Small Business Focus

More than 75 percent of the Chamber's membership is small businesses (50 or fewer employees). Recognizing this, the Chamber has created programs and events specifically tailored to helping small businesses.

 

MRCC & SCORE

The Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce and SCORE are teaming up to offer our Small Business sector office hours with SCORE representatives. SCORE will be available to meet with members once a month in both our Minneapolis Chamber office as well as our Bloomington Chamber office. Please check out the flyer for more information.

 

Small Business Spotlight

Eastside Food Coop

Who is the founder of Eastside Food Cooperative?
A group of volunteers committed to re-opening a food co-op in Minneapolis purchased shares in 1999 from a previous food cooperative.  From 1999 to 2001 the Eastside Food Cooperative was entirely a volunteer organization; the board created and ran fund-raisers & promoted the idea of a neighborhood organization.  Over the next couple of years those board members continued to grow the members and secure financing to purchase a building.  In 2003 the Eastside Food Cooperative opened its doors with 800 members who bought a share in the concept and idea of a food co-op.  Today that membership has grown to over 2300 shareholders.

What is your greatest business secret?
The secret of our success is the customers & members who shop here who have an incredible commitment to NE Minneapolis area.  The amazing commitment to the community continues to make our business run.  The co-op is a community owned business; we could never continue our business without the help and support of our community.
                                                           
What is the best thing about your business?
Think globally, act locally. We believe in the idea of keep it local; local ownership, local products.  Virtually all dairy, meats, and an enormous amount of our vegetables are local (within the surrounding states).  If you keep your funds in the community, the money continues to go around and support the rest of the community.

Why does your business belong to the Chamber?
The Chamber does for local business, what we do for the neighborhood; help make the Twin Cities more vibrant.  We are involved with the Chamber because we want to continue to make connections and we need people to know about us.  We appreciate the Chamber’s focus on building a cohesive community by utilizing a common interest.

For more information – contact:
Amy Fields
General Manager
Eastside Food Cooperative
612.788.0950
www.eastsidefood.coop
amy@eastsidefood.coop