Item Description:
title
Neg 34 Elevate Hennepin advising Agmts for small business consulting, 01/01/25-12/31/25, total combined NTE $2,155,000
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Resolution:
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BE IT RESOLVED, that the Executive Director be authorized to negotiate hourly rate professional service Agreements with each of the following entities to provide small business consulting as part of the Elevate Hennepin business advisor network:
• PR00006876 A.M. & Associates LLC
• PR00006847 Ahmed Mohidin LLC DBA Sigma Consulting
• PR00006875 Antonelli and Associates, LLC.
• PR00006848 Better Business Bureau of Minnesota, Inc
• PR00006866 Clear Talk Accounting LLC
• PR00006853 ConnectUP! Institute
• PR00006857 Davis Law Office, PLLC
• PR00006852 Dendros Group, LLC
• PR00006874 Digital Synergy LLC
• PR00006851 Expo Peru Collection LLC DBA JLLB Media
• PR00006845 Field Guide Inc.
• PR00006863 Hack the Gap
• PR00006865 Katherine Hanson DBA Backpocket Strategies
• PR00006867 Hortensia PLLC
• PR00006846 IFRI LLC
• PR00006860 Khoo Consulting LLC
• PR00006868 Latino Economic Development Center
• PR00006850 Led by TRUTH
• PR00006849 LegalCORPS
• PR00006887 Minneapolis Consortium of Community Developers
• PR00006858 Minnesota Social Impact Center
• PR00006873 Mni Sota Fund
• PR00006872 Monicat Data
• PR00006877 NewPublica, LLC
• PR00006859 NextStage
• PR00006844 Simon and Associates, LLC
• PR00006864 Software for Good, GBC
• PR00006862 Springboard for the Arts
• PR00006854 Technologist Computers SBC
• PR00006871 TrueLegal PLLC
• PR00006855 Small Business Dreamers DBA Vibrant Life Therapy LLC
• PR00006856 Victor Jones Consulting L.L.C.
• PR00006870 Whip-Smart LLC
• PR00006861 WomenVenture
all during the period January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025 with the option for the Authority to extend for one additional year without amendment, with a total combined not to exceed amount of $2,155,000; that following review and approval by the County Attorney's Office, the Chair be authorized to sign the agreements on behalf of the Authority; and that the Controller be authorized to disburse funds as directed.
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Background:
The Elevate Hennepin suite of programming provides resources to develop entrepreneurs, create new businesses, and help small businesses grow and thrive. The core offering of Elevate Hennepin is professional consulting provided directly to business owners by a local network of talented and culturally competent business advisors. Elevate Hennepin’s network of business advisors provide expertise and specialized consulting services in multiple areas of support, covering a wide range of “back-office” areas including accounting, human resources, legal, marketing, and more. Eligible emerging entrepreneurs and established business in Hennepin County can access up to 25 hours of consulting at no cost from each advisor in the Elevate Hennepin network.
By supporting the cost of these traditionally expensive services and training opportunities, Hennepin County reduces barriers to entrepreneurship and addresses structural inequities faced by business owners who are Black, Indigenous, people of color, and women, in starting and growing a successful business in Minnesota.
A competitive request for proposals (RFP) was issued in August 2024 to identify qualified organizations to serve as business advisors in the Elevate Hennepin network in 2025. The RFP garnered 73 applications.
After an extensive review process to assess qualifications; experience, including experience serving clients from diverse cultural backgrounds; customer feedback; and other criteria, staff recommend 34 vendors to provide professional consulting services in the following areas of support:
• Access to capital
• Accounting
• Business strategy
• Financial management
• Human resources
• Idea stage business development
• Legal
• Marketing
• Technology
Approval of these 34 contracts will provide an estimated 1,500 businesses with expert consulting services to help them thrive and grow, contributing to inclusive economic growth.
Current Request: This request is for authorization to negotiate 34 agreements to provide small business consulting effective January 1, 2025 through January 31, 2025, with an optional one year extension.
Impact/Outcomes: Approval of this request will provide specialized consulting, technical assistance, and back-office support for an estimated 1,500 small and disadvantaged businesses with Elevate Hennepin consultants.
Income Domain Disparity: Specialized consulting and technical assistance offered through Hennepin County’s Elevate Hennepin efforts help address racial gaps in business ownership. To-date, 59% of entrepreneurs and business owners accessing small business consulting, 65% of those accessing financing, and 73% of those starting a business with support from Elevate Hennepin identify as Black, Asian, Hispanic/LatinX, Indigenous, or multi-racial.
recommendation
Recommendation from County Administrator: Recommend Approval