3.0. EDSR 05-18-2020 - Laserfiche WebLink

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A key concern is economically fragile neighborhoods, and stoking the modest rejuvenations along frayed-edged commercial arteries such as West Broadway, East Lake, East Franklin and Central Avenue NE. Those entrepreneurs are disproportionately women, immigrants and minorities with limited capital. Council Member Andrew Johnson, an IT professional and former small-business owner, pushed for the navigator office. He represents an older neighborhood where tired commercial corners are slowly rebounding thanks to independent enterprises. Big business and established operators often know how to work the system, employ lawyers or call council members to put pressure on regulatory offices. Small entrepreneurs don’t have much clout. “We need a team of problem-solvers,” Johnson said. “We also need a one-page checklist on how to open a restaurant or an auto body-repair shop ... a small-business online portal. This shouldn’t be based on who you know.” Marcus Owens, CEO of the Northside Economic Opportunity Network, a corporate veteran who also runs a business incubator on West Broadway on the North Side, said navigating city rules can be overwhelming. Brown, of Wolfpack, noted that, as small businesses increasingly are owned by immigrants and minorities, it fits the city’s commitment to “equity” to help them through incubation to prosperity. “We know our employees, we care about this community we want to live in a city where everyone can thrive,” he said. “The city has work to do to create a better, more equitable environment for small and microbusinesses, especially minority-owned businesses.” Neal St. Anthony has been a Star Tribune business columnist and reporter since 1984. He can be contacted at nstanthony@startribune.com. Neal St. Anthony has been a Star Tribune business columnist/reporter since 1984. Neal.St.Anthony@startribune.com 612-673-7144 @StAnthonyStrib