The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) is offering a lifeline to small businesses, dishing out a buffet of free classes designed to sharpen skills in various aspects of the construction industry, as revealed in a recent bulletin release. For businessmen and women chomping at the bit to up their game, these sessions cover a sweeping range of topics, from financials to safety, bidding to marketing.
On March 5, entrepreneurs can tap into the ever-growing digital marketplace with a course on Effective Marketing Strategy, which gives a leg-up on using social media to haul customers over to your site and your products, laid out in practical examples, templates, and guidance for newbies; however, the second class on Successfully Responding to a Request for Proposal, slated for March 7, promises insights into the world of public agency contracts and how to slice through the competition with expert-crafted responses teamed with draft templates, with further details found on the MnDOT bulletin.
Grasping the importance of on-the-job safety regs, MnDOT's in-person OSHA 30 certification runs from March 11-14 in Rochester, an essential for those looking to nail down the groundwork of operational and worker safety regulations. Not to mention a seminar on the nitty-gritty of Certified Payroll, offered online March 13, for businesses wrapped up in state and federal projects that will drill down on the critical financial specifics – where to find them and the impact on the company's bottom line.
First Aid-CPR-AED certification doesn't get sidelined, with training on March 15 in Rochester, and for those who've ever agonized over sending a professional email or memo, there's the Effective Business Communication class zooming in on March 21 – just in time to clean up your drafts and polish your digital dialogue, the number of online courses marches on, including advanced-level classes like DBE Business Academy: 303 Sustainability, scheduled for April 9, exploring the ins and outs of actionable strategies for enduring business success, information and registration for each is available via the MnDOT page.
Moreover, beyond the classrooms, MnDOT supports small businesses through its one-on-one business assistance program and Micro Grants, which offer up to $3,500 to help businesses expand their capabilities, with information about these opportunities sprinkled throughout the bulletin. The department has made a point to be inclusive, offering assistance to ensure access for all, be it interpreters or documents in alternative formats, ensuring that these resources reach as wide an audience as possible. They make it clear – if you're a business owner with an eye on MnDOT contracts, you may have just hit the mother lode with these offerings.
