South Central MN Small Business Development Center

05/23/2026

📣 Marketing Lunch & Learn for Local Businesses

Join KEYC, GDM Mankato, and the New Ulm Area Chamber of Commerce for “The Local Edge” — a practical marketing seminar designed for local businesses looking to grow, connect, and stand out in today’s changing media landscape.

Topics include:
✔ Modern marketing tools
✔ Smart strategy
✔ AI in marketing
✔ Digital + traditional advertising
✔ Reaching customers more effectively

This is an educational, no-pressure event focused on learning, networking, and local business growth.

📅 Tuesday, June 16, 2026
📍 Schell’s Bierhalle
🥪 Lunch at 11:30 AM | Presentation at 12:00 PM
💲 Free for Chamber members | $10 non-members

📌 Registration required by Friday, June 12.

👉 Register here: https://tinyurl.com/2hvbb4ja

05/18/2026

🧾 Upcoming Webinar: MN Paid Leave Check-in

Minnesota’s Paid Leave program is bringing ongoing questions and challenges for employers — and this upcoming webinar is designed to help.

📅 Tuesday, May 13
⏰ 11:00 AM

Hosted by Blethen Berens, the session will feature employment law attorneys alongside HR and payroll experts from Abdo sharing practical insight on how implementation is unfolding across the state.

Topics include:
✔ Common employer challenges
✔ Key lessons learned
✔ Practical implementation insight
✔ Areas employers should be watching closely

Designed for HR professionals, managers, and business owners.

👉 Learn more and register: https://bit.ly/4tXdD4Y

05/08/2026

The New Ulm Area Chamber of Commerce is sharing an opportunity to hear directly from employment law, HR, and payroll professionals about how implementation is unfolding across Minnesota and what employers should be watching closely.

🧾 Upcoming Webinar: MN Paid Leave Check-in

Minnesota’s Paid Leave program is bringing ongoing questions and challenges for employers — and this upcoming webinar is designed to help.

📅 Tuesday, May 13
⏰ 11:00 AM

Hosted by Blethen Berens, the session will feature employment law attorneys alongside HR and payroll experts from Abdo sharing practical insight on how implementation is unfolding across the state.

Topics include:
✔ Common employer challenges
✔ Key lessons learned
✔ Practical implementation insight
✔ Areas employers should be watching closely

Designed for HR professionals, managers, and business owners.

👉 Learn more and register: https://bit.ly/4tXdD4Y

05/08/2026

Thinking about starting a business but not sure where to begin?

Start Up Smart from the South Central Minnesota SBDC is designed to help aspiring entrepreneurs turn their skills, ideas, and passions into a viable business.

In this training, you’ll review the key steps of starting, managing, and growing a business, including:

✔ Writing a business plan
✔ Conducting market research
✔ Funding your business
✔ Launching your business
…and more!

Whether you’re exploring a new idea or ready to take the next step, Start Up Smart can help you move forward with confidence.
Learn more and register here: https://southcentralmnsbdc.com/business-training-and-webinars/start-up-smart-training/

05/04/2026

Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and grow. The National Small Business Week Virtual Summit offers valuable resources for entrepreneurs at every stage.

05/03/2026

Happy 🎉

This week, we celebrate the more than 36 million small businesses across America that power the nation’s economy. Share to spread word!

Learn more: https://www.sba.gov/nsbw

04/24/2026

We’re honored to receive this award from Dakota Business Finance.

Thank you for supporting small businesses and rural communities across South Central Minnesota.

We are proud to support rural communities through Dakota BUSINESS Finance’s Economic Development Rural Initiative Awards. Awards are given to communities where SBA 504 loans are made in partnership with Dakota BUSINESS Finance.

Recently, Lance Jeppson, Pioneer Bank and Vice President of DBF’s MN Loan Committee, and Barb Berg, DBF Closing Manager, presented the South Central MN Small Business Development Center (Mankato) with a $3,000 award—recognizing the City of Mankato, Minnesota Government second-place finish for FFY 2025 and first-place achievement for FFY 2024.

Since 2019, these awards have celebrated partners driving impact through the SBA 504 loan program, and we look forward to continuing to help small businesses through this program.

04/22/2026

The South Central MN Small Business Development Center (SBDC) team is pleased to receive this MBFC grant to expand our services of technical assistance to small businesses in Southern Minnesota.

We are very grateful for MBFC's past and ongoing support of small businesses in the South Central Minnesota region!

Supporting Small Business Through Economic Development!

MBFC's Julie Dahlhoff and Nadene Kruize recently awarded a $5,000.00 grant to the South Central MN Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Hannah Bretz in Mankato, MN. The South Central SBDC empowers small businesses across south central Minnesota in helping small business owners who are just starting out, looking to build, or looking to grow their businesses with no-cost, confidential one-on-one business consulting and expert resources giving them the tools they need to succeed.

This grant helped the South Central SBDC to enhance their center's capacity in providing specialized technical assistance and capital access consulting to their small businesses across the south central MN region.

Midwest Business Finance Corporation appreciates the partnership with the South Central Small Business Development Center and their important guidance and resources given to future entrepreneurs and small businesses!

Pictured: Julie Dahlhoff, Vice President - MBFC, Hannah Bretz, Regional Director - South Central SBDC, & Nadene Kruize, President & CEO - MBFC

10/18/2025

The South Central MN SBDC remains fully operational along with our other centers across Minnesota. While we do receive federal funding and some federal agencies are currently shut down, out 1:1 no-cost consulting services, educational programs, and research are not affected. Our small business consulting teams across Minnesota are still 100% available to support you.

08/06/2025

We’re excited to share that Andy Donahue, Minnesota SBDC State Director, joined the "Get Deep Podcast" to talk about his journey supporting entrepreneurs across the state and the impact of the SBDC network.

As proud sponsors of the "Get Deep Podcast", we’re honored to help spotlight the stories of local leaders, innovators, and business champions shaping Southern Minnesota!

Get Deep · Episode