Utilize these resources provided to find useful information regarding small business support.
- Additional Services NW Minnesota
- Business Plans
- Startup Funding
- Legal
- Minority Populations
- Women in Entrepreneurship
- Minnesota Resources
Additional Services in NW Minnesota
Beltrami County
Joint Economic Development Commission
PO Box 602
Bemidji, MN 56619
Clearwater County
Clearwater Economic Development Organization
1.800.866.3125
213 Main Ave N, Department 106
Bagley, MN 56621
Lake of the Woods County
Lake of the Woods County Office of Economic Development
PO Box 937
Baudette, MN 56623
1.800.657.3603
Mahnomen County
White Earth Economic Development
1.218.983.4640
PO Box 418
White Earth, MN 56591
Marshall County
Warren Economic Development Program
Economic Development Program
115 South Main, Suite 1
Warren, MN 56762
1.218.745.6733
Norman County
Ada Economic Development Authority
404 W Main St.
Ada, MN 56510
1.218.784.5538
Twin Valley Economic Development Authority
107 2nd St. W
Twin Valley, MN 56584
1.218.584.5254
Halstad Economic Development Authority
404 5th Ave. E
Halstad, MN 56548
1.218.456.2822
Pennington County
Economic Development Department
1311 Duluth Ave. N
Thief River Falls, MN 56701
1.218.681.0997
Polk County
Crookston Economic Development Authority
510 County Rd 51
Crookston, MN 56716
1.218.470.2000
East Grand Forks Economic Development Commission
600 Demers Ave.
East Grand Forks, MN 56721
1.218.773.2371
Fosston Economic Development Authority
City of Fosston
1.218.435.1959
Red Lake County
Red Lake County Economic Development Corporation
PO Box 279
Red Lake Falls, MN 56750
1.218.253.2897
Roseau County
Roseau Economic Development Authority
1.218.463.5003
Northwest Minnesota Region
Agricultural Utilization Research Institute
UMC Campus, Owen Hall
PO Box 599
Crookston, MN 56716
Northwest Minnesota Foundation
4225 Technology Drive NW
Bemidji, MN 56601
218.759.2328
1.800.659.7859
Northwest Regional Development Commission
115 South Main, Suite 1
Warren, MN 56762
218.745.6733
Northwest Regional Small Business Development Center
3801 Bemidji Avenue, Suite 4
Bemidji, MN 56601
218.755.2718
Business Plans
Bplans.com – contains the largest single online collection of free sample business plans. In addition, it has helpful tools and know-how for managing your business. Bplans.com includes practical advice on planning, interactive tools and calculators, and a panel of experts who have answered thousands of questions from people like you.
Entrepreneur.com – Free Sample Business Plans. Browse more than 125 sample business plans for inspiration.
Inc.com – Magazine focused on business resources for the entrepreneur
Small Business Administration – Prepare business plans that include tips, questions, and worksheets.
Startup Funding
Small Business Administration – Loan and grant programs are available through the SBA.
National Venture Capital Association – Foster greater understanding of the importance of venture capital to the U.S. economy, and support entrepreneurial activity and innovation. The NVCA represents the public policy interests of the venture capital community, strives to maintain high professional standards, provides reliable industry data, sponsors professional development, and facilitates interaction among its members.
Legal
Findlaw – Small Business Center provides information and resources for small business owners, and help for entrepreneurs seeking to get a business idea off the ground
Free patents online – Resource to find patent searching.
Lectric Law Library – Quite simply the best legal resource that we have come across on the Web. – CNN
Nolo.com – Legal system available to everyone.
Wikipatents – Provides free advanced patent searching and patent analytics for over 15 million patents hosted on its web site. The WikiPatents’ growing database includes patents and patent applications from the United States, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Spain and Switzerland. In addition to patent research, WikiPatents provides value added information about each patent, including rapid patent image navigation, downloads of patents into various formats such as .txt, .rtf (Word), and .pdf, free access to .pdf patent drawings and images, automatic display of inventor residences on a map, and a patent summary and report for each patent.
Minority Population
Business.gov – Resource for links to help minorities
Minority Business Development Agency – MBDA is the only federal agency created specifically to foster the establishment and growth of minority-owned businesses in America.
National Minority Supplier Development Council, Inc. – Providing a direct link between corporate America and minority-owned businesses is the primary objective of the National Minority Supplier Development Council, one of the country’s leading business membership organizations.
SCORE – Resource for Minority Entrepreneurs
Women in Entrepreneurship
Alkamae Intuitive Small Business Solutions – Free and guided resources and coaching to help you: optimize your website, find niche clarity in your business market, create a One Page Business Plan and harness the power of Law of Attraction marketing are some of the ways Alkamae brings out your entrepreneurial power.
Center for Women’s Business Research – Provides data-driven knowledge that advances the economic, social and political impact of women business owners and their enterprises.
National Association for Female Executives – Articles, advice, and forums
National Women’s Business Council – A bi-partisan federal advisory council created to serve as an independent source of advice and counsel to the President, Congress, and the U.S. Small Business Administration on economic issues of importance to women business owners.
Women’s Business Development Center – Has many programs and services for established business owners and entrepreneurs starting a new business.
Woman Entrepreneur- Entrepreneur website geared towards women
Minnesota Resources
Center for Rural Policy and Development – Provides links for funding, community and economic development, state agencies and departments, academic & policy search, foundations & non-profits, and agriculture.
Department of Employment and Economic Development – DEED programs promote business recruitment, expansion, and retention; international trade; workforce development; and community development.
Economic Development Association of Minnesota – An association of professionals specializing in the field of economic development
Enterprise Minnesota – Offers business consulting, lean trainings, lean enterprise supply chain consulting and growth services to Minnesota manufacturers.
Mid-Minnesota Development Commission – Provide technical assistance to government, businesses and local organizations; administer state and federal programs, and coordinate multi-jurisdictional activities to maintain or enhance the quality of life in the Cities in Kandiyohi, McLeod, Meeker, and Renville Counties
Midwest Minnesota Community Development Corporation – A non-profit organization that provides capital resources and innovative ideas to assist in successful business and community development throughout Minnesota and the Midwest
Minnesota Business Finance Corporation- Nonprofit, SBA Certified Development Company provides loans to qualifying small businesses throughout the state.
Minnesota Community Capital Fund – Activate member capital in partnership with lenders to provide flexible business financing solutions.
Upper Minnesota Valley – Provides a vehicle for implementation of regional programs that cross over traditional jurisdiction boundaries of counties, cities and townships.
Women’s Business Development Center – Offers training, mentoring, networking, and business development opportunities to WBEs.
