This box isn’t just business as usual...

Why is it so important to support Minority businesses in the Twin Cities?

Starting a small company for many Minnesotans of different ethnicities helps them to get out of a conventional workplace and explore their love for professions. Many immigrant families and people of color see business as a way of being self-sufficient and supplying their communities with a required-yet, sometimes lacking-service. If it's a tiny contractor or a company, their participation may be substantial.

Besides, out of Minnesota's 47,565 businesses, nearly 10 percent of the 489,494 minority-owned firms in 2012, according to the U.S. National Survey of business owners, which is held every five years by the Department of the Census. This makes for one of the greatest Twin City attractions, especially for the minorities.

If you have any kind of minority businesses in Twin Cities, it's a good idea to become certified as a minority-owned business. Government bodies and enterprises also have goals to do business and purchase from minority-owned firms, and being licensed automatically enhances the value of the company. These businesses jump through many hoops just to get the same opportunities that another business would get. The starting line may be in the same place but there are so many more hurdles than for others in the same industries. 

In the certification process, the first step is to obtain the required documentation. The necessary paperwork depends on the sort of company you have. Still, traditional corporate records entail documents like Proof of U.S. Citizenship, ownership agreements, Bylaws, The history of the business, Certificate of Incorporation or Articles of Incorporation, Business Lease Agreement and/or Security Deeds, Stock Certificates and Stock Ledger, Business cards, resume, and copies of drivers' licenses.

If you have a minority business in Minneapolis, the application process begins by knowing the eligibility criteria and having all the required answers and documents. Begin the online procedure by pressing Start MBE Certification, the Tax ID (Employer Identification Number) will be needed. After you have begun your application, your company is given a User ID through which you upload your documents, make sure they are scanned files containing the company name. The qualification payment is required after the certificate request and must be charged via credit card. The payments rely on a firm's total revenue.

Upon checking all the necessary documentation, a field auditor may contact you to arrange a visit on location. The submitted certification is referred for formal examination and acceptance to the Board Certification Committee. When accepted, you will obtain an email containing a registration letter and an MBE certificate. This process can take months just to be considered and potentially receive some attention for being a minority. 

For us, at Treeline Thyme being owned by a black female, we know how critical it is to amplify the voices of the community and to support those businesses. During these challenging times of divide amongst some of our citizens, this is the time to learn their stories and support where you can. Some could say that this trip was not just skipping around a new town but there were purpose and passion. We have a platform at Treeline Thyme, and we intend to use it for good and to give these businesses a chance to gain customers. Give them a chance and get to know a city. Join our biggest and most passionate journey yet. Again, we welcome you to the Twin Cities, and thank you for being a part of a revolutionary journey.