Business Support

Most business owners need support at some point in their entrepreneurial journey. The Initiative Foundation partners with the Central Region and North Central Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) to connect entrepreneurs with workshops, consulting, training and one-on-one advising. Professional business consultants provide guidance to help business owners navigate challenges and pursue opportunities for growth.

Enterprise Academy is Central Minnesota’s largest early-stage entrepreneur training program. Its 12-week course combines business training and individualized advising to help underserved entrepreneurs start and grow small businesses. Participants develop a business plan, gain practical business skills and receive ongoing technical support after graduation. Graduates may also apply for market-rate microloans through the Initiative Foundation.

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. The two-year program provides training, mentoring, coaching and financial support to help emerging social entrepreneurs strengthen their ventures and create lasting community impact.

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.

As a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), the Initiative Foundation helps create economic opportunity across Central Minnesota by lending to locally owned businesses. These loans support economic growth, strengthen underserved communities, and expand access to capital for borrowers who may face barriers to traditional financing.