Change Minnesota Initiative To Help Struggling Local Business Owners

(KNSI) – The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development is officially launching the Choose Minnesota initiative. The new charge is designed as a statewide effort to strengthen the state’s economy and support local businesses.

The initiative will involve DEED working with local business owners and others to host several roundtable discussions. DEED intends for these discussions to highlight the challenges owners are facing today and to find ways Minnesotans can support them.

In launching the initiative, DEED Commissioner Matt Varilek said that Choose Minnesota is meant to be a long-term effort to cast a spotlight on local businesses that have faced a variety of different problems. Of special note were higher operational costs and fears of the ripple effects of Operation Metro Surge.

“That was a massive impact for so many small businesses, especially those that are led by people of color or whose customer base is people,” Varilek said. “There was a lot of fear during the wintertime about being able to show up for work or as a customer.”

One such owner is St. Cloud resident Fardowsa Iman, who owns Protea Health, a mental health and substance abuse treatment center set to open in July. Iman said that the fear of being targeted by ICE, as well as the financial impacts that came with it, were the two biggest factors that prevented her business from opening sooner.

“I had to use up the money that I had saved up for my planned opening and operations. Because of the delays, I had to go back and get another loan. Right now, businesses are starting to open up a bit more with less of ICE around. There’s a lot more comfort in moving around as we used to.”

St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce President Julie Lunning also highlighted operational costs and state mandates as other reasons. However, she said, Choose Minnesota would help serve as an important reminder on how owners can band together for support.

According to Varliek, a proposal is currently under consideration for the next Minnesota legislative session to help struggling owners. If it passes, the proposal would provide zero-interest loans to businesses impacted by Operation Metro Surge.

A special roundtable discussion will be held by the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 27, at the Chamber Building. Business owners interested in attending can contact Lunning by phone at 320-656-3804 or email at jlunning@StCloudAreaChamber.com.

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