Southeast Minnesota Small Business Development Center - SBDC

05/26/2026

“MN PAID LEAVE AND LEGAL CLINIC” WORKSHOP
Minnesota employers — are you ready for the upcoming Paid Leave changes?
Understanding new state requirements can feel overwhelming, especially when it affects payroll, HR policies, compliance timelines, and day-to-day business operations. That’s why this workshop was created: to provide clear, practical information that helps employers feel more confident moving forward.
Join Francisco Martinez, Esq. as he walks through what Minnesota employers need to know about the state’s Paid Leave program, including compliance dates, reporting requirements, employee coverage, and employer responsibilities.
Attendees will also have the opportunity to stay for a free one-on-one Legal Aid Q&A session to ask individual questions and gain additional support.

This workshop is ideal for:
- Business owners
- HR staff
- Managers
- Employers with Minnesota-based employees

Location: Rochester Cultural Center 1515 US-14 Rochester, MN 55904
Time: Thursday, June 4, 2026. 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Register here:

Zoom Registration Link :
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/OES2wKYFRXGIWYLhYRq6fw?fbclid=IwY2xjawSC4UFleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETE1eXdJWGNrVVlrNVpzMGpnc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHmwv9XiPr4da8NFGHUGnML8aPZGuOAveZxUZdMB--oOVM7qVAB35IxrFfwEn_aem_iAdFZKcteOQP_AopT9Tn4A #/registration

05/26/2026

Q1 2026 results are in

The SBDC SEMN, hosted by RAEDI, is helping move businesses forward across Southeast Minnesota.

🔥 490 Jobs Supported
🔥 198 Clients Counseled
🔥 $3,546,935 Capital Raised
🔥 2 New Business Starts

From startups to growing companies, these numbers represent real entrepreneurs creating opportunity throughout our region.

05/25/2026

🇺🇸🎉 Memorial Day 🇺🇸

Thanking the veterans in our workforce today. SBDC served 29 veteran entrepreneurs across the region last year.

Rochester's labor force hit 134,464 in 2025. A lot of the people behind that number served their country before they started their businesses.

05/22/2026

05/22/2026

“MN PAID LEAVE AND LEGAL CLINIC” WORKSHOP
Minnesota employers — are you ready for the upcoming Paid Leave changes?

Understanding new state requirements can feel overwhelming, especially when it affects payroll, HR policies, compliance timelines, and day-to-day business operations. That’s why this workshop was created: to provide clear, practical information that helps employers feel more confident moving forward.

Join Francisco Martinez, Esq. as he walks through what Minnesota employers need to know about the state’s Paid Leave program, including compliance dates, reporting requirements, employee coverage, and employer responsibilities.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to stay for a free one-on-one Legal Aid Q&A session to ask individual questions and gain additional support.

This workshop is ideal for:
- Business owners
- HR staff
- Managers
- Employers with Minnesota-based employees

Location: Rochester Cultural Center 1515 US-14 Rochester, MN 55904
Time: Thursday, June 4, 2026. 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Register here:
Zoom Registration Link : https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/OES2wKYFRXGIWYLhYRq6fw #/registration

05/20/2026

Mark Thein, Regional Director of the Small Business Development Center, presented Succession Planning as part of the Business Learning Series on May 6th in St. Charles.

Katrina Hurley, EDA Director for St. Charles, shared, “We truly enjoyed the session. Your presentation was engaging, informative, and incredibly valuable for our local businesses. We’ve already received positive feedback from attendees and appreciate the time and effort you invested in making the event such a success.”

05/20/2026

“MN PAID LEAVE AND LEGAL CLINIC” WORKSHOP
Minnesota employers — are you ready for the upcoming Paid Leave changes?

Understanding new state requirements can feel overwhelming, especially when it affects payroll, HR policies, compliance timelines, and day-to-day business operations. That’s why this workshop was created: to provide clear, practical information that helps employers feel more confident moving forward.

Join Francisco Martinez, Esq. as he walks through what Minnesota employers need to know about the state’s Paid Leave program, including compliance dates, reporting requirements, employee coverage, and employer responsibilities.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to stay for a free one-on-one Legal Aid Q&A session to ask individual questions and gain additional support.

This workshop is ideal for:
Business owners
HR staff
Managers
Employers with Minnesota-based employees

Rochester Cultural Center 1515 US-14 Rochester, MN 55904
Thursday, June 4, 2026
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Register here:
Zoom Registration Link : https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/OES2wKYFRXGIWYLhYRq6fw #/registration

05/19/2026

💰📊 You've got 60 seconds to convince an investor your idea is worth funding. Are you ready?

Pitch coaching is one of the SBDC at RAEDI most impactful services. Our consultants help entrepreneurs refine their story, sharpen their numbers, and deliver with confidence.

It works. Over the past five years, SBDC clients have secured $116.4 million in capital. A strong pitch opens doors that a good idea alone cannot.

Whether you're preparing for a bank meeting, an angel investor, or a competition, we'll get you ready. Book your session at https://rochestersbdc.com/

Here’s the most important takeaway: the Southeast Regional SBDC is open for business and fully available to serve entrepreneurs and small businesses across SE Minnesota. It’s business as usual for our local team. If you or someone you know wants to start a business or expand your existing busine...

05/19/2026

Here's what our SBDC did in 2025:

→ 📊 500+ clients served

→ 3,395 consulting hours

→ 25 new businesses started

→ 35 educational events

→ $25M infused into the SE MN economy

All of it free. All of it confidential. That's the SBDC. https://rochestersbdc.com/