ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT
To Committee(s)
| # | Committee Name | Meeting Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business, Inspections, Housing & Zoning Committee | Nov 7, 2022 |
Action Item(s)
| # | File Type | Subcategory | Item Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Action | Contract/Agreement | Authorizing grant agreements for the Business Technical Assistance Program (BTAP), subject to modifications as approved by the Director of the Department of Community Planning & Economic Development, as follows: African Development Center, $30,000; Black Women's Wealth Alliance, $50,000; Castelli Business Services, $20,000; Davis Law Office, $60,000; Just Law, $30,000; Latino Economic Development Center, $70,000; Lake Street Council, $70,000; Metropolitan Economic Development Association, $50,000; New American Development Center, $20,000; Neighborhood Development Center, $50,000, Northside Economic Opportunity Network, $50,000; Seward Redesign, $40,000; Think Small Institute, $40,000; West Bank Business Association, $70,000; West Broadway Business and Area Coalition, $50,000. |
Previous Actions
2022-00442 - Business Technical Assistance Program (BTAP) 2022 funding recommendations
2021-00444 - Business Technical Assistance Program (B-TAP) 2021 funding recommendations
2020-00713 - Business Technical Assistance Program (B-TAP) 2020 funding recommendations
2019-00491 - Business Technical Assistance Program (B-TAP) 2019 funding recommendations
Ward / Neighborhood / Address
| # | Ward | Neighborhood | Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | All Wards |
Background Analysis
The City of Minneapolis’ Business Technical Assistance Program (BTAP) provides funding for business-consulting services that support new business development, retention, and growth, focusing on minority and women-owned businesses. BTAP aligns with the City’s adopted goal of “Economic Development: The City prioritizes economic inclusion so that all workers and families are supported and People of Color, Indigenous and Immigrant (POCII)-owned businesses in all sectors can thrive” and the 2019 priority “Increase the number of Minneapolis-based businesses owned by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color; and increase businesses with BIPOC ownership that are still in business after 5 years.”
BTAP allows the City to expand its capacity by funding local, non-profit business development organizations that already have community organizing expertise, cultural competency, and technical skills to provide the assistance.
Current Funding Round
In May of 2022, the City approved $700,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for additional technical assistance and outreach to small businesses. These funds prioritized service to the four Cultural Districts and the neighboring businesses which have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and represent historically marginalized communities that have faced outsized economic hardship in that last two years (Cedar Riverside, East Lake, West Broadway, and 38th & Chicago).
A Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) soliciting proposals for this supplemental round of funding was released to neighborhood organizations, community development corporations, business associations, and other community partners; and posted on the City’s website on September 8, 2022. CPED received 18 proposals by the September 30 deadline requesting a total of $1.9 million.
Recommendation Process
The evaluation team reviewed each proposal based on the following criteria articulated in the RFP:
- Applicant's mission, background, and performance
- Applicant's services, expertise, and systems
- Priority Populations
- Marketing, outreach, and screening
Recommendations for funding were determined by a combination of:
- Average score of each proposal to meet the criteria listed above
- Level of available and requested funds
- Dollars remaining on an organization’s current BTAP contracts
The selected service providers will enter into funding agreements with the City to deliver specified services to Minneapolis businesses and entrepreneurs. Service providers will be required to track and report to the City, at minimum, the following: demographic information, types of businesses assisted, number of hours assisted and nature of the assistance. Staff provides all the report templates online. Organizations are paid on a reimbursement basis after the assistance has been provided and the deliverables have been received and reviewed by staff.
Recommendation
Staff recommends partial or full funding for 15 proposals to include funding for both one on one technical assistance, business outreach, and additional supportive programming, e.g. workshops.
Of the four Cultural Districts identified as a focus for this funding, the West Broadway, East Lake Street, and Cedar-Riverside Cultural Districts each have multiple service providers with a dedicated geographically specific focus. On the 38th Street Cultural District, there are multiple providers that offer services inclusive of this area, but none that are specific to that area.
Funding requested/ Recommended
|
Organization |
Requested |
Recommended |
Rationale |
|
African Development Center |
$65,000 |
$30,000 |
Longstanding BTAP provider serving African immigrants located in Cedar Riverside Cultural District |
|
Accelerator Training and Consulting, LLC |
$86,125 |
Proposal does not sufficiently address prioritization of Cultural Districts |
|
|
Black Women's Wealth Alliance |
$250,000 |
$50,000 |
Business development center and incubator located in the West Broadway Cultural District, focused on serving Black women |
|
Castelli Business Services |
$93,840 |
$20,000 |
New service provider with targeted focus on East African businesses in Cultural Districts |
|
Davis Law Office |
$100,000 |
$60,000 |
Current BTAP provider offering high-demand legal services, serving multiple Cultural Districts |
|
Just Law |
$41,000 |
$30,000 |
Current BTAP provider offering high-demand legal services, serving multiple Cultural Districts |
|
Kharis Consultants |
$45,000 |
Proposal does not sufficiently address prioritization of Cultural Districts |
|
|
Latino Economic Development Center |
$140,000 |
$70,000 |
Longstanding BTAP provider serving Latino entrepreneurs, with programming focused on East Lake Street Cultural District |
|
Lake Street Council |
$70,000 |
$70,000 |
Longstanding BTAP provider serving Lake Street, including the East Lake Street Cultural District |
|
Metropolitan Economic Development Association |
$99,950 |
$50,000 |
Previous BTAP provider located in north Minneapolis serving multiple Cultural Districts |
|
New American Development Center |
$50,000 |
$20,000 |
Previous BTAP provider with targeted focus on East African businesses in Cultural Districts |
|
NCXT |
$50,000 |
Proposal does not sufficiently address prioritization of Cultural Districts |
|
|
Neighborhood Development Center |
$124,000 |
$50,000 |
Longstanding BTAP provider serving multiple Cultural Districts |
|
Northside Economic Opportunity Network |
$260,250 |
$50,000 |
Longstanding BTAP provider serving north Minneapolis, located in West Broadway Cultural District |
|
Seward Redesign |
$100,000 |
$40,000 |
Longstanding BTAP provider serving the recovery area adjacent to the East Lake Street Cultural District and including a portion of the Franklin Avenue Cultural District |
|
Think Small Institute |
$50,000 |
$40,000 |
New service provider with targeted focus on supporting childcare businesses in Cultural Districts and surrounding neighborhoods. |
|
West Bank Business Association |
$102,000 |
$70,000 |
Longstanding BTAP provider serving Cedar Riverside Cultural District |
|
West Broadway Business and Area Coalition |
$180,000 |
$50,000 |
Business association serving West Broadway Cultural District |
|
$1,907,165 |
$700,000 |