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Small businesses are a vital part of Rochester’s economy and identity Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)-- Rochester just landed a major opportunity to help make life a little easier for local entrepreneurs. According to a press release sent out today from the office of the Mayor, the city has been selected to take part in a new national effort designed to cut through the red tape that can slow down or discourage small business growth. The Regulatory Justice Initiative: Expanding Access to Small Business Opportunity is led by the Mayors Innovation Project in partnership with Cities Work at the Institute for Justice. Mayor Kim Norton said being part of the program aligns perfectly with Rochester’s focus on helping small businesses thrive. READ MORE: Sandwich Shop Opening Two New Locations in Rochester “Small businesses are a vital part of Rochester’s economy and identity,” Norton said in a release. “We are honored to be part of this national effort to identify and remove unnecessary barriers that make it harder for entrepreneurs to launch and grow their ideas. This work supports our goal of creating a more accessible, equitable and thriving local economy.” Who’s Involved in This Small Business Initiative For Rochester? Rochester’s team for the project brings together city and community leaders: Mayor Norton, Irene Woodward (Community Development Director), Amanda Leightner (Executive Director of Collider Foundation), and Shawn Fagan (Executive Director of the Rochester Downtown Alliance). Together, they’ll work with national experts and other participating cities to review local regulations and identify ways to make it cheaper, faster, and simpler for small businesses to get started. Each city will receive customized recommendations and an implementation plan to help streamline its business environments. A National Effort to Reduce Barriers For Small Businesses Only six cities across the country were chosen for the inaugural cohort: Hartford, Connecticut; Honolulu, Hawaii; Laredo, Texas; Rochester, Minnesota; San Bernardino, California; and Thornton, Colorado. “Mayors know that small local businesses are the heart and soul of their communities, but in many places regulatory roadblocks and outdated procedures often complicate the process for entrepreneurs,” said Katya Spear, Managing Director of the Mayors Innovation Project. “We are thrilled to work with these cities and their committed leaders to reduce regulatory barriers and expand opportunities for entrepreneurship.” The initiative runs through 2026, and findings will be shared nationally to help other cities strengthen their small business ecosystems.
