Dee DePass
Reporter
Small BusinessOriginally from the East Coast, Dee earned her undergraduate degree at Vassar College and a master's degree in journalism at the University of Maryland. She has been a journalism fellow at several institutions including the Wharton School of Business, East West Center, Knight Center for Environmental Journalism, and the Sidney Hillman Foundation. In her spare time, she enjoys travel, reading, fitness, and gardening.
Latest from Dee DePass
ICE crackdown chills sales at immigrant-owned businesses
Owners believe many customers are avoiding the businesses for fear of drawing unwanted scrutiny.
December 24, 2025
Despite higher prices because of tariffs, holiday traffic picks up at Minnesota toy stores
The holiday season started slow, and owners say they are worried about January, but several customers say they are purposely choosing independent small retailers this year.
December 15, 2025
Twin Cities restaurants cling to holiday sales as a last chance to buoy tough year
With food prices hitting both restaurants and potential customers, diners have been cutting back, but restaurants remain hopeful.
December 5, 2025
After a few hard years, Uptown merchants say holiday season is a must-win
Independent merchants across the Twin Cities say Small Business Saturday is an important start to a critical time of year.
November 28, 2025
Small firms reeling after U.S. Transportation Department guts diversity subcontractor program
The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program will no longer use race or gender as reasons to qualify. It affects over 1,300 companies in Minnesota.
November 24, 2025
Pessimism sets in for Minnesota factories as many fear stagnant growth
Annual manufacturing survey finds companies are worried about increased costs from new state family leave policy, health care and tariffs.
November 6, 2025
From MSP to Main Street, Minnesota businesses feeling shutdown's strain
Executives at large companies and small-business owners are facing troubles as Congress is stuck in a shutdown.
November 1, 2025
Grocers hope court ruling is reprieve from SNAP funding halt
After the Trump administration said it would not use contingency accounts to fund SNAP, the stores were bracing for a big drop in sales and also trying to help customers.
October 31, 2025
Editor's Pick
Resentment building among federal workers in Minnesota as shutdown nears one month
Some workers are taking gig jobs and others are substitute teaching, while others cancel vacations, defer bills and spend savings.
October 28, 2025
Halloween businesses were worried, but now think last-minute spending surge will save them
Specter of inflation, tariffs not enough to dampen sales, which are predicted to break records for the season.
October 27, 2025
Minnesota AG goes after two contractors for alleged homeowner scams of $1.6M
Lawsuit outlines a history of fake documents and abandoned projects across the state.
October 16, 2025
Anxious federal workers fear shutdown furloughs could be permanent
As Congress voted down more proposals to fund the government, President Donald Trump’s statement that he will make more job cuts has added to the unease. Minnesota is home to more than 30,000 federal workers.
October 2, 2025
