State briefs: Nonprofits to share $2.7M in state grants

MANKATO - Nonprofits share $2.7M to aid small businesses

Eleven nonprofits around the state will split $2.7 million in state grants designed to help new businesses and entrepreneurs get on their feet.

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) awarded the grants last week to nonprofits that provide technical assistance and services to fledgling businesses.

Among the outstate award recipients are Duluth’s Entrepreneur Fund, which estimates it has helped “start, stabilize or expand more than 1,300 businesses” over the past two decades. The group will receive $404,000 in DEED funding over the next two years. In Mankato, the Minnesota State University Small Business Development Center will receive $246,000. The Red Lake Band of the Chippewa Indians will get $100,000 for its Entrepreneur Development Program. Another $90,000 will go to the Southwest State University Small Business Development Center in Marshall.