Business Services
Business Support for You
Entrepreneurial support at the Initiative Foundation goes beyond just providing capital. We also offer a range of services, including entrepreneurial programming through our Enterprise Academy and Initiators Fellowship programs. We partner with Central Region and North Central Region Small Business Development Centers to connect entrepreneurs with workshops, consulting, trainings and one-on-one advising delivered by professional business consultants across the region.
Our goal is to meet you where you are, to bolster your business acumen, and to help you on the road to success.
Lending—With a Mission
As a certified Community Development Financial Institution, or CDFI, the Initiative Foundation works to create economic opportunity throughout Central Minnesota by lending funds to locally owned businesses. The Foundation’s lending initiatives play a crucial role in promoting economic development, revitalizing underserved communities, and fostering financial inclusion.
By providing access to capital and support to borrowers who may face barriers, CDFIs like the Initiative Foundation help to create opportunities for economic growth and empowerment in disadvantaged areas.
Entrepreneurial Programs
The Initiative Foundation invests in the promise of local people who have the drive and determination to start and sustain job-creating, community-enriching businesses.
Enterprise Academy
Launched in 2018, the Enterprise Academy has helped hundreds of individuals realize their dream to build and launch local businesses. From accounting to food to healthcare ventures, Enterprise Academy graduates are enriching the region and beyond with their products and services.
Initiators Fellowship
The Initiators Fellowship is a bold strategy that gives next-generation leaders the tools and resources to accelerate their entrepreneurial and leadership skills—all for the greater good of Greater Minnesota.
Rural Entrepreneurial Ventures
Rural Entrepreneurial Venture (REV) helps small towns strengthen their economies by investing in local entrepreneurs. Through coaching, planning and collaboration, REV builds leadership, supports business growth and connects communities to resources for lasting, homegrown economic vitality.
Contact Us
Reach out to a member of our staff for questions. We are here to help!
