HomeMy WebLinkAboutV.A. Dakota Report 3rd QTR 2021
Clients Served
Client Inquiry 12
Existing - Challenged 24
Existing -Opportunity 42
Pre-start planning 47
Start-up 27
Total 152
Business Owner Demographics
Low-Income Owned 37
BIPOC or Immigrant
Owned 55
Woman Owned 81
Financing & Access to Capital
Approved (YRLY Total) $ 5,000.00
Equity (YRLY Total) $ 6,000.00
Facilitated (YRLY Total) $ 25,000.00
Program Hours
TA Program HRS
1st QTR 284.75 318
2nd QTR 264.27 235
3rd QTR 242.75 241
Total 791.77 794
TA: Client Meetings, Providing Resources, Client Calls,
Client Deliverables, Loan Packaging
Program HRS: City Initiatives, Program Outreach, Public
Events, City Meetings, Research, Client Follow Up,
Data/Admin, General Inquiries
Dakota County Quarterly Report – 9.30.2021
Open to Business
3137 Chicago Ave
Minneapolis, MN 55407
612-789-7337
Industry Segment
Construction / Real Estate 11
Food 25
Health/Fitness 10
Manufacturing 7
Consulting 18
Retail 34
Service 35
Technology 4
Wholesale / Distribution 3
Other 2
Total 152
Referral Source
Bank Referral
8
Entrepreneur 6
Friends and Family 5
Municipality 76
MCCD Partner 17
Other 12
Web 28
Total 152
City Business Resident
Apple Valley 14 12
Burnsville 19 17
Eagan 20 11
Farmington 17 14
Hastings 18 13
Inver Grove Heights 6 7
Lakeville 17 16
Rosemount 9 9
Mendota Heights 4 4
South St. Paul 10 8
West St. Paul 11 8
Other Dakota Co. 4 2
Other/ No Data 7 24
Dakota County Quarterly Report
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Direct Financing & Access to Capital*
In 2021, there has been unprecedented opportunities for small business relief capital in the form of grants as well as
low-cost and forgivable loans which has contributed to reduced demand for traditional small business lending. MCCD
staff has focused our efforts on directing clients to the available relief grants and loans. We have seen traditional
lending inquiries from clients and financial partners pick up again as businesses are stabilizing and shifting back into
growth mode. There are several loans in our pipeline currently and we look forward to more activity in Q4.
Loan Closed - (Q2 - 2021):
Business Type: Dessert Vendor with Food Trailer
Location: Inver Grove Heights
Referred by: Partner Organization
OTB Financing: $5,000.00
Owner Equity: $6,000.00
Other Financing: $25,000.00
Overview: This 100% BIPOC-woman-owned dessert business sells sweets at festivals and pop-up events on a seasonal
basis. The business owner is growing her business by investing in a fully equipped food trailer. This investment will
result in new efficiencies for the business as she has been operating as a food stand and spends valuable time and
resources setting up, loading equipment, traveling back and forth to events, and packing up when weather is bad. The
new trailer will allow her to focus more time on her customers and give her increased flexibility.
The financing secured comes after working closely with Open to Business for approximately 24 months. In that time, the
business owner has built her branding, social media presence, budgeting skills, and financial projections in preparation
for the loan request with her credit union. The total funding is $36,000. OTB is directly financing the purchase of baking
equipment for the build-out of the trailer, as well as working capital for the overall project.
*Does not capture relief loans/grants/funding facilitated by MCCD staff.
Q3 Highlights, Networking, & Outreach
CDFI Award
• As I mentioned in the Q2 report, MCCD received a $1.826M grant from the CDFI program in June 2021. As a direct
result of this new funding, MCCD was able to offer an interest rate reduction on approximately 75 loans in our loan
portfolio. Additionally, we’ve capped our interest rate at 7% for new loans to startup businesses. This interest rate
cap and rate reduction is in sync with steps other CDFIs have taken recently. We are excited to make these changes
to our loan policies as part of our commitment to provide affordable and flexible capital to the communities we
serve. We are determined in the promotion of small business growth, building community wealth, and creating new
economic opportunities as a CDFI. We will continue our conversations with other CDFIs locally and nationally on
putting these funds to use and will be in touch with updates as additional information is available.
DEED Main Street COVID Relief Grants
• In September the Open to Business team worked diligently to get the word out about the new DEED grant
opportunity, assist with applications, and troubleshoot application questions. MCCD is one of the nonprofit
agencies reviewing grants as well.
Dakota County Quarterly Report
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Staffing Updates
• Our newest Business Advisor Vicky Gonzalez joins MCCD with a strong background in business banking and
lending. Prior to joining MCCD, Vicky worked at the Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC) as a Business
Advisor. Vicky is bilingual in English and Spanish and will assist OTB advisors throughout all counties (she will not be
assigned a specific county and will “float”) to provide technical assistance in Spanish with a focus on small business
lending and outreach.
• Tina Stennes joins MCCD as the Communications & Special Projects Manager. With nearly a decade of
communications experience, Tina has helped numerous organizations effectively define their vision and tell their
story. Dedication to the community has led Tina to focus on working with mission-based organizations and she’s
held leadership roles both locally and nationally working in digital inclusion and workforce development.
Programming, Partnerships, & Trainings
• Aug. 13: MCCD staff completed the first session in a training series on shared and cooperative ownership structures
with consultant Margaret Lund. The training is aimed to increase our understanding of shared ownership models
and when/how to implement for small business clients.
• Aug. 18: Partnership with the Dakota County Library system the Small Business Lending / Networking event was
held outdoors at the Eagan Library. I hosted the event with my colleague Tyler Hilsabeck with special guest Dan
Burns from Minnwest Bank. Ron Seipp from Mouth Metro SCORE was also in attendance.
• Oct. 4 – 8: MCCD co-hosted the annual conference of the National Alliance of Community Economic Development
Associations (NACEDA) which was held virtually. MCCD organized sessions spotlighting economic development in
Minnesota on October 6th including a keynote address by Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan and a session on Building a
Business Advisor Pipeline.
• November 17: We are hosting another virtual Q&A with the University of MN Law School on November 17th. This is
a free virtual event for business at any stage.
▪ Additionally, the summer cohort of law students completed a research project for us to create an educational
tool to walk clients through key aspects of organizing a business and hiring employees.
Advertising & Outreach
• Thanks to all who shared out the Q3 OTB ads emphasizing our language capabilities in Spanish, Hmong, Somali.
• Meetings, presentations, and events that occurred in Q3 and early October focused on bank outreach to build and
strengthen those relationships and increase awareness around MCCD’s lending program. Meetings and outreach
occurred with 21st Century Bank, Frandsen Bank, Home Federal Savings Bank, Choice Bank, Think Bank, Prime
Security Bank, Bremer Bank, Minnwest Bank, and Genisys Credit Union. As a direct result of this effort four new loan
referrals were received!
• In addition to banker outreach, I attended the Mendota Heights Community Coffee Connection event at MH City
Hall Aug 14, the recurring Business Services/Economic Development Committee meetings, and had partnership /
update meetings with the Dakota County Library, the University of MN Law School, the River Heights Chamber of
Commerce, Neighborhood Development Center, African Development Center, Northside Economic Opportunity
Network, the City of Eagan, and the City of Farmington.
Dakota County Quarterly Report
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• Concerns around COVID variants prompted MCCD to change our meeting / office protocols through the end of 2021;
we are back to virtual meetings and have canceled in-person events. My office hours will continue virtually. I am
available to meet in person with clients and partners on a case-by-case basis.
MCCD Client Profile
Meet Claudia Gutierrez Mendez, owner of Hamburguesas El Gordo and MCCD client since 2018. Her business started in
her home and has since expanded to four locations in the Twin Cites Metro area with an enthusiastic and dedicated local
following. Find Hamburguesas El Gordo on Cedar Avenue in Minneapolis, Robert Street in West Saint Paul, and at the
two locations which opened in 2020: Selby Avenue in Saint Paul and Payne Avenue in East Saint Paul. This business
employs approximately 60 people across four locations. There is so much more to Claudia’s story of perseverance, hard
work, and growth. Hear her story in her own words via the video profile on MCCD’s website.
• Short version (~2 minutes) is on the MCCD Homepage – www.mccdmn.org
• Full version (~5 minutes) is on the OTB Homepage – www.opentobusinessmn.org
Dakota County Quarterly Report
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Selected Program Feedback
“Natalie and Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers have been so helpful with our startup that one
adjective couldn't describe their impact. Every step of the way Natalie provided sound advice with logical explanations. In
addition, providing contacts to individuals that specialize in such areas (recommendations to participate in the law clinic
provided by the University of Minnesota to help us with legal documents). Natalie's help went beyond just concrete
advice. She encouraged us to do our research because ultimately it is our company and decisions were left up to us.
Essentially, it helped strengthen our critical thinking skills and boosted our confidence. “
– Apple Valley Business Owner
“We had a great experience working with your organization.”
– Eagan Business Owner
“I’m not kidding when I say that I could NOT have done moving my businesses to
where they are now without Natalie’s guidance and grace.”
– Hastings Business Owner
“HANDS DOWN Open to Business is the first place to start digging in.”
– Burnsville Business Owner