Thriving Local Community
Minnesota is home to robust educational and economic systems that help our community thrive. Our culture of innovation and entrepreneurialism can drive even greater access and opportunity as it did for our founders.
Community leaders in Minneapolis and St. Paul are unlocking access and opportunity to ensure more Minnesotans thrive. We help build the convening capacity of local leaders and networks in the areas of education access and economic opportunity.
Partner Spotlights
Neighborhood Development Corporation
Twin Cities-based partner Neighborhood Development Center (NDC) is defining a new paradigm for community development finance that addresses wealth gaps and boldly moves us all forward. Aiming to "empower entrepreneurs and community partners to transform their low-income neighborhood economies from within,” NDC launched a program to provide training, loan capital, and access to brick-and-mortar locations for new entrepreneurs to test business concepts.
Flourishing entrepreneurs are transforming their communities. NDC has trained hundreds of emerging entrepreneurs, helped distribute $16.5 million in grants to more than 1,300 grantee businesses in St. Paul, South and North Minneapolis, partnered with Metro State to launch a cyber clinic providing free security consulting to small businesses and helping students launch companies, and made Slice Brothers – Minneapolis’ first African American-owned pizza restaurant – a possibility.
University of St. Thomas
The University of St. Thomas, based in St. Paul, Minn., launched The Community Entrepreneurship Program, a 10-month, hands-on program for community members to get practical training to start a growing business.
Funded by GHR Foundation, the program includes consulting, mentoring, Saturday bootcamps, and more. The training has resulted in the launch of successful food brands and other local enterprises. Concepts that have been workshopped include a innovative trucking company, a pet taxi service, and an new business-to-business concept for professional beauty supply.
Meet the
Thriving Local Community Team
Kevin Bennett
Program Director
Cecilia Stariha
Program Associate