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of Saint Paul. Areas of need identified to strengthen the small business ecosystem are informed by the County’s involvement and engagement with cities, business support organizations and small businesses that include: ▶ Capacity building of small business support organizations to meet current and future needs ▶ More technical assistance/advisory services to better serve targeted geographies, communities and/or industries ▶ Additional flexible capital to enable greater business retention, expansion and attraction Did the County attempt to form an EDA previously? A: During the 2024 Legislative Session, Ramsey County introduced proposed legislation amending HRA statutory language and establishing an EDA to allow for business programming to be an eligible use of Ramsey County HRA levy funding. HF 3784 (Lee) / SF 4655 (Hawj) was later amended based on feedback from cities. A redlined version, including a memo from the County Attorney’s office describing the changes is available. The current draft version for the 2025 Legislative session of the bill reflects this city feedback in 2024. In 2016, the County did submit legislation that would have created a Ramsey County EDA. The legislation was pulled by the County following community concerns around the creation of a new taxing authority. The county’s current legislation would not create a new taxing authority as it merely allows for additional eligible uses (i.e. business programming) of the County’s existing Housing and Redevelopment Authority. Does Ramsey County provide business programming? If so, what programs? How much does it spend? And how does it pay for business programs? A: Ramsey County provides limited business programing. The County funds the programming through the County’s general property tax levy. Current business programming totals $345,000. ▶ Entrepreneur support: Open to Business – Provides no cost direct technical assistance and other forms of support to small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. This program was expanded countywide in 2019 in response to direct city requests for this program. ▶ Small Business Growth: Ramsey County has two cohort-based leadership programs geared for established businesses. Both programs are a partnership with Hennepin County. • CEO Next – Group learning leadership program for CEOs/founders of second stage businesses that are growth-minded ($1M-50M in revenues, 10-99 employees, etc.) • CEO Now – Group learning leadership program for CEOs/founders of first stage businesses that are growth-minded ($250K-2M in revenues, more than one employee, operating for two years, etc.) Newly established in 2024. ▶ Marketing & attraction programming: RamseyCountyMeansBusiness.com An online portal providing workforce and economic development resources throughout the county to current and prospective businesses and investors. This online portal went live in 2019 and was refocused during the pandemic as a central repository for covid business relief resources. A redesign of the portal is underway and will be live in early 2025. How do other metro counties support business programming and how did they obtain authority to provide economic development activities? A: Hennepin County received special legislation (MN Statute 383B.79) - A multijurisdictional reinvestment program is authorized involving Hennepin County, the Hennepin County Housing and Redevelopment Authority, and one or more of the following political subdivisions: the cities of Minneapolis, Brooklyn Center, and other interested statutory or home rule charter cities in Hennepin County, the Minneapolis Park Board, the Three Rivers Park District, and any