HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council - 06/17/2025 - WorkshopApproved Minutes
Eden Prairie City Council Workshop
Tuesday, June 17, 2025
4 p.m. Flying Red Horse Ribbon Cutting
Flying Cloud Drive and Town Center Place
Eden Prairie, MN 55344
5:30 p.m. Workshop
City Center Heritage Rooms, Council Chambers
8080 Mitchell Road
Eden Prairie, MN 55344
ATTENDEES
City Council Members: Mayor Ron Case, Council Members Kathy Nelson, Mark Freiberg, PG
Narayanan, and Lisa Toomey
City Staff: City Manager Rick Getschow, Public Works Director Robert Ellis, Community
Development Director Julie Klima, Parks and Recreation Director Amy Markle, Police Chief Matt
Sackett, Fire Chief Scott Gerber, Administrative Services/HR Director Alecia Rose,
Communications Manager Joyce Lorenz, City Attorney Maggie Neuville, and Recorder Sara
Potter
Guest Speakers: Hennepin County Economic Development Manager Lily Shaw
MEETING AGENDA
4 p.m. Flying Red Horse Ribbon Cutting
5:30 p.m. Heritage Rooms
I.Elevate Hennepin
Getschow opened by summarizing recent Council discussions regarding small business work and
introduced Hennepin County Economic Development Manager Lily Shaw. Shaw introduced
Elevate Hennepin, Hennepin County’s branch of small business support. Elevate Hennepin works
to create accessible pathways to entrepreneurship by connecting entrepreneurs to vital
resources. Elevate Hennepin dismantles barriers to business ownership, creates a diverse and
inclusive peer network, and provides current and critical advising services. Small businesses
create resilient communities, retain employees, and create beautiful spaces. 96 percent of
businesses in Hennepin County have fewer than 100 employees, and 70 percent have fewer than
ten. Only ten percent of businesses are owned by People of Color (POC).
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June 17, 2025
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Shaw explained Elevate Hennepin was founded in 2020 and provides one place to easily access
resources, advisors, and learning opportunities at no cost. 19 Hennepin County cities support
Elevate Hennepin through monetary investment, spreading the word, and hosting programs and
events. Narayanan asked if Elevate Hennepin groups customers by sector. Shaw confirmed the
Elevate Hennepin intake form collects information including type of business, age of business,
number of employees, revenue, etc. Nelson asked if Cities are notified if a local small business
receives Elevate Hennepin services. Shaw confirmed Cities are provided with a list of small
businesses receiving services twice per year.
Narayanan suggested partnering with school districts. Shaw noted Elevate Hennepin only services
customers over 18 years of age but will provide information on other organizations supporting
entrepreneurs under 18. Toomey asked if Elevate Hennepin’s funding has been affected. Shaw
confirmed Elevate Hennepin is not federally funded, it is funded through Hennepin County’s
Housing and Redevelopment Authority and City partners.
Shaw gave an overview of ElevateHennepin.org, the online resource hub including Hennepin
County resources and also City, State, and Federal resources. Businesses can access resources,
view upcoming events, read stories about fellow business owners, schedule a session with an
advisor, and more. The most popular resource is one-on-one advising. Elevate Hennepin
contracts with 34 one-on-one advisors, and business owners can access up to 25 hours of no cost
support with each advisor. Elevate Hennepin partners with culturally specific organizations to
raise awareness. Narayanan asked if the website is public. Shaw confirmed the website is entirely
public. Businesses do not need a login or password to complete the intake form.
Elevate Hennepin provides support for all stages of the business life cycle. Support for the idea
stage was recently added to help vet business ideas and connect entrepreneurs with peers in the
same stage. Elevate Hennepin provides 10 areas of support including access to capital,
accounting, business strategy, certification, financial management, human resources, idea stage,
legal, marketing, and technology. Elevate Hennepin listens to business owners to add additional
resources based on feedback. Narayanan asked which area of support would help an
entrepreneur needing introductions to customers. Shaw stated business strategy support would
CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA
June 17, 2025
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help identify where buckets would be, and marketing would assist with activating those
customers.
Shaw explained customers can use the business navigator tool to get started, which allows
customers to schedule a session with an advisor. Elevate Hennepin has served over 1,600 small
businesses through its Business Navigator tool. Shaw provided an example of small business Luro
boots, which used Elevate Hennepin resources to access capital and update their website.
Narayanan asked what kind of funding options are available through the access to capital
support. Shaw confirmed there are multiple low financing small business loans from lenders such
as MinnPACE and the Minnesota Consortium of Community Developers.
Shaw next summarized available training programs for entrepreneurs. The CEO Start program is
for entrepreneurs in the idea stage. Entrepreneurs work together in an 11 week program to build
a solid foundation prior to investing time and money. Programs are available through each
business lifecycle stage through CEO Next, for established companies with 10 to 99 employees.
CEO Next helps businesses scale growth to expand regionally or nationally with peer to peer
round tables, speakers, and networking with other CEOs. Entrepreneurs often move through the
program chronologically, though it isn’t required. Narayanan asked if participants pay for each
program. Shaw confirmed the programs are no cost other than a time investment. Shaw gave
examples of small businesses who have graduated from programs, including Eden Prairie based
Pizza Karma.
Shaw noted Hennepin County provided a $4.2 million investment in Elevate Hennepin, which will
be used to distribute small business and commercial loans. Shaw detailed other offerings of
Elevate Hennepin. Multiple workshops and events are offered including Get Started, a virtual 75-
minute workshop for entrepreneurs in the idea stage, and Thriving Thursdays, a three-hour in
person office hours for entrepreneurs and advisors. Additionally, business owners receive access
to hours of digital business development content.
Shaw summarized the impact of Elevate Hennepin. 3,262 individuals have accessed one-on-one
advising, resulting in 222 businesses being launched. 244 individuals have graduated from Elevate
Hennepin learning cohorts. $35.8 million of financing has been facilitated, adding 688 jobs to
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June 17, 2025
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Hennepin County. Narayanan asked how business advisors assist with financing. Shaw stated
business advisors will help applicants get their paperwork in order and fill out loan applications.
Shaw shared information specific to Eden Prairie. In 2024 Elevate Hennepin supported 25 local
businesses with 375 hours of assistance. Since inception in 2020, 67 Eden Prairie businesses have
received 833 hours of support. Over $1.615 million in financing has created 30 jobs and launched
three businesses. 55 percent of businesses assisted are female-owned. Narayanan asked how
Eden Prairie compares to surrounding cities. Shaw noted each City is extremely unique in terms
of support needed. Eden Prairie is on par with cities with similar populations.
Shaw stated business owners have positive feedback about Elevate Hennepin. Hennepin County
is continuing to invest in Elevate Hennepin to create jobs and generate revenue within
communities. Shaw asked Eden Prairie to continue spreading the word. Shaw commended
Economic Development Manager Dave Lindahl for his assistance in connecting small business
owners with Elevate Hennepin. Toomey asked if Elevate Hennepin collaborates with chambers of
commerce. Shaw confirmed Elevate Hennepin often presents to or hosts events with chambers of
commerce. The Council members thanked Shaw for her time and efforts.
Council Chambers
II. Open Podium
III. Adjournment