G&A HR Advantage – Human Resource starter package

G&A Partners believes in the impact small businesses have on the community and wants to support Minnesota’s entrepreneurs and small business owners by providing them with the tools and resources they need to start off correctly, prosper profitably and take better care of their employees.  That’s why G&A is offering Network Connect companies access to its G&A HR Advantage starter package.  HR made easy by G&A Partners.

G&A Partners specializes in providing employers with:    

  • Expert HR support and compliance assistance from a team of professionals to help with everything from recruiting, drafting employee policies and procedures, and complying with federal and state employment regulations.
  • Easy and error-free payroll processing with help from a dedicated payroll specialist.
  • Access to high-quality and affordable employee benefit plan options that help organizations take better care of their employees and attract top talent.
  • Risk management and workplace safety experts that can help organizations identify potential hazards and provide a safer working environment for their valued employees.
  • Access to easy-to-use HR technology systems that optimize and automate tedious HR and administrative tasks without the high cost of owning you own system
  • One stop shop for all things HR related.

Click here to access your starter package.

#HRTailgate Preview: The Evolution of Employee Benefits – by G&A Partners

Cookie-cutter benefits packages and company perks are as stale as leftover coffee in the company breakroom. Companies have begun to overhaul their limited benefits initiatives into flexible and flourishing programs to stay competitive and attract top talent. Flexible work schedules, expanded parental leave and tuition reimbursement are just a few of the ways innovative organizations are leading the evolution of employee benefits.
Read the full blog here:

SBA – The Search for a New Deputy District Director has Begun

Are you excited by the idea of helping to support $39 billion in small business financing and setting proper conditions to stimulate America’s economic growth? SBA has been a leader in small business development for more than 60 years. In an increasingly globalized economy, we tackle challenges confronted by the small business community across geographic boundaries.

Although times have changed since the SBA was founded in 1953, the Agency’s mission—to promote the growth of small business—has not. Today, SBA is more vital than ever. We work in collaboration with partner organizations and using cutting-edge technologies and well-tested best practices to multiply our impact on small businesses.

If you are interested in joining the dynamic team at the Minnesota District Office as the Deputy District Director, please visit www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/458241300 to learn more and apply.

The Deadline to apply is December 16th.

SBA Offers Disaster Assistance to Residents of Minnesota

Homeowners, Renters, Non-profits as well as Businesses encouraged to apply

Please see the press release and fact sheet for SBA (Presidential) disaster declaration as a result of the severe storms and flooding on September 21-24 in MN. Yvette Jeffery, Public Affairs Specialist is coordinating the outreach for this declaration and can be reached at Yvette.Jeffery@sba.gov or 678-628-1714.

Since this is a Presidential declaration, FEMA will be working with the state to determine the locations of Disaster Recovery Centers where SBA will provide in person services. We will provide you the information once the centers are established. In the meantime, we are requesting you share this broadly with the folks in these counties to encourage survivors to register with FEMA and submit SBA disaster loan applications as indicated in the attached release:

· The disaster declaration covers the counties of Blue Earth, Freeborn, Hennepin, Le Sueur, Rice, Steele and Waseca in Minnesota, where residents and businesses are eligible for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the SBA.

· Small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations in the following adjacent counties are eligible to apply only for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans: Anoka, Brown, Carver, Dakota, Dodge, Faribault, Goodhue, Martin, Mower, Nicollet, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, Watonwan and Wright in Minnesota

Please contact Yvette if you have any questions.

Twin Cities Angels accepting applications for funding

Twin Cities Angels III, LLC is accepting applications for funding in advance of the upcoming screening committee deadline on Friday, December 30th at 12 PM. If you know of any companies seeking funding, please encourage them to review the website below and apply.

Questions? Contact Twin Cities Angels below:

John J. Alexander
Chairman & Founder, Twin Cities Angels® Funds
Email: John@TCAngels.com
Website: www.TCAngels.com

Cleantech Open Midwest: Accelerate Your Business!

If you have a big idea that could help solve some of the planet’s biggest challenges, join the planet’s biggest cleantech accelerator.

Clean Tech MidwestThe Cleantech Open Midwest, run by the University of St. Thomas Schulze School of Entrepreneurship, provides entrepreneurs and technologists the resources needed to launch and create sustainable clean technology companies. We do this through our accelerator program that provides participants with training, mentoring, infrastructure, relationships and funding opportunities to help grow into world-class cleantech companies. Here’s a snapshot of what you’ll get in just five months:

  • World-class mentoring: receive intensive, tailored mentoring from experienced business experts and gain access to one of the world’s only cleantech-specific expert networks
  • Networking: connect to a powerful national network of influencers and entrepreneurs
  • Visibility: showcase your startup to investors, strategic partners, and customers through
    specialized connection events
  • Hands-on training: 12-week series of intensive workshops and bootcamps to launch your startup
    to the next level

What can I win?
Cleantech Open accelerator companies compete for prizes valued from $10,000 regionally to $200,000 nationally, including cash and in-kind services. More than that, you’re winning the opportunity to advance your company faster than you imagined, gain a reputation in the clean technology sector and build your future the way to want.

What’s the Cost?
Because corporate sponsors cover most of the costs and volunteers donate their time, your cost for the world’s leading cleantech accelerator is $150 to apply, and if accepted, about $1,000 per company.

What types of companies apply?

  • Energy generation, distribution, storage and efficiency
  • Chemicals and advanced materials
  • Information and communications technologies
  • Green building
  • Transportation
  • Agriculture, water & waste

Cleantech Open Midwest midwest.cleantechopen.org | vimeo.com/149195831
Steven Webster, Director | steven.webster@stthomas.edu | 517-290-4220

Who’s eligible?

  • At the time of application, your startup must have raised less than $1M from private third party
    funding and less than $5M from all other sources.
  • You must have at least two members on your team, and at least one must be a United States or
    Canadian resident, citizen or legal alien.
  • You must have a physical U.S. or Canadian address and your company must have activities based
    there. You must apply within the region where the majority of your team works or is resident.

To apply for the Cleantech Open Midwest, that means Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota or Wisconsin.


What’s the 2016 Timeline? (dates are tentative)

  • May 1: Application deadline.
  • Late May: First Round Judging: Selected participants announced.
  • June: Participate in a national Academy, either in Boston or Silicon Valley.
  • July-September: Webinars & Videos; one-on-one help from mentors in your field; and Regional
  • Business Clinic & Mock Judging.

From the second week in July to mid-September you have access to webinars that provide an opportunity to ask questions that can further your business, and gain access to videos that cover each of the Cleantech Open’s 10 focus areas.

In August you will attend at least one business clinic. These provide you the opportunity to meet one-on-one with subject matter experts in each area of your business model. You’ll also pitch to a panel of judges who provide real-time feedback to help refine your pitch in preparation for final judging.

  • August: Regional Business Clinic to meet one-on-one with subject matter experts in each area of the business model.
  • September: Final submissions of business worksheets, executive summary and pitch presentations.
  • October: Regional Judging and Awards – Present live to judges who will select the Finalist teams that go on to the Global Forum to compete nationally for the National Grand Prize.
  • December: Global Forum: The Global Forum is the culmination of the year’s accelerator. You will have opportunities to showcase, meet prospective investors and present to a live audience.

So if you want to engage subject matter experts in a 10-week series of Cleantech Open training webinars; gain access to our mentor, investor and sustainability programs; take advantage of showcasing opportunities at regional and national events; and get passes to all regional and most national events for you and your team members, this is the best $1,000 your company will ever spend.

Since its inception in 2006, the Cleantech Open has accelerated 1,036 startups, leading to $1.135 billion in external capital and 3067 jobs created. The Cleantech Open Midwest, a division of the Cleantech Open, was founded in 2010 and serves the clean technology community in a 13-state footprint.

For more info contact:

Ian Rodrick: irodricks@cleantechopen.org

Steven Webster:  swebster@cleantechopen.org

Is your company interested in looking for a STEM intern?

SciTech

Is your company interested in looking for a STEM intern?

Does your company know it can receive a 50 percent cash match on the intern’s wages up to $2500?

SciTechsperience is an exciting internship program that creates the opportunity for Minnesota businesses to work with talented college STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) students to develop solutions for real world challenges. SciTechsperience provides a low-cost solution for small and medium-sized companies that otherwise may not have access to qualified interns. Participating companies receive matching funds of 50 percent of the intern’s wages up to $2,500. 165 matching grants remain between now and August 30, 2016 and are available on a first come, first hire basis.

Benefits:

  • Dollar for dollar cash match up to 50 percent of the intern’s wages ($2,500 maximum)
  • Get help finding qualified interns
  • The hiring decision is yours
  • Find future employees, increase productivity and revitalize your organization with fresh perspectives
  • Develop Minnesota’s STEM workforce by providing hands-on experience to talented college students in dynamic industries like yours
  • Keep talented STEM students in Minnesota after they graduate to strengthen and advance Minnesota’s knowledge-based economy

Eligibility requirements:

  • Must be a for-profit company conducting business in Minnesota
  • Seven-county metro area companies must have fewer than 150 employees worldwide; companies outside the seven-county metro area must have fewer than 250 employees worldwide
  • The internship must provide hands-on experience in the company’s industry
  • The company is doing business in one of the following industries:
    • Aerospace and Defense
    • Agriculture and Food Science
    • Biotechnology, Life Sciences and Health IT
    • Engineering Services
    • Fuels, Energy, Energy Management
    • IT/Computer Technology
    • Mining, Materials, Manufacturing and Processing

For more information and to apply go to SciTechMN.org

For further details, please contact SciTechsperience Program Director Becky Siekmeier, Minnesota High Tech Association at:
beckys@mhta.org
952-230-4241

This information was provided by MN DEED.

Lifescience Alley is Now Medical Alley Association!

Welcome to the new Medical Alley Association, formerly known as LifeScience Alley. We are excited to begin this new chapter in our long history and this new identity will further advance our unique community and the association that represents it. The Medical Alley Association will continue all of the great services and value you’ve enjoyed over the years, as well as an increased effort to give you more. We’re going back to our roots to better focus on the needs of our members and drive greater awareness of the Medical Alley region around the world. Read the letter from Shaye Mandle, President and CEO of the Medical Alley Association to learn more.

Click here to read the full newsletter.

Medical Alley

This information was provided by Medical Alley Association. Reach them at www.medicalalley.org.