Sponsor: Community & Economic Development
Title
title
Amendment to the Sole Source Agreement with Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers for the Ramsey County Open to Business Program
end
Recommendation
recommendation
1. Approve an amendment to the Sole Source Agreement with Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers, 3137 Chicago Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55407, for the Ramsey County Open to Business Program for the period upon execution through October 21, 2025 in an amount not to exceed $393,750.
2. Authorize the Chair and Chief Clerk to execute the amendment.
end
Background and Rationale
body
Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers’ (MCCD) Open to Business program helps new and early-stage businesses access the technical assistance they need to grow and prosper by providing advice and counseling to clients, helping them achieve their entrepreneurial goals. MCCD provides zero cost, on-site business services specialists to work with city and county staff in such areas as start-up and expansion financing, business plan development, licensing, zoning and regulatory issues, and financial management. MCCD also offers access to low interest loans and other services on a fee-for-service basis. This is a cost-effective way of providing another level of small and medium-sized business assistance to our businesses in order to retain and grow jobs in Ramsey County.
The Ramsey County Open to Business Program addresses an important gap in the spectrum of business retention and expansion tools in the county. When combined with current activities like CEO Next, business loans, infrastructure improvements and selective property abatements, the county would provide services across the business continuum. In addition, the county is engaging community organizations about small business technical assistance needs and plans to release a competitive solicitation in 2025 to increase availability of services to support economic competitiveness, innovation, and transformation.
The program has provided assistance to hundreds of small businesses and entrepreneurs in Ramsey County obtaining highly successful results; therefore, it gained a natural path for continuation.
end
County Goals (Check those advanced by Action)
☐ Well-being ☒ Prosperity ☒ Opportunity ☐ Accountability
Racial Equity Impact
The foundation of the Open to Business (OTB) program is to reduce the barriers of access to information when considering starting or expanding a business. The OTB program offers direct entrepreneurial technical assistance/business loans to anyone seeking it. Data from other participating communities suggests strong participation from future entrepreneurs of color and Ramsey County will apply racial equity principles.
Since its inception in late 2019, OTB has steadily increased its businesses served. This also includes steady increase in its service to BIPOC owned businesses, woman owned businesses and low-income business owners. In 2019, 8% of business owners served were racially and ethnically diverse and as of 2023 that has increased to over 60%. In 2024 the rate has been maintained.
Community Participation Level and Impact
This is an important program that comes from our Ramsey County cities requests for the county’s support for service. The county is well positioned to support this program due to challenges scaling a program with individual cities.
In addition to meeting 1:1 with business owners, MCCD has monthly office hours in the community and regularly reviews the efficacy of these sessions to ensure maximum impact. Office hours are currently offered in several cities with both morning and afternoon availability.
☒ Inform ☒ Consult ☒ Involve ☒ Collaborate ☒ Empower
Fiscal Impact
Funding is available in the 2024-2025 Community and Economic Development budget.
Last Previous Action
On August 13, 2019, the Ramsey County Board approved the sole source agreement with Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers for the Ramsey County Open to Business Program, for the period of August 14, 2019 through August 13, 2022, in an amount not to exceed $1,125,000 (Resolution B2019-193).
Attachments
1. Open to Business Contract Amendment