Business Resources

Helping businesses grow is the shared goal of a network of Dakota County organizations.  We work together to provide services to help your businesses find the right location; hire, train and upgrade the skills of the right people; and benefit from an infrastructure that provides a vibrant business environment.

Here is a quick guide to help you to know the best place to call.   Be assured that no matter who you call, the Dakota County Business Assistance Network will act as an efficient team to help.

Workforce

Minnesota Workforce Centers in Burnsville and West St. Paul
Role: Assist in the hiring and training of new employees, general gateway into MN Department of Employment and Economic Development and other state agencies
Terrell Towers
612-821-4411        
terrell.towers@state.mn.us

Community and Technical Colleges
Role: Provide training, through degree and/or certificate programs and through customized services for new and incumbent workers

Dakota County Technical College 
Larry Raddatz  
(651) 423-8276        
Larry.Raddatz@dctc.edu 

Inver Hills Community College
David W. Anderson
(651) 450-8655        
danders2@inverhills.mnscu.edu

Business Assistance

Small Business Development Center
Role:  Provide advice and counseling to small businesses at all stages-start-up to growth.
Lisa Bah,
651-423-8602
Lisa.bah@dctc.edu
www.dctc.mnscu.edu

Dakota Future
Role:    Provide site location assistance for firms considering Dakota County locations and serves as a general gateway for economic development services within Dakota County.
Bill Coleman              
651-491-2551        
bill@dakotafuture.com
www.dakotafuture.com

City Governments
Role:  Provide guidance through any real estate development process; may provide financial incentives through tax increment financing, local loan funds or state or federal business finance programs. 

Apple Valley              
Bruce Nordquist            
952-953-2576        
bnordquist@ci.apple-valley.mn.us
www.ci.apple-valley.mn.us 

Burnsville                  
Skip Nienhaus             
952-895-4454        
skip.nienhaus@ci.burnsville.mn.us  
www.burnsville.org 

Eagan
Jon Hohenstein
 651-675-5653
jhohenstein@cityofeagan.com
www.cityofeagan.com 

Farmington
Tina Hansmeier
651-463-1821        
thansmeier@ci.farmington.mn.us              
www.ci.farmington.mn.us 

Hastings                    
Shannon Rausch          
651-480-2344        
SRausch@ci.hastings.mn.us
www.ci.hastings.mn.us 

Inver Grove Heights
Jennifer Gale*       
651-451-2266        
jennifer@riverheights.com
www.ci.inver-grove-heights.mn.us

Lakeville                   
Dave Olson                 
952-985-4421        
dolson@ci.lakeville.mn.us
www.ci.lakeville.mn.us

Mendota Heights
David McKnight, City Administrator            
651-452-1850        
cityhall@mendota-heights.com
www.mendota-heights.com 

Rosemount                
Kim Lindquist              
651-322-2020        
Kim.lindquist@ci.rosemount.mn.us
www.ci.rosemount.mn.us

South St. Paul            
Jennifer Gale*       
651-451-2266        
jennifer@riverheights.com
www.southstpaul.org

West St. Paul
Jim Hartshorn              
651-552-4140                    
Jim.hartshorn@ci.west-saint-paul.mn.us
www.ci.west-saint-paul.mn.us

*Inver Grove Heights and South St. Paul use Progress Plus, an affiliate of the River Heights Chamber of Commerce, for their city’s economic development services.

Chambers of Commerce

Role: Provide networking, educational and advocacy for businesses.  Work on business retention and expansion through Grow Minnesota, the statewide Minnesota Chamber of Commerce initiative.

Apple Valley Chamber of Commerce
Ed Kearney
952-432-8422        
ed.kearney@applevalleychamber.com
www.applevalleychamber.com 

Burnsville Chamber of Commerce
Daron Van Helden
(952) 435-6000        
daron@burnsvillechamber.com
www.burnsvillechamber.com 

Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce
651-452-9872        
www.dcrchamber.com
rbatulis@dcrchamber.com

Hastings Chamber of Commerce
Michelle Jacobs
(651) 437-6775        
michelle@hastingsmn.org
www.hastingsmn.org 

Lakeville Chamber of Commerce
Taud Bornhauser
 952-452-9872        
todd@lakevillechambercvb.org
www.lakevillechambercvb.org 

River Heights Chamber of Commerce
Jennifer Gale
651-451-2266        
jennifer@riverheights.com
www.riverheights.com