By Mayor Tim Busse
This month, we’ll learn which entrepreneur will be named the first-ever Hatch Bloomington winner. I hope you’ve been following along as attentively as I have, watching the pitches from each contestant as the field has been whittled down from the Top 25 contestants to the Top 10 and now the Top 3. The winner of the Hatch Bloomington pitch contest will receive $100,000 in assistance to start a brick-and-mortar business in the city. Hatch Bloomington is a partnership with the Minneapolis Regional Chamber.
Seeing all the ideas these inspiring entrepreneurs have pitched has me on the edge of my seat waiting to see who will win the most community support. Whoever it is will be joining good company.
Bloomington’s business community has been booming. As I said last month, Bloomington has an attractive business climate. I’ve been a part of welcoming so many new businesses, big and small, to our city including Luro Boots, TKDA, Waffle Bar, Wilderness Inquiry and more.
The City has been doing directed intentional work for years to promote small businesses and entrepreneurs, and to connect with and support businesses of all sizes in Bloomington. Programs like Welcoming Wednesdays, read more on page 3, Business Connections and Elevate Hennepin have had a positive impact on our business community. The City is also taking steps to protect workers, such as the sick and safe leave ordinance the City Council passed in 2023, before the State adopted a similar law.
The City has previously shared its plans to repurpose the old Fire Station 3, 2050 E. 86th St., to create a small business center. Due to funding challenges, that project has been put on hold. While we may not continue with the brick and mortar small business center project, the City will continue to provide support for small businesses and explore new ways to do so.
One of the goals of the proposed small business center was to enhance access to support small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs. We’ll be taking a big step to support an entrepreneur this month when the Hatch Bloomington winner is announced. Soon, a new brick and mortar business will be on its way to Bloomington, thanks to the creative and energetic entrepreneurs who became contestants to help make the first year of Hatch Bloomington a success. Keep an eye on hatchbloomington.com and the City’s social media accounts and website for more information about the winner at the beginning of September.
