The City of Saint Paul is rolling out its latest initiative to bolster local neighborhoods with the 2025 Neighborhood STAR program. Small businesses and capital projects that promise to enrich the Saint Paul landscape can now apply for a financial boost. Grants are on the table for those who tick the right boxes: You've got to be in Saint Paul, aiming to up the ante with an improvement that'll last a good seven years, plus your project should contribute some kind of mojo to the neighborhood's prosperity, cultural diversity, or vitality. The clock is ticking, though—applications must be submitted by 4 p.m. on Friday, May 2, via the city's online application portal.
One 2024 grant recipient, Cadenza Music, is a testament to the program's value. Owner Daniel Lehn expressed, "Had we not had the STAR funds to help with this project, it might have put us at risk of not being able to survive the financial burden," according to a statement released by the Small Business Newsletter. Keeping Cadenza open allowed it to continue playing a key role in the Saint Paul community. Guidelines for applying are helpfully offered in several languages, and there's even a video of the virtual pre-proposal workshop held on April 8 for those who missed it. Got questions? The STAR team is reachable at [email protected].
Meanwhile, as Earth Month ramps up, Saint Paul is pushing for a greener business scene. They've laid out an array of resources to nudge companies towards sustainability—energy efficiency programs, waste reduction support, and incentives for going electric are just part of the eco-friendly push. Small businesses can tap into programs like the One-Stop Efficiency Shop that hooks them up with free energy assessments, hefty rebates, and even free smart thermostats, all designed to shrink both carbon footprints and operating costs. These initiatives are detailed on the city's webpage, where businesses bent on reducing waste can explore offerings from BizRecycling that include free consultations and grants, not to mention free labels on your recycling bins in a range of languages.
City leaders have marked the occasion, recently breaking ground at The Heights for Minnesota's first aquifer thermal energy storage system—a project emblematic of Saint Paul's commitment to cutting-edge, eco-conscious strides. This broader push for sustainability echoes throughout the city's myriad of supportive measures for businesses. Rebates and consulting are just the beginning, as there's also potential tax credit for installing electric vehicle chargers and free advisory services under the nationwide EMPOWER Workplace Charging Project. And for businesses considering the adoption of electric vehicles, the Evie carshare program is mentioned as a notable option highlighted in the City of St. Paul newsletter.
To celebrate Earth Day’s 55th anniversary, businesses and residents alike can band together in a cleanup event or take their environmental zeal a notch up by adopting a block. Prosperity-minded entrepreneurs can also dive into a range of educational events and training sessions. Topics run the gamut from marketing effectiveness to harnessing AI for small business productivity. Add to that, there's financial and technical support up for grabs from the City of Saint Paul to really bring your business ideas to fruition—if you're eyeing expansion or simply aiming to tread lighter on the planet. Find more at the Small Business Newsletter for the full scoop on what's on offer.
