Planning for Bloomington’s first small business center is underway. The project repurposes a former fire station into a space where Bloomington entrepreneurs can be supported, co-work, innovate and collaborate in a community space. The small business center will serve as a hub for innovation for everyone with an emphasis on businesses owned by Black, Indigenous and People of Color, and artist- and youth-led businesses. Construction is expected to begin in late 2023. The center is projected to be open by the end of 2024.
The small business center advisory group gathered community input about their hopes for the building, which are reflected in the rendering, above. Next steps are to do much deeper engagement with the neighbors near the small business center location.
“This is such a community-driven project and we want the community to be fully bought in to recognize that this is for them,” Jeff Aguy, founder and CEO of 2043 SBC and lead facilitator for the advisory group, said. ‘It’s a true collaboration between the private sector, public sector and philanthropy, but most importantly, it’s collaboration between community members.”
Learn more and let project coordinators know what you’d like to see at the small business center open house August 5,
1 – 3 p.m., at 2050 East 86th Street.
Can’t make it to the open house? Let the City know what you think online at blm.mn/letstalk. Learn more at blm.mn/small-business.
