Supplier Resources

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University of Minnesota Bid Opportunities

UMN Purchasing Services https://purchasing.umn.edu/suppliers 

UMN Current Bid Opportunities https://mbid.ionwave.net/CurrentSourcingEvents.aspx 

UMN Recently Awarded Bids https://mbid.ionwave.net/AwardedSourcingEvents.aspx

Request to View Winning Proposal (after RFP has closed) University's Data Request Center

Certification Resources

Professional Associations and Chambers of Commerce

Association of Women Contractors (AWC) https://awcmn.org/ 

Chinese American Chamber of Commerce https://caccmn.org/

Latino Chamber of Commerce Minnesota https://latinochambermn.com/

Minnesota American Indian Chamber of Commerce https://maicc.org/

Minnesota Black Chamber of Commerce https://minnesotablackchamber.org/

Minnesota Chamber of Commerce https://www.mnchamber.com/

Minnesota Minority Goods & Services Association (MMGSA) https://www.mmgsa.org/ 

National Association of Minority Contractors (NAMC) https://namcnational.org/ 

National Association of Minority Contractors - Midwest Chapter (NAMC-MC) - coming soon

St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce https://www.stpaulchamber.com/

Grants & Funding

Launch MN Innovation Grants https://mn.gov/launchmn/capital/launch-grants/

The Market Entry Fund - grants for food and beverage businesses https://marketentryfund.org/micro-grants

Waste Reduction & Innovation Grant from BizRecycling https://bizrecycling.com/grants/waste-reduction-innovation-grant/

Search Funding Options at MN DEED https://joinusmn.com/doing-business-here/grow-your-business/capital/index.jsp

Free or Low-Cost Technical Assistance for Businesses

Ascent - Elevate Your Business https://ascent.sba.gov/

GREATER MSP Partnership’s Business Bridge - Supplier Toolkit https://businessbridgemn.org/supplier-toolkit

Community Wealth Building Program https://mn.gov/deed/business/financing-business/deed-programs/community-wealth/

The Coven (free digital membership through Elevate Hennepin) https://www.thecoven.com/hc-application

Elevate Hennepin https://www.elevatehennepin.org/

Metropolitan Economic Development Association (MEDA) https://meda.net/ 

Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers (MCCD) https://mccdmn.org/open-to-business/

Minnesota Resources for Startups and Small Businesses https://mn.gov/deed/assets/resources-startups-small-businesses-acc_tcm1045-540535.pdf

SBA Learning Center https://learn.sba.gov/dashboard

Small Business Development Centers https://mn.gov/deed/business/help/sbdc/ 

Startup and Small Business Calendar by Launch MN https://mn.gov/launchmn/calendar/

St. Thomas Family Business Center https://business.stthomas.edu/centers-institutes/family-business-center/ 

Free Professional Development Webinars

Offered by the University of Minnesota's College of Continuing and Professional Studies, these free one-hour webinar replays offer insights and strategies that you can put into practice at your business immediately. You'll find a wide range of topics that are relevant to professionals at all levels, including leadership, communication, time management, project management, and more.