Community Partners

To help small businesses participate in public contracting opportunities, Contract Compliance works closely with numerous community partners that provide resources and training opportunities to local small businesses and residents.

Construction Partnering Program 

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The Association of Women Contractors (AWC) works in contract for the City of Saint Paul on the program to connect Minority or Women Business Enterprises (M/WBE’s) and majority construction firms. Participation in the Construction Partnering Program (CPP) promotes the economic development of the M/WBE’s through strengthening their capabilities and profitability. Partnerships are developed and sustained through mentoring, networking, support groups, technical assistance, education, and training.

General Contractor or Majority Owned Specialty Contractors are welcome to participate in this program to provide intentional mentorship to a partner.

M/WBE firms must be a CERT-certified as a Minority or Woman owned business. They must be a certified business and maintain their status as an M/WBE for the duration of the partnership

Construction Careers Foundation

Phone: 651-554-0357

Minnesota construction employers and their trade management associations established the Construction Careers Foundation (CCF) in 2004 to align with and/or create educational opportunities for individuals to become aware of and enter in to a career path within the union construction trades industry. CCF provides the summer Under Construction Program (UCP) to St. Paul Section 3 youth, which is a paid hands-on construction experience. In addition to receiving construction related training, participating youth receive math, OHSA 10, Pro 10, apprenticeship credit and workplace readiness training and onsite safety tool instruction. They also receive career counseling from union apprenticeship coordinators who came to the worksite to talk about their specific trades, how to apply, and general job placement outlook. Learn more about the Construction Careers Foundation.

Latino Economic Development Center

1516 E Lake Street
Minneapolis, MN 55407

Phone: 651-395-4030

The Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC) is a local Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) offering business development services to Section 3 and CERT-certified businesses, as well as businesses possibly eligible to participate in the State's Targeted Group Business (TGB) program, and the federal Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program. Learn more about the Latino Economic Development Center.

Neighborhood Development Center

663 University Avenue
Suite 200
Saint Paul, MN 55104

Phone: 651-291-2480
Fax: 651-291-2597

The Neighborhood Development Center (NDC) is a local CDFI offering financing, business development services, and technical assistance to Saint Paul Section 3 and CERT-certified businesses. Specifically, NDC has tailored their "Plan It" curriculum to offer industry-specific entrepreneur training to Section 3 construction contractors. NDC also offers low-interest working capital loans to small businesses to assist with start up costs and cash flow challenges for small businesses and construction contractors. Learn more about the Neighborhood Development Center.

YWCA Saint Paul

375 Selby Ave
Saint Paul, MN 55102

Phone: 651-222-3741

The YWCA of Saint Paul provides job placement services for Saint Paul Section 3 residents, centered around a vigorous educational program preparing students for their Commercial Driver's License examination. The YWCA provides classroom preparation, behind-the-wheel training, construction training, and CDL exam preparation for its students. Upon completion, the YWCA continues to provide support services for job seekers, helping students prepare resumes, practice interviewing techniques, and handle on-the-job challenges from both technical and interpersonal perspectives. The YWCA has relationships with several trades unions and has successfully placed graduates of the program in gainful, long-term positions.

Learn more about the YWCA Driven to Succeed CDL program.

Local Chambers of Commerce and Trade Associations

HREEO Contract Compliance works closely with local area chambers of commerce who provide networking and resources to local small business. Some of these chambers include:

Additional Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI's)

Community Development Financial Institutions are a great way for local small businesses to access capital when they are unable to work with more traditional revenue streams like large commercial banks.

View the website for the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis to locate a CDFI near you.

Last Edited: October 3, 2024