Rice Street Business and Property Owner Resource Toolkit
The reconstruction of Rice Street will have significant benefits for the surrounding community. However, it will also have some impacts, both temporary and permanent, for nearby businesses and property owners.
The Rice Street project team has created this toolkit as a resource for businesses and property owners seeking additional information and/or assistance during this time. This guide will be refreshed periodically throughout the project as new information becomes available.
Residents
There are several ways for residents and local business owners to participate directly in the reconstruction process. People includes opportunities for youth and community, jobs/training for area residents, and addressing traffic and public safety.
Rice Street’s design and operations can aid in enhancing the public realm. Property includes property improvements, redeveloping property, utility connections, directing traffic, and parking and loading changes.
Job seekers
Learn how to stay informed, as well as specific opportunities for youth:
- Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Workforce Strategy Consultants (youth focused)
- Develop innovative workforce solutions by aligning resources, facilitating collaboration, and leveraging expertise in targeted industry sectors to drive economic equity and growth.
- Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry
- DLI oversees the state's programs for apprenticeship, construction codes and licensing, dual training, occupational safety and health, wage and hour standards, and workers' compensation.
- National Association of Women Business Owners, Minnesota Chapter (youth focused)
- The National Association of Women Business Owners – Minnesota Chapter (NAWBO-MN) provides a local avenue for women entrepreneurs to connect with their peers.
- Ramsey County Job Connect
- Ramsey County Job Connect is a free job board for employers to connect with job seekers to find their match. This job board provides a place for our vibrant employers representing all industry sectors to post job openings while allowing job seekers to search for opportunities in a dynamic way. On this site, job seekers can also register to receive targeted job alerts.
- Ramsey County Workforce Training Dashboard
- This Workforce Training Dashboard showcases community-based training programs in and near Ramsey County. Visit the website and connect with training providers and programs of interest.
- Women Venture (youth focused)
- Our mission is to empower women to achieve their economic goals by building profitable and sustainable businesses that transform communities.
Property owners
Access funding and guidance to improve your building and upgrade equipment.
- Angel Loan Fund
- Provides direct loans to eligible startup businesses.
- Asian Economic Development Association
- Their mission is to increase economic opportunities for Asian Americans.
- City of Saint Paul Business Assistance Fund
- The Business Assistance Fund provides financing to new and existing businesses that have a need for capital to improve and/or grow their business and have been unable to access adequate financing from other sources.
- City of Saint Paul Business Resource Center
- The first step to access business assistance from the city is to submit the Business Assistance Intake Form. Whether you are looking for financial assistance or other business support resources, by submitting the intake form, we will be better equipped to assess resource matches across our business assistance programs.
- City of Saint Paul Neighborhood STAR Program
- The Neighborhood STAR Program awards loans and grants for capital improvement projects in Saint Paul neighborhoods, funded by 50% of the city's half-cent sales tax proceeds.
- City of Saint Paul Strategic Investment Fund
- The purpose of the Strategic Investment Fund is to attract businesses to Saint Paul whose local operations will do the most to expand the ity's economy.
- Indian Business Loan Program
- Supports the development of Indian-owned and operated businesses and promotes economic opportunities for Indian people throughout Minnesota
- Lead Free Saint Paul Regional Water Services
- A plan to replace all lead water service lines in the SPRWS service area at no cost to property owners beginning in 2023.
- Neighborhood Development Center - Minnesota
- At Neighborhood Development Center, we believe in the power, drive and daring of local entrepreneurs to transform their lives and revitalize their neighborhoods. We provide the tools and resources entrepreneurs need to help realize their dreams.
- North End Neighborhood Development Corps
- North East Neighborhoods Development Corporation (NENDC) is a community development corporation formed in 1992 to promote and advance the general welfare of the area it serves.
- Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE)
- PACE is an innovative finance solution for building owners interested in energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrades. PACE is a fit for most industries including farms, commercial office buildings, nonprofit organizations (including places of worship), and multi-tenant buildings. Common investments include solar panels, HVAC systems, lighting, motors, and more.
- Saint Paul Restaurant Resiliency
- Through the continued partnership of NCXT and the city of Saint Paul, the Restaurant Resiliency Project is boosting the local restaurant community by providing specialized digital technical assistance for their needs.
- State and Regional Grant Sponsorship
- Each year the city of Saint Paul sponsors applications for State and Met Council grants and passes the funding through to private parties to complete the project.
- U.S. Small Business Administration; Minnesota District
- SBA was created in 1953 as an independent agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns; preserve free competitive enterprise; and maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation.
Business
Ensuring the presence of viable businesses and jobs is the critical economic backbone of Rice Street livability. Business includes funding for business operation needs, support for financing and growing business, general business advice, and certifying businesses to work on the project.
Financing, growing and general business assistance
Funding to support ongoing business operations and assistance to help make your business a success:
- African Development Center of Minnesota
- The Mission of the African Development Center is to grow businesses, build wealth and increase reinvestment in the African communities of Minnesota.
- Amplio Economic Development Corporation
- Amplio is a non-profit certified development company whose purpose is to help small businesses obtain financing for job creation, to fund business expansion and to promote economic development.
- Angel Loan Fund
- Provides direct loans to eligible startup businesses.
- Ascend Twin Cities
- Ascend Twin Cities is a partnership initiative between JPMorgan Chase & Co., Meda and Holmes Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Minnesota. With the support of our Anchors we provide access to capital, market opportunities and business education to BIPOC Entrepreneurs.
- Asian Economic Development Association
- AEDA’s mission is to increase economic opportunities for Asian Americans.
- CEO Next Business Institute: Next Level Support for Growing Businesses in Greater MSP
- The purpose of the program is to help growing companies make a larger impact by offering business research and support at no cost.
- City of Saint Paul Business Assistance Fund
- The Business Assistance Fund provides financing to new and existing businesses that have a need for capital to improve and/or grow their business and have been unable to access adequate financing from other sources.
- City of Saint Paul Business Project Facilitator
- The Project Facilitator, working within the Department of Safety and Inspections, will help connect you with various staff throughout the city of Saint Paul to help work through complex project proposals for a new or existing business that require multiple reviews.
- City of Saint Paul Neighborhood STAR Program
- The Neighborhood STAR Program awards loans and grants for capital improvement projects in Saint Paul neighborhoods, funded by 50% of the city's half-cent sales tax proceeds.
- City of Saint Paul Strategic Investment Fund
- The purpose of the Strategic Investment Fund is to attract businesses to Saint Paul whose local operations will do the most to expand the city's economy.
- City of Saint Paul Business Resource Center (Operational funding available)
- The first step to access business assistance from the city is to submit the Business Assistance Intake Form. Whether you are looking for financial assistance or other business support resources, by submitting the intake form, we will be better equipped to assess resource matches across our business assistance programs.
- Emerging Entrepreneur Loan Program
- The Emerging Entrepreneur Loan Program provides loan capital for businesses that are owned and operated by minorities, low-income persons, women, veterans and/or persons with disabilities.
- Full Stack Saint Paul
- Full Stack is a public-private collaboration leveraging the power of tech and innovation to drive equitable, resilient economic development in Saint Paul.
- Indian Business Loan Program
- Supports the development of Indian-owned and operated businesses and promotes economic opportunities for Indian people throughout Minnesota.
- Latino Economic Development Center
- Helps Latino entrepreneurs and small businesses in Minnesota launch and grow.
- Meda
- Wealth creation is an effective antidote to economic inequities, and successful BIPOC entrepreneurship is the most effective tool for building generational wealth and remains integral to creating the world we want.
- Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers (Operational funding available)
- MCCD is an association of nonprofit community development organizations committed to expanding the wealth and resources of neighborhoods through housing and economic development initiatives.
- Minnesota Chamber of Commerce (Operational funding available)
- Minnesota’s largest broad-based business organization representing more than 6,300 companies – and more than half a million employees – throughout Minnesota. The Chamber builds on its legacy as a voice for business by advancing public policy that grows jobs and the economy, and providing valuable services to members so they stay and grow in Minnesota.
- Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Small Business Assistance Office
- The Small Business Assistance Office places a special emphasis on providing the in-depth information that is so crucial to business success yet too costly for many businessmen and women to obtain on their own.
- Minnesota Departmenr of Employement and Economic Develoment (DEED) Workforce Strategy Consultants
- Develop innovative workforce solutions by aligning resources, facilitating collaboration, and leveraging expertise in targeted industry sectors to drive economic equity and growth.
- Minnesota Reservist and Veteran Business Loan Program (Operational funding available)
- Provides business loans to companies that are affected when certain employees are called to active military duty and to individual veterans who have returned from active duty and want to start their own business.
- Minnesota SCORE
- SCORE’s mission is to foster vibrant small business communities through mentoring and education.
- Minnesota Small Business Development Center – Twin Cities Region - Email Diane Paterson for more information.
- The statewide network of Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) provide the professional expertise and guidance that every small business owner needs to flourish in today's competitive and ever-changing business world.
- National Association of Women Business Owners, Minnesota Chapter
- Provides a local avenue for women entrepreneurs to connect with their peers.
- Neighborhood Development Center - Minnesota (Operational funding available)
- Provide the tools and resources entrepreneurs need to help realize their dreams.
- North End Business Association (Operational funding available)
- A business association that represents the fundamental interests of the North End community of Saint Paul. We do this by continued conversations and connection to local business owners, nonprofit organizations, city and county leadership and extensions of local government.
- Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE)
- An innovative finance solution for building owners interested in energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrades. PACE is a fit for most industries including farms, commercial office buildings, nonprofit organizations (including places of worship), and multi-tenant buildings. Common investments include solar panels, HVAC systems, lighting, motors, and more.
- Saint Paul Restaurant Resiliency
- Through the continued partnership of NCXT and the city of Saint Paul, the Restaurant Resiliency Project is boosting the local restaurant community by providing specialized digital technical assistance for their needs.
- State and Regional Grant Sponsorship
- Each year the city of Saint Paul sponsors applications for State and Met Council grants and passes the funding through to private parties to complete the project.
- Twin Cities Metro Certified Development Company (TCM CDC)
- Twin Cities-Metro Certified Development Company (TCM CDC) is a non-profit corporation that was established in 1990 to stimulate the growth of small businesses by providing access to the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 504 loan program.
- U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA); Minnesota District
- SBA was created in 1953 as an independent agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns; preserve free competitive enterprise; and maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation.
- Women Venture
- Their mission is to empower women to achieve their economic goals by building profitable and sustainable businesses that transform communities.
Certifying your business to work on the project
Learn how to certify your business to contract on Rice Street and other projects.
- Central Certification (CERT) Program
- CERT Program is a small business certification program recognized by Ramsey and Hennepin counties, and the cities of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. The CERT Program includes certification for Minority-Owned Business Enterprise (MBE), Women-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE) and Small Business Enterprise (SBE).
- Ramsey County Procurement
- The county acquires goods and services through a cost-effective, competitive and fair process accessible to all businesses. The county seeks vendors who share its commitment to equal opportunity, diversity and inclusiveness.