Saint Paul STAR Program Offers Grants For Small Business Improvements; City Hosts Business Expo And Workshops

Calling all Saint Paul small business owners looking for a facelift or an upgrade — the city's got a golden ticket for you.

The Neighborhood STAR program is rolling out its 2024 grant applications, and your business could be next to score some financial aid for capital improvements.

From fixing up a shabby exterior to ramping up accessibility, if your digs are in Saint Paul and you've got a project that'll last more than seven years, you might just be in luck.

The STAR program isn't new to the block; since '95, over a whopping $132 million has hitched a ride to more than 1,150 projects, as stated in a recent Small Business Newsletter. Take it from Monique Linder, CEO of OMG Media Solutions — a STAR awardee who tells others to "shoot for your dreams and just go for it." After snagging a piece of that grant pie, her business is now sashaying in its new home at Vandalia Tower.

Meanwhile, the City of Saint Paul is not just dangling carrots for the established players.

If you're an up-and-comer in town or have dreams bigger than your current bankroll, check out the freebie ecobee smart thermostats on offer.

Eligible commercial customers can score one courtesy of Xcel Energy and CEE.

Keeping tabs on your HVAC remotely could be a game-changer for your monthly bills.

But that's not all. The City's also beckoning small businesses to its smorgasbord of events, like the Small Business Expo on April 26. Rub elbows, spitball ideas, and get those burning questions answered.

There's a boatload of courses and workshops, whether you want to finesse your sales tax know-how or unravel the mysteries of business structures, as announced in the official newsletter. Seems like there's a ladder for every rung of the entrepreneurial journey in Saint Paul.

And for those who have been sleeping on it — a heads up, a new "Common Cent" 1% sales tax kicks in on April 1. If you're selling in Saint Paul, the city expects you'll add this tax to your checkout counter. It's earmarked for spiffing up public spaces and infrastructure, so everyone's pitching into the kitty here. Plus, the city's got plans to pump these funds back into street and park improvements — a sweet deal for the neighborhood aesthetics, and maybe your foot traffic too.

SOURCE: hoodline