MINNEAPOLIS — As Amazon Prime Day puts the focus on online shopping, the City of Minneapolis wants to give small businesses attention.
The city has announced plans for its first Black Business Week, which begins this Friday and continues Monday through Saturday of next week.
"We're inviting everyone in the City of Minneapolis to join us in celebrating black-owned businesses," said Shauen Pearce, the City's Economic Development and Inclusion Policy Director.
According to the city, at least 955 black-owned businesses are registered in Minneapolis. Pearce says Black Business Week will likely yield more.
"We have tons of businesses in our city that don't register that we might not interact with or who are not already certified," Pearce said. "So the idea is to get people to... register their businesses and by the end of this, be able to produce a directory, an evolving directory, and make sure that everyone knows our incredible black businesses in the City of Minneapolis."
Pearce says the number of events is expected to grow.
"Create your own event," Pearce said. "If you want to host a happy hour, if you want to do something at a coffee shop, if you want to just open up your co-working space, and say, 'Hey everyone, come in and try our space.' The point here is that you can add an event."
The city also has a Small Business Team. This service is available year-round to anyone looking to start, sustain, and grow a business
Black Business Week features the following events:
Friday, July 19
Panel Discussion with Mayor Frey and Council Vice President Andrea Jenkins
Mama Sheila's
12:00 p.m.
3744 Bloomington Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55407
Monday July 22
Let's Do Business event
Sabathani Community Center
6:00 p.m.
310 East 38th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55409
Tuesday, July 23
Black Business Expo & Career Fair
9:00 a.m.
800 West Broadway, 2nd floor
Minneapolis, MN 55411
Wednesday, July 24
Workout & Breakfast
WeRow
8:00 a.m.
34 13th Avenue Northeast #110, Minneapolis, MN 55413
Black Women Makers Networking Event
The Gold Room
5:00 p.m.
528 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55403
Thursday, July 25
Move Night in the Commons featuring Sandy's Grill
7:00 p.m.
The Commons Park, Minneapolis, MN 55415
Friday, July 26
FLOW Northside Arts Crawl
4:00 p.m.
Penn Avenue and Lyndale Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55412
Saturday, July 27
Creative Minneapolis Business Resource Fair
Collective Joy Festival with FLOW/Arts & Innovation Day
11:30 a.m.
Lyndale Avenue and Girard Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55411