ESABA's partnership with State Farm and Metropolitan State University brings four interns to our work this summer. Exploring how we turn our website into a catalyst for web traffic that will help drive business for our members, we'll be reaching out to you to learn how to make this effort effective. Interns will also be powering a special project with Midwest Special Services, Inc. 

Check out two excellent special events that get to the heart of the matter: A Farm Bill For Everyone digs into how weput food and water at the heart of local economies - 

East Side Freedom Library this week on Thursday. 

And as foreshadowing of our July Member Meeting, Lower Phalen Creek Project is gearing up for Urban Pollinator Festival in July.

Finally, I'd like to meet you if you golf. We have two opportunities with two wonderful partners to field golf teams for good causes. LEDC is putting on their Annual Golf Tournament for their Latino Scholarship Fund and Family Values for Life is sponsoring a golf outing in conjunction with their back to school event in August. 

A chance to give back and wear those pants only the Highlands would love: seriously seeking golf cred and I'm going to need a few pointers from you on this one. Let me know if you can help...

Lean Urbanism makes community-buidling and entreprenuership faster
and more successful by reducing the number of barriers presented by bureaucracy. Dayton's Bluff has been selected for a pilot program that will apply a Lean Urbanism lens to our experiences here in St. Paul. ESABA is on the lead team. Does this mean we'll be toying with bureaucracy...? Mwahahahah! {evil chuckling}. No! it means we'll be getting you involved in a process aimed at permanently impacting the systems that make it harder for you to start and expand enterprises. 

Called a return to common sense, Lean Urbanism focuses on standards that promote community-building, inclusion, and success while cutting red tape. June 20th kicks-off our "Lean Scan" with focus groups to start the process. Contact Paris if you'd like to participate! Visit the Lean Urbanism site to learn more.

Cit y Seeking your Input on Licensing Disparities

Opening or expanding a business is a massive undertaking. Last November the Department of Safety and Inspections (DSI) met with a group of business associations to discuss analyzing the city's business licensing application process in attempt to identify and resolve any potential race-based disparities.  The City asked for help from the associations in facilitating a survey of their members... 

Here it is!  Click here for Licensing Survey

State Farm has done it again. 2017 will continue the program with ESABA sponsored interns supporting projects of ESABA and of members like you. If you are interested in posting for an internship with your business or hosting some of ESABA's intern's time on a project of your  own, contact Paris today.

Thank you State Farm and agent Juan Cervantes!

ESABA is working with the BizRecycling program to bring you access to resources and grant dollars to improve recycling, buy compostable supplies, and reduce your solid waste bills.

Most businesses think of solid waste as a utility - a necessary part of doing business. But recycling incentives are structured to give you great benefit on your bottom line. 

All food businesses in the city will be affected by the Sustainable To Go food packaging ordinance. We might as well position our East Side Businesses to emerge stronger. 

Contact Paris to learn about how ESABA can help you set up a free assessment that can lead to money. 

PS. ESABA also has some special tickets to give away to businesses that get this free assessment this summer. Call Paris now or read here to learn more: BizRecycling is for US!