• Training
• Financing
• Ongoing Support
• Business Incubation

• Real Estate Development Initiative (REDI)
• Business & Career Center

Neighborhood Development Center offers business training, financing, and ongoing support and business incubation to ensure that alumni businesses succeed through start-up and growth phases of their businesses.

Training
For ten years, NDC has provided a 16-week course on business plan writing and the basics of opening a business in Minnesota. The course is delivered is five languages to over 240 entrepreneurs each year, and takes place in NDC's targeted neighborhoods. The courses are taught by an NDC trainer selected by the Neighborhood or Ethnic Community Partner, to groups of 8 to 12 entrepreneurs per class. (Details)

Financing
Without sufficient funds to open or grow a business, a new venture is likely to fail. Many entrepreneurs have a limited ability to acquire financing due to factors including lack of experience, lack of collateral, or less-than-perfect credit. To address these financing issues, NDC has developed revolving financing to assist eligible entrepreneurs located in targeted neighborhoods that may not have access to traditional sources of capital. (Details)

Ongoing Support
The most difficult part of starting a business takes place after the classroom instruction is over. Applying the knowledge acquired in the training is tough, and business owners face everyday challenges such as keeping overhead low, keeping their customers satisfied, and keeping their bookkeeping up-to-date. To assist with these types of start-up business issues, NDC provides extensive one-on-one business assistance for up to five years to our alumni, borrowers and tenant businesses. Entrepreneurs receive valuable legal, accounting, marketing assistance from NDC that they could not afford otherwise. (Details).

Business Incubation
NDC develops and manages business incubators where alumni and other target businesses can start and grow in a supportive environment, with lower rent costs, group marketing opportunities and access to ongoing business support. The Minneapolis Mercado Central, and the St. Paul Midtown Business Center and Plaza Latina are vivid examples of what the business incubator model can do for start-up ventures. (Details)