Two exciting things taking shape give me hope for this new season.

One is the response of the Rushline Commission to your priority for transit improvements along East 7th street. You can hear more about that at our member meeting on Thursday:  Click here to join us! You'll hear about the progress for Gold Line as well.

And second, I have heard many conversations about the amount of red tape and the difficulty of managing all the barriers to starting or expanding a business in St. Paul. Lean Urbanism is a movement designed to trim that and give people more access to tools and resources by streamlining bureaucracy. This year Dayton's Bluff will be a pilot for these kinds of ideas in an effort aimed to benefit all of St. Paul. And ESABA is a part of that team - a chance for us to make an impact together. 

See below for more and also respond to the City's survey about racial disparities concerning licensing. These policy tables are just one of the many ways our voices together make more impact than we could alone. 

Here are some other opportunities you have to join forces:

See you Thursday!

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!