Business | City of Minnetonka, MN

Minnetonka is home to thriving mix of global, big and small business.

Minnetonka business owners, please complete this information form to ensure our records are up to date.

Community profile

Learn more about Minnetonka’s demographics, economy, socio-economics, housing, transportation, land use and development.

Transportation

Minnetonka is conveniently located eight miles west of downtown Minneapolis. Because many of Minnesota’s major highways converge in Minnetonka, access to the city is convenient from every direction, which is ideal for commuting employees. Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport is only 15 minutes away.

Metro Transit serves the area with multiple bus routes, and the Southwest Light Rail Transit system – which will connect the southwestern suburbs with Minneapolis and St. Paul – is expected to open in 2027.

Major employers

UnitedHealth Group – Largest health care company in the world
Cargill – Largest privately-held company in the U.S.
Carlson Companies
Boston Scientific
Medica Health Plans
Ridgedale Center

Where do Minnetonka’s workers come from?

Minnetonka’s convenient location in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area offers tremendous opportunity for businesses to attract workers. Minnetonka’s diverse workforce includes large numbers of employees from:

Minneapolis – 4,286 workers
Minnetonka – 3,167 workers
Plymouth – 2,189 workers
Eden Prairie – 2,051 workers
St. Louis Park – 1,449 workers
St. Paul – 1,404 workers

Business and economic studies

Ridgedale Area Visitors (January 2018-July 2022)

From 2018 to 2022, the city worked with a consultant to study Ridgedale area visitors. The data provides a picture of who visits the area and their basic characteristics. It also can be used to strengthen local planning and shape the city’s marketing efforts to attract new business to the area.

To discuss how the data may help your business, contact the city at bizsupport@minnetonkamn.gov.

2021 Business Survey

In spring 2021, Minnetonka hired Cobalt Community Research to conduct a citywide business climate survey. Learn more about the survey and review the results.

Business information brochures

Starting or expanding a business

Open to Business program

The City of Minnetonka participates in the Open to Business program, which provides small businesses with services to help them succeed.

Elevate Hennepin

Elevate Hennepin is a resource hub powered by Hennepin County connecting local entrepreneurs to trusted resources and expert advisors at no cost.

Guide to starting a business

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (MN DEED) features an online step-by-step guide to starting and operating a business in Minnesota. From the inception of the business idea to the management of the facility, this guide serves as a handy tool to make business dreams a reality.

Hennepin County CEO Next Business Institute

This program assists with growth of second-stage companies through scholarships for owners for business research combined with peer learning and business forums.

Neighborhood Development Center

A non-profit community development financial institution, NDC provides integrated business services to support entrepreneurs. NDC’s programming is designed to support a wide range of businesses from start-ups to businesses expanding.

Business development partner organizations

Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers (MCCD)

An association of nonprofit community development organizations and Open to Business program partner. MCCD offers free consultation with a business advisor for one-on-one advising. For more information, contact 612-789-7337

Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (MN DEED)

MN DEED Careerforce Workforce Centers help job seekers find employment and explore and plan careers. They also help businesses find workers.
DEED Workforce Portal

GreaterMSP

GreaterMSP coordinates the regional effort to grow the economy of the 16-county Minneapolis-Saint Paul region. The organization specializes in regional business retention and expansion efforts, business recruitment, and talent attraction.

Minnesota Chamber of Commerce

The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce’s Grow Minnesota program strives to direct resources to businesses so they can invest, prosper and grow in Minnesota. Available resources include: Business Financing, Workforce Development, Research and Data and more.

Mpls Regional Chamber

Minnetonka is represented locally by the Mpls Regional Chamber.

SCORE Minneapolis

Connect with a local SCORE mentor to receive free advice for your small business.

Culturally Focused Economic Development Organizations

Asian Economic Development Association provides business planning, training and financing for southeast Asian immigrant communities.
African Development Center of Minnesota assists Minnesota’s African community with business development.
African Economic Development Solutions provides business consulting, training and business lending with a focus on African-immigrant communities.
Latino Economic Development Center provides technical assistance and financial resources for aspiring entrepreneurs and the Latino business community.
Metropolitan Economic Development Association (MEDA) provides business consulting and access to capital and market opportunities for minority entrepreneurs.
MN Black Chamber of Commerce provides networking opportunities, advocacy, and technical assistance to Black-owned businesses no matter their size.
Women Venture works to empower women entrepreneurs by offering a variety of business training classes and financing products.

Financing and resources

Minnetonka Commercial Code Compliance Loan Program

Businesses are eligible to receive a low interest loan to address building issues such as improving safety, structural integrity, accessibility issues, or any other areas of concern as determined by Minnetonka city staff. For more information or how to apply, contact bizsupport@minnetonkamn.gov or 952-939-8200.

Minnetonka Emergency Business Loan Fund

Businesses are eligible to receive one-time forgivable assistance of $2,500 to address an emergency or unforeseen circumstance that disrupts the business operation. Funding is not to be used for general operating expenses. For more information or how to apply, contact bizsupport@minnetonkamn.gov or 952-939-8200.

Minnetonka SAC and REC Deferral Program

Minnetonka’s Sewer Availability Charge (SAC) and Residential Equivalency Charge (REC) Deferral program, allows eligible businesses and property owners the ability to defer of up to 80 percent of SAC and REC charges. Businesses are eligible to participate if they’re determined to have 25 or fewer SAC/REC units. For more information, please contact bizsupport@minnetonkamn.gov or 952-939-8200.

Minnetonka Fire Sprinkler Assistance

The City of Minnetonka Fire Sprinkler Retrofit Program allows businesses to spread the cost of fire sprinkler installation over a 10-year period, rather than pay the entire cost up-front.
Additionally, 2018 federal tax reform legislation includes incentives that make it more affordable for small business owners to install fire sprinklers. Small businesses can deduct the expense of installing a fire sprinkler system – up to $1 million for each year of expense – on their federal taxes, and can also deduct interest received from any loan for this type of renovation.
For more information on either program, contact bizsupport@minnetonkamn.gov or 952-939-8200.

Emerging Entrepreneur Loan Program

The Minnesota Emerging Entrepreneur Loan Program (ELP) supports the growth of businesses owned and operated by minorities, low-income individuals, women, veterans or persons with disabilities. These funds can be used for business start-up or expansion.

MNCAR

MNCAR offers a free commercial real estate listing map. The map features lease rates, broker contact information, property square footage and property brochures.

Minnesota Investment Fund

This fund provides financing to help add new workers and retain high-quality jobs on a statewide basis. The focus is on industrial, manufacturing and technology-related industries.

Job Creation Fund

The Job Creation Fund provides financial incentives to new and expanding businesses that meet certain job creation and capital investment targets.

Minnesota Innovation Loans for Entrepreneurs (MILE)

This program provides interest-free loans to early-stage businesses developing or producing high-tech products or services in Minnesota. Loans range from $20,000 to $50,000, require a 1:1 match and have a four-year term with no repayments in the first year.

MN Supplier Match

An online searchable database of Minnesota suppliers to make it easy for buyers to find products. MN Supplier Match highlights Minnesota’s supply chain and increases business-to-business activity.

Minnesota Foreign Trade Zone

Foreign Trade Zones can help U.S. companies compete globally to reduce, defer or eliminate duty payments and to make distribution easier and more profitable. Visit mn.gov/deed/ftz or contact John Shoffner at 651-259-7445 for more information.

Workforce development

Minnesota Job Skills Partnership (MJSP)

The MJSP Program provides training grants of up to $400,000 to educational institutions that partner with businesses to develop new-job training, or retraining for existing employees. Funds may be used for training-related costs such as curriculum development, instruction, training materials and supplies, training equipment and instructor travel. A cash or in-kind contribution from the contributing business must match program funds on at least a one-to-one basis.

CareerForce

Workforce training and continuing education providers are available to Minnetonka residents and businesses. CareerForce assists businesses with finding workers, publicizes jobs and provides access to workforce data.
Workforce Strategy Consultant helps develop innovative workforce solutions and leverage expertise in targeted industry sectors.

MN Job Match

Job-to-candidate matching platform which connects employers with job-seekers based on skills, interests and job requirements.

Hennepin Technical College

Works with businesses to customize curriculum based on the organization’s needs and employees’ requirements.

Minnesota SciTechsperience

Connects college students in science, technology, engineering and math disciplines with paid internships that provide hands-on experience. Assists companies with finding qualified candidates and a 1:1 matching stipend to cover 50 percent of the interns’ wages.

Minneapolis Elevate Futures

Supports businesses to assign pre-hire training, set up skill-based filters and offer current employees new skills development to advance their careers.

Energy, efficiency and financing programs

Center for Energy and Environment programs

The Center for Energy and Environment (CEE) is a city partner that helps businesses improve their energy efficiency.

One-Stop Efficiency Shop: A full-service rebate program for small businesses looking to address lighting and HVAC efficiency.
Energy Savings Fund for Nonprofits: Funds to help finance energy-efficient projects by nonprofits.
Commercial Building Assessments: Provides energy consulting and assessments for large commercial buildings in Minnesota.
Engineering for Energy Efficiency: Engineers help building owners and managers better understand and optimize energy use.
Commercial Refrigeration Program: Free, on-site refrigeration assessments to identify improvements to save energy and money; also offers rebates for energy-efficient upgrades.

Xcel Energy programs

Xcel Energy provides a wide variety of energy efficiency, expertise and rebate programs to help businesses manage and control energy usage.

LED rebates: Rebates for customers who switch to LED lighting.
Energy Efficient Buildings program: Free consultation program to incorporate energy efficient strategies into new construction, expansion, renovation or equipment projects.
Energy Design Assistance : Free comprehensive services to identify energy and cost-savings strategies for new construction or major renovations.

Other Efficiency, Waste Prevention, and Technical Assistance Programs

CenterPoint Energy ’s natural gas equipment programs can lower energy use and help save money. Residential and small business customers can receive rebates for choosing high-efficiency natural gas equipment.

The Hennepin County Business Recycling Program offers grants, signage, technical assistance and research assistance to help start or improve recycling programs, reduce waste and donate usable goods.
Business Waste Prevention Grants provide free resources and assistance for small businesses to start or improve recycling and organics collection programs. Grants of up to $3,000 are available.
Property-Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) is a program that allows local governments to fund the up-front cost of energy improvements on commercial and residential properties. Property owners pay this funding back over time, which provides an incentive to invest in energy improvements that might otherwise be cost prohibitive.
Minnesota Waste Wise delivers strategic environmental consulting that helps businesses save money through waste reduction, resource conservation and energy efficiency. Becoming a member of Minnesota Waste Wise can help save money while protecting the environment.
Minnesota Technical Assistance Program (MnTap) helps businesses implement industry-tailored solutions that prevent pollution at the source, maximize efficient use of resources and reduce energy use and costs to improve public health and the environment. MnTap provides focused assistance for air, energy, waste and water.
Minnesota Retiree Environmental Technical Assistance Program RETAP has no-cost, non-regulatory energy efficiency and waste reduction assessments available to Minnesota's small businesses and public and private institutions. Assessments include an on-site visit with emphasis on finding opportunities to increase energy efficiency and water conservation, reduce waste and reduce operating costs.
Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) is a great general resource for grants and other assistance as opportunities arise. They help with energy efficiency, renewables and other resource reduction programs.

Permits, licenses, code, projects

Emerald Ash Borer management

Business development contacts