In Hennepin County, we Love Local

In Hennepin County, we Love Local

Year round, the Hennepin County Community and Economic Development team works to catalyze a strong business community.

As Community and Economic Development Director Patricia Fitzgerald noted before the Hennepin County Board, there are a lot of reasons to support small businesses, which make up 96% of the more than 40,000 businesses across Hennepin County.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy,” said Fitzgerald. “Local businesses foster community, they reflect a neighborhoods identity, and they're part of what we love about where we live. Local businesses also provide jobs, help attract new residents and retain our workforce, and for every dollar spent at a local business, about 68 cents stays within the community.”

The county has many initiatives and programs dedicated to supporting these businesses, which Fitzgerald called “the heart of our economy.”

Through Elevate Hennepin, businesses can get direct support with no-cost consulting and group learning. And through various programs, the county also invests in business districts by supporting affordable commercial real estate, streetscaping, and access via transit, bike, and walking.

During this busy holiday shopping season, the county joins the national conversation to highlight all these local businesses give back with the annual Love Local campaign encouraging Hennepin County residents to shop local.

“Another way we support our businesses is officially naming the Saturday after Thanksgiving holiday Small Business Saturday,” said Commissioner Debbie Goettel during a Hennepin County Board meeting. “This is a way to call our residents to action and remind everyone at Hennepin County the value of shopping small. Shopping at a local business means good jobs, a robust economy, and products and services by and for our neighbors.”

Commissioner Marion Greene also noted that a strong local economy is better suited to weather economic bumps.

“Thank you to the Elevate Hennepin team for all they're doing to get the word out,” said Greene. “Every dollar spent at a local business really sticks around in the community, but it also makes our community so much more resilient in times of upheaval. I really felt that, during the pandemic. The shopping that we were doing was really helping our community.”

Whether you’re part of the business community or not, be sure to shop, dine, and enjoy your local business community on November 30, which the Hennepin County Board officially dubbed Small Business Saturday.