The City of St. Louis Park is committed to providing assistance to businesses and helping them succeed.

Small business liaison

The city's small business liaison can assist and be a resource to anyone thinking about starting, expanding or relocating a business in St. Louis Park. The liaison can:

• Explain and help navigate the city approval process effectively and efficiently, so you avoid expensive surprises or delays
• Assist in communicating with city departments
• Answer questions regarding city policies and programs, processes, permits, services and licensing
• Search available properties
• Provide contact information for additional helpful resources

Contact: 952.924.2575

Open to Business program

Free business counseling available

Looking to start or grow a business? The city’s Open to Business program offers free, one-on-one, confidential business consulting to help entrepreneurs through the process. This program provides small business owners with access to the technical assistance and financing options they need to succeed. Contact Luis Rodriguez, Open to Business advisor, at lrodriguez@mccdmn.org or 612.843.3269 to schedule a video meeting. 

In person 15-minute consultations are also available on the third Tuesday of each month between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. at St. Louis Park City Hall (5005 Minnetonka Blvd).   

Elevate Hennepin

St. Louis Park is proud to partner with Hennepin County’s Elevate Hennepin^TM initiative to bring expert advising and other business resources to local businesses at no cost.

Elevate Hennepin, an initiative from Hennepin County, is designed to support businesses of all sizes in their efforts to grow, create jobs and evolve.

Through this program, businesses located in Hennepin County can access no-cost advising, find business events, and identify local, state, and federal business-support resources.

Businesses can receive up to 25 hours of consulting from each advisor in all manner of topics, including:

• Access to capital
• Business certification
• Financial management
• Marketing consulting
• Legal questions
• Human resources
• Strategic planning
• Business technology
• Starting a business

To get started, visit Elevate Hennepin to connect with a business navigator to help navigate this incredible resource.

Regulatory solutions consultant

If you are unfamiliar with the government approval process, need help completing required applications or lack the time to go through the process yourself, the city’s regulatory solutions consultant can help.

The consultant can:

• Assist in obtaining city licenses, permits or zoning approvals
• Complete city applications
• Attend meetings with city officials on your behalf
• Advocate for your approvals

The city will pay for up to two hours of consulting services.

Contact: Donna Sanders, JBS Business Solutions, 612.703.4092

Diversity commitment

St. Louis Park is committed to advancing racial equity and inclusion in order to create a more just and inclusive community for all. In 2010, the City Council adopted a resolution supporting women and BIPOC-owned and managed businesses. The city provides information and assistance to these enterprises which can be found at on the business support page. Additionally, the city encourages community support of these businesses through the purchase of goods and professional services.

 Learn more about the city's efforts to advance race equity.