Recent content from Neal St. Anthony
Banking program aims to provide lower-cost alternative to payday lenders
Nonprofit, Sunrise Banks team in order to provide an alternative to payday lenders.
Shortage of skilled workers challenges Twin Cities tech firms
CEO Mynul Khan of Minneapolis-based Field Nation has a problem common among growth companies in the region's booming software and IT services industry. There's a shortage of experienced talent in the Twin Cities.
Retired Sgt. Waheid Siraach is trying to police a successful business
Today, he is building a small business as a training-and-assessment consultants that leverages his experience. But it's a slow build.
Meda plans $1 million business competition for minority-run small businesses
Meda, the growing counselor and lender to small minority-owned businesses, is launching a $1 million Shark Tank-style competition. Meda (Metropolitan Economic Development Association) will host…
Navab Brothers build a better rug business for 30 years
The Navabs are trying to adapt again, just another stich in their entrepreneurial story.
Adine Momoh takes over Hennepin County Bar presidency
At 34, she's also the youngest president the group has had.
St. Paul's Structural raises $2.5 million in equity capital
Structural's co-founder, CEO envisions building business into a $1 billion enterprise.
Fast-growing Energy Management Collaborative has a brighter idea
It has been quite a dazzling run, particularly the past five years, for a low-profile firm that has emerged from the shadows.
IT-Ready helps fill gaps in immigrant, minority employment
The Twin Cities metro is the No. 1 city in America for the IT-Ready program, which places nearly 90 percent of graduates in good jobs that average $39,000 a year after graduation.
CTI projects American power in Africa through compatible technology that helps farmers
The partnership is good for the U.S., too.
Restaurant furniture maker Randy's Booth Co. finds second-generation success
The late Randy Kissoondath, a dirt-poor immigrant from Trinidad and Tobago, began his entrepreneurial journey in the 1970s as a dishwasher at Nye's restaurant on the edge of Northeast.
Perforce Software CEO Janet Dryer among drivers of state's robust economy
Small, fast-growing companies have driven record employment and a strong Twin Cities economy.
Thanks to big contract, John Norris takes his tower business to new heights
Tower Solutions, one of two Norris-owned firms, recently landed a $14.75 million contract with General Dynamics for 50 of its 80-foot "roll-up" towers.
IT veteran urges less-technical approach to drawing women to tech
Catherine Gulsvig Wood's career has included work with Cray Research and Accenture since 2014.
Minnesota chamber expands-integrates efforts to produce more workers for employee-hungry economy
Center will work with employers to link candidates, openings.
St. Anthony: TCF Financial sheds workers, builds more-profitable machine
In and out of Wall Street's good graces for a decade, TCF has regained widespread investor favor lately.
Twin Cities business and nonprofit leaders tie 'equity' to improved economic growth
Business and nonprofit leaders, impressed with some recent results in north Minneapolis, are aligning efforts to ramp up training and employment for people of color in hopes of igniting economic growth and spreading wealth throughout the Twin Cities.
Confidence growing among Minnesota small-business owners, according to USB survey
Yearly survey finds rising optimism; taxes a bigger concern in Minnesota.
Developer, social entrepreneur bet big on Finnegans' future
Thanks to deep-pocketed partners, the brand is positioned for significant growth.
IRS faces big task with far fewer agents than 20 years ago
The number of angry taxpayers and tax preparers waiting longer to communicate with the agency is up.
Lift Bridge Brewing moving ahead with new $10 million facility in Stillwater
The 35,000-square-foot facility will be about three-times larger than its current quarters, located less than a half-mile away.
Craig-Hallum M&A group leaves to join with former partners at new boutique
The mergers-and-acquisitions investment banking team at Craig-Hallum has left to join with the partners at investment banking boutique Quetico Partners to form a new firm,…
Employee-owned AVI Systems outpaces its industry
Workers have a piece of the action at fast-growing audiovisual firm
Tech Dump CEO Amanda LaGrange on tough market for recycled electronicss
Amanda LaGrange, chief executive of Tech Dump, was recently named one of 24 Bush Foundation fellows who receive up to $100,000 over 12 to 24 months to help them develop as leaders advancing their plans.
Dunwoody remakes itself for a changing economy
Dunwoody's growth has been constrained by its century-old building, just west of downtown. The school is underway on the first phase of a remodel approaching $40 million over several years.
Virgil Welna, longtime hardware store owner, dies at 89
The Phillips neighborhood fixture offered a hand and expertise to all.
Vibes founder's hearing injury led to high-end earplugs growth company
Vibes founder Jackson Mann is glad he didn't take the bait from a shark last year. A nervous, then-28-year-old Mann, made a January 2017 appearance on "Shark Tank." He declined millionaire Kevin O'Leary's offer of $100,000 for 35 percent, plus $2 for every pair of the high-end Vibes earplugs sold. Mann walked away empty-handed … bettered if not enriched by the experience.
UMD stock research team heads to international championship competition
The Duluth team team will compete with several other finalists on April 27 at the CFA Research Institute global competition in Malaysia.
Taking the mystery out of stock picks for young investors
A former portfolio manager thinks his Ahrvo investment app will do just that.
Sister act has made Thirsty Whale a North Side hit
Sarah and Megan Bignell and partner Kyle Baker already are planning to double the space with a bakery cafe next door.
Local investment analysts see 'clouds forming on horizon'
Market's fundamentals undercut by trade-war discussions, tech cool-off.
Peace Coffee acquired by CEO and business partner from local nonprofit
Peace Coffee, a "fair-trade" coffee company established by a nonprofit in its basement, has been purchased by its longtime CEO and a business partner.
Twin Cities tech employment grew 1.6 percent last year, but many jobs go unfilled
Region added 3,300 tech jobs last year and salaries are well above average.
Ceridian looks to raise $200M in IPO
Company's Dayforce HR software is used by more than 3,000 customers.
North Side entrepreneur Houston White has a vision for Webber-Camden hub
Houston White runs a North Side barbershop, a noted clothing design and retail shop, and a coffee bar and community space.
Veteran stock trader traded careers to own Its Greek to Me restaurant
Nick Karos showed up at 6:30 every morning for 30 years at the stock-trading desk at Piper Jaffray and his own firm after he left…
Donald McCarthy, former Northern States Power CEO, dies at 95
Donald “Don” McCarthy will be memorialized as a combat-decorated naval officer in World War II, and a driven but humble CEO of what is now…
Horizon Roofing lures workers with higher pay, training
Owner Kurt Scepaniak in 2017 launched an in-house training program that he believes will help meet customer orders and boost growth.
Mentor's latest good deed: coordinating a long distance job search
Sally Mainquist is a successful capitalist who gives money and mentoring a good name.
Under Craig Dahl, and thanks partly to the 2017 tax cut, TCF's outlook is improving
TCF, which underperformed the banking industry over the last decade, has been buoyed recently.
Solar oven company Solavore hopes going small will bring big sales payoff
Anne Patterson, a former California technology executive, is doubling down on her Twin Cities solar-oven business with the introduction of a new, smaller model. She…
Community solar garden program helps power IPS Solar growth
It's a sign of how times have changed in the rising Minnesota solar trade.
Former homebuilder develops an alternative to caulking
As his homebuilding business faltered, Greg Amundson developed what he says is a better alternative to caulking.
Bridgewater Bancshares closes up 7.4 percent in stock debut
The stock of Bridgewater Bancshares traded up 7.4 percent to $12.62 per share Wednesday, its first day in public trading on the Nasdaq market. Bloomington-based…
Venn Foundation and collaborators push a new approach to philanthropic investment
Little-used investment option will help to boost social-impact causes.
Minneapolis-based Ability Network sells to Inovalon for $1.2 billion
A D.C.-area firm will acquire the company in a $1.2B deal; effect on 550 local employees unclear.
Smart Care, a former Ecolab unit, is about to become St. Paul's next HQ company
CEO Bill Emory is slowly adding people to a headquarters complement that should reach about 100 employees downtown.
'Barriers to Entry' program helps turn jobs into careers
It was designed to recruit and train nontraditional tech workers from the ranks of the underemployed, veterans and stay-at-home moms.
St. Anthony: Mpls.' North Side will get its first solar garden this spring
The first community solar garden on the Near North Side of Minneapolis will rise this spring on a flat-roofed church along W. Broadway Avenue, thanks to an emerging coalition of faith partners, clean-energy advocates, industry experts, job trainers and community members.
Augsburg's business school looks to leverage new digs
The $73 million Hagfors Center for Science, Business and Religion opened in January after more than a decade of planning and fundraising.
St. Anthony: Bridgewater Bancshares leads Minnesota firms entering hot public market for stocks
The Minnesota firms already queued up for IPOs in 2018 are part of a rising stock-offering market.
U.S. Bank's money-laundering oversight is an expensive and humbling black eye
USB long has been known as one of America's most cost-conscious, leanest-run banks. Now it looks penny-wise and pound-foolish.
Securian Financial produced strong financial results in 2017
Securian Financial Group said 2017 earnings increased 28 percent to $259 million thanks to "business growth, operating efficiencies, improved mortality rates and strong equity markets…
Venture Bank will be acquired by Choice Financial of North Dakota
Choice operates in 17 North Dakota and rural Minnesota communities.
Expanded 'National Norwegian Center' in America takes shape in Minneapolis
They plan to break ground in 2020 on a $10 million-plus event center and banquet hall.
Venture capital investments rose in Minnesota, nationally in 2017
Money is rushing into fledgling health technology and other promising firms in Minnesota and around the country at rates not seen since the dot-com boom…
Running Tap founded by refugee and delivering taprooms to your living room
It claims to be the first delivery service devoted to connecting a growing list of 20 microbrewers with customers who don't want to drive across town.
CEO Jim Dow, 81 signs off after selling his Diversified Plastics to his beloved employees
The Brooklyn Park firm has grown to 80 employees. It became a profitable company with revenue that should top $15 million this year.
Accenture plans to add 400 jobs in downtown Mpls. by 2020
Accenture employs 1,600 workers at its downtown headquarters and serves dozens of local clients, including Cargill and Xcel Energy.
Shutterfly to buy Eden Prairie-based Lifetouch in $825M deal
The school photography company had put itself up for sale because it wasn't growing fast enough.
Minnesota public companies fared better over the last decade than couple years
Dozens of Minnesota public firms outperformed major indexes over past decade.
Launched at '92 Super Bowl, Taste of the NFL still going strong
It has been 41 years since the Vikings have played in a Super Bowl. Wayne Kostroski has a better record. Veteran marketer-restaurateur Kostroski, quarterback of…
Buying and selling of companies tailed off a bit in 2017
Both the number and value declined nationally and in Minnesota.
YMCA's new center on Nicollet Mall to be named for Douglas Dayton
Over more than a half century, Dayton donated or raised around $60 million for YMCA buildings and programs.
State of Minnesota makes progress on minority contracting, employment
Increase comes after 2016 audit highlighted gaps.
Catholic Charities CEO says Dorothy Day Place will move homeless to 'higher ground'
Tim Marx believes the two-stage Dorothy Day Place development project will deliver for at least some homeless folks.
Minimum-wage battle is far from settled in Twin Cities
A broader discussion, as well as a lot of lobbying, is just getting underway.
St. Anthony: Dominic Butcher found a career through PPL/Sunrise Bank
In April 2015, Dominic Butcher needed a career change. The high school graduate from the White Earth Ojibwe reservation was making $9 an hour, working…
Project for Pride In Living looks to expand job training services
Organization raising $9 million to expand Minneapolis training center.
Afro Deli founder backs West Bank restaurant
Abdirahman Kahin, the founder of Afro Deli and one of most successful East African restaurateurs in the Twin Cities, is back in business on the West Bank.
Hot stock market outpaced Minnesota stocks in 2017
Tech shares made much of the difference in big year.
St. Paul's XL Feet has found traction selling large-sized footwear
Adrian Coulter, owner of XL Feet of St. Paul, has trod fresh ground to provide shoes for men with big feet. Coulter, 34, has survived…
Duluth coffee roaster is using City Girl to help drive growth
Owner Alyza Bohbot of Alakef Coffee Roasters has topped the cup with her 2015-launched City Girl Coffee of Minneapolis. “City Girl accounts for most of…
St. Anthony: Kelly Doran has developed $1B worth of projects since Great Recession
And there's another $250 million in Twin Cities projects in the pipeline.
This Christmas, Lee Lynch's gift to state is 'Amazing Minnesota'
The colorful work should get a "thank you" from the Minnesota Business Partnership and economic developers.
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