COVID-19 Crisis Response

“Immediate Financial Relief”

We heard loud and clear from the small business community that they were facing partial or, in many cases, complete income loss. In addition, those business owners also expressed that it was difficult to navigate the opportunities that fell under the Federal CARES Act (i.e. SBA loans, PPP loans, etc.) and due to the unknowns of the future felt a loan was not a viable solution to meet immediate needs.

We took this information to heart and set to work to create an emergency fund dedicated to small businesses and social enterprises in North Minneapolis with grants of up to $5,000.

In total we supported 117 small businesses and raised $517,980 to support this effort.

In March 2020 as our Governor, Tim Walz, announced a shelter-in-place mandate to ensure the safety of Minnesotans, we also witnessed a rapid, profound economic impact on small businesses and entrepreneurs who had to close their doors. At the time, no one knew how long this would last and what the long-term impact would be for these businesses.

Grant Recipients

Inner Peace Fragrance LLC; Ahavah Mental Health Care LLC; ProFahional; The Sazamaa Institute of Colour; Wholeness and Balance; Herbert Johnson III; Hola Ka Lani Day Spa; K’s Dollar and Grocery Inc; John Aish Inc; Hair Love, LLC (DBA Bladed by Hair Love); GI Wireless LLC; H.E.R. Black Lotus Collective, LLC; Farr Well; Fierce Hair and Make Up Lounge; Caring Heart Home Healthcare; Resilience Enterprises, LLC (DBA Gorgeous Looks Salon); BFITT Training; Freedom In Beauty; Sammy’s Avenue Eatery; MinneBun LLC; Dream Achievers LLC/Pint Size Catering; Chicago style JJ Fish and Chicken; Milda’s Café; Olympic Café; Firebox Deli; Matsuri LLC; Sanguine Resources LLC; Wolfpack Promotionals; Arubah Emotional Health Services, PA; Bully Creative Shop; Immaculate Cleaning Service, LLC; McFarlane Media Interests, Inc.; NEW RULES Benefit Corp.; ManUcan Consulting LLC; Housing Innovation Finance Fund; Dave Ellis Consulting, LLC; Green Tech Capital; Amack Consultant LLC (Black Light Media); Surely Better Home Healthcare; NCE Wellness & The Yoga Room; Heaven Scent Home Cleaning LLC; Wilson’s Image Barbers and Stylists; Ahavah Birth Works; Taylor’d Skin & Co Esthetics Bar LLC; Watson Chiropractic; Anytime Fitness-West Broadway; Nura Holistic Massage & Bodywork; Dance City; Maximum Impact, LLC; Perry & Horton Construction LLC; Merit Interiors; On Time Roofing LLC; River’s Edge Flooring LLC; Wonderland Realty LLC; Banneker Realty-Miroslava Leon; Mobilize Design & Architecture; Webber Mart; Funny Looking Horse; Men of Vision Enterprises, LLC; Victor Martinez; Bruce Williams; North News; Association for Black Economic Power; Centered on Youth; Shine Bright LLC; Matter of Africa America Time Corp (Papa Lemon Books); Olu’s Beginnings; Afro Centered Mother/Daughter Fun Time; Fostering Fatherhood; Royalty Soul Food & Catering LLC; Keegaan Xavi; Friedman’s Department Store; Dimensions In Hair, LLC; Above All Property Maintenance Solutions; Vegan La Revolution; Roots Community Birth Center; Cultural Chiropractic North; The Zen Bin; Voices of Effective Change, Inc.; 4 The Love, LLC; Exceptional Home Health; Gifted Compositions, LLC; Distinct Beauty Supply; B & C Flooring; Sisters in Power 365 LLC; Vegan By Nature (VBN); H8P Customs; SSS (Shine and Sparkle Skincare); Torrieo Personal Training; Wendy’s House of SOUL, Inc.; Expanding Minds Childcare; Day By Day Living LLC; Lashes at the Lab; Watson Express; Beauty by B Aesthetic Studio; Home Away from Home Child Care LLC; Bian Dang; Sweetie Mae’s Sweets; NINE Beauty; Williams Transports LLC; Provisionary, LLC. “Created to Create”; Chelles’ Kitchen LLC; Happy Hearts Early Learning Childcare; Anointed Braids; Temi Group; Twin Cities Bows; Pair of Dice Pizza; Zee Beauty; Notes and Notary LLC; Get Ready Rooms; Cohorts Collective; MDavis Consulting LLC; TAYLORmade Professional Services

Contributions Made By

Minnesota Council on Foundations
The Jay and Rose Phillips Family Foundation
Thrivent Foundation
Mortenson Family Foundation
Wells Fargo Foundation
US Bank Foundation
Maureen Bazinet Beck
Numerous individual donors

Committee Members

Sarah Clyne, Executive Director, Northside Funders Group
Elizabeth Coco, Program Officer, Jay and Rose Phillips Family Foundation
Anil Hurkadli, Learning and Strategy Officer, Thrivent Foundation
Felicia Perry, Executive Director, West Broadway Business and Area Coalition
DeVon Nolen, Primary, Bete' Noire Consulting/NS Investment Group
Danielle Tietjen, Community Outreach and Communication, Folwell Neighborhood Association

Technical Assistance Providers

NEON
West Broadway Business and Area Coalition
Black Women’s Wealth Alliance
Davis Law Office
Social Impact Strategies Group