, and other local resources.Business structure basics for artists
An attorney from Springboard’s Minnesota Lawyers for the Arts (MnLA) program will cover business models from LLC’s to 501(c)3’s, including information on how to prepare, and benefits and risks. Collaborator.
Navigating your cash flow
We'll cover everything from creating a cash flow budget, to identifying and addressing cash flow problems, to leveraging cash flow to grow your business.