The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development Awards Grant to Collider Foundation

Rochester 501(c)3 nonprofit Collider Foundation is pleased to announce that it has been awarded $67,000 by The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) through the Small Business Assistance Partnership Competitive Grant program. The awarded funds will be used to provide small business development and technical assistance services to entrepreneurs and small business owners in Minnesota during FY2024-2025. This assistance supports Collider’s ongoing mission to empower early stage entrepreneurs throughout Rochester, Minnesota, specifically to pilot 3 incubator cohorts, as well as support the ongoing delivery of CO.STARTERS cohort programs, monthly educational workshops, and 1:1 startup support. 

Collider Foundation’s work in Rochester is founded upon a strong track record of trust and feedback from the entrepreneurial community. This funding is critical to support the launch of Collider’s brand new incubator program, focused on early stage women-led food, technology, and business consultancy companies. Through this incubator program, individuals will develop the skill sets and relationships that will help them pursue economic freedom and improve their financial situation through entrepreneurship, with the end goal of developing a minimally functional product or service by the end of the 3 month cohort. 

A formal information session about the incubator will be hosted by Collider Foundation in early 2024. The first incubator cohort is anticipated to start in spring 2024.

This program builds upon years of experience and community feedback, taking services Collider is experienced providing and placing them under a community incubator program. We believe that this work best answers the needs deeply felt by women-led businesses in Rochester and are grateful that this work is supported, in part, by the State of Minnesota through a grant from The Office of Small Business and Innovation, Department of Employment and Economic Development.

This is Collider Foundation’s first grant from the State of Minnesota. Collider is seeking donation matches from the local community to fully operationalize this program.

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) is the state’s principal economic development agency.  DEED programs promote business recruitment; expansion and retention; international trade; workforce development; and community development. DEED’s Mission is to empower the growth of the Minnesota economy, for everyone.

“We are extremely grateful to DEED for supporting our mission and providing us with funds to pilot the launch of a formalized community incubator program. This work is a natural next step for our organization to fulfill our mission and more deeply serve entrepreneurs. As a first ever grant from the state, we see this opportunity as an important milestone in our growth and sustainability as an organization. I am personally grateful to everyone who has dedicated their time to Collider’s work and mission since we started our work in the community,” said Amanda Leightner, Collider Foundation Executive Director.

For any additional questions or comments regarding this grant or Collider Foundation’s work within the community, please contact Executive Director Amanda Leightner at amanda@collider.mn or call (507) 722-0306.