As winter grips Saint Paul, small businesses are bundling up for the cold. The frosty season poses challenges that demand smart solutions, from ensuring pipes don’t freeze to managing snow emergencies properly. The Small Business Newsletter for December 2024 urges local entrepreneurs to maintain indoor temperatures at a minimum of 50 degrees to avoid the all-too-common issue of frozen pipes.
To further ward off the winter weather woes, Saint Paul's small businesses can take advantage of a complimentary HVAC assessment provided by CEE's One-Stop Efficiency Shop, thanks to Xcel Energy. This includes free installation of ecobee3 lite smart thermostats, a technological boon aiming to keep heating expenses in check and malfunction accidents on the low. Being informed about current snow emergencies can ensure efficient operations. Subscriptions for text and email alerts from the city can be a lifesaver during severe snowfall.
On the legal side of things, it's not just the temperature that businesses have to worry about—parking guidelines shift with the snowdrifts. The Snow Emergency Parking Map outlines where vehicles should be during such events, with downtown streets designated as Night Plow Routes. Property owners hold the responsibility for shoveling snow and complying with the city ordinance, which strictly prohibits moving snow onto the streets. Fines and legal headaches can accumulate faster than snowflakes if guidelines are ignored.
The newsletter also reminds that "smart salting" for sidewalks and driveways is not only eco-friendly but part of effective facility management. Over-salting doesn’t just waste supplies—it could harm local waterways. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency offers training on the subject, emphasizing the potency of salt and the limited temperature range within which it's effective. Practices like these reflect an amalgam of environmental stewardship and business acumen—a blueprint for success in ice and snow.
But it’s not all about winter prep. Saint Paul's business community pulses with new opportunities and growth. Programs such as the MN PROMISE Act continue to revitalize disadvantaged businesses with funding rounds poised to pump financial lifeblood into local commerce. Meanwhile, organizations like WomenVenture are looking forward to gearing up entrepreneurs with their Launched & Growing program set for a new cohort in January 2025.
And in the midst of the frost, there's something warming up the local business beat. Per a recent feature in the Star Tribune, iconic Mickey's Diner has reopened, stirring joy throughout downtown Saint Paul. A true testament of resilience, such establishments serve as beacons of community and continuity, even as winter's chill takes hold.
