Open to Business: Washington County Business Owners Can Receive Free Resources from a Trusted Advisor

Entrepreneurs and seasoned business professionals alike can take advantage of Open to Business, a free service offered through the Washington County Community Development Agency (CDA). Tyler Hilsabeck, the advisor for Washington County, will learn about your business and discuss your pain points while recommending resources to move forward.

“We are off to a fast start in 2025,” says Hilsabeck. “The excitement is there to open new businesses, and people are optimistic despite what’s going on in the economy.”

Learn more about the Open to Business program and how it can help your organization. Hilsabeck and other advisors in East Metro MSP are willing to meet businesses where they are to better help them.  

The Process Starts With an Open Conversation

Any prospective or existing business owner interested in receiving free support can contact Hilsabeck at thilsabeck@mccdmn.org or at 612-789-8838. He will then send over an intake form to learn about your business preferences. This includes information like scheduling (not everyone can meet during the workday, so after-hours calls are easier) and language preferences. MCCD has Somali, Spanish, and Hmong speakers available to assist clients in East Metro MSP. 

Once the intake form is complete, Hilsabeck will schedule an initial meeting — either in person or via Zoom, whatever you need. This meeting lasts an hour and is designed to get to know you and your business. During this meeting, Hilsabeck will identify potential needs, opportunities, or barriers to growth while providing you with resources to help you overcome them.

“The Open to Business program is free,” says Hilsabeck. “This is a non-profit service provided by the Washington County CDA to serve local business owners. We only ask that you give us some of your time to learn about your goals.” 

Business Owners Receive Actionable Advice and Resources

The goal of the initial call is to understand how Open to Business can help entrepreneurs move forward. Brand new startup owners might need help developing business plans and mapping out their costs for the year. Growing businesses might need legal and HR assistance if they are looking to hire employees for the first time. Hilsabeck also works with business owners looking to retire who are thinking about succession planning.

“We support entrepreneurs on the entire continuum of business ideation,” says Hilsabeck. “You don’t know what you don’t know, so we try to find any blind spots related to businesses. Then we identify connections and resources to help.”

Hilsabeck says the advisors at Open to Business work alongside entrepreneurs and will guide them through processes and help them consider their needs.

“It’s worth scheduling an Open to Business Call even if you don’t have big plans for growth,” says Chris Eng, Economic Development Director for the Washington County CDA. “They might be able to identify solutions to your current problems or discuss new opportunities. Simply knowing this resource is available can help your business in the future.” 

Open to Business Makes East Metro MSP Entrepreneurs Stronger 

Hilsabeck and other regional advisors are growing the local business community by investing their time in companies that are starting or expanding here. By sharing resources and offering advice, they can help companies overcome barriers to success. The result is more successful startups in Washington County that become thriving businesses.

“I’ve always had a passion for working with small and growing businesses,” says Hilsabeck. “A lot of entrepreneurs are doing everything all by themselves, and that can be daunting. We want to help people so they spend less time worrying about their business and more time growing it.”  

Open to Business specifically reaches out to low-wealth areas and supports entrepreneurs of color. They want to provide resources and assistance to people who might not know that this help is available. 

Discover Other Resources Offered by the Washington County CDA

The CDA supports businesses of all sizes and recognizes that a diverse economy is essential to helping East Metro MSP grow. In addition to providing Open to Business, the CDA has other tools and resources for local companies. Learn about the SizeUp Small Business tools and how they can help you learn about your competitors and target audiences. You can also check out the Guide to Starting a Business in Minnesota. Whether your company is a budding idea or a multi-generation organization, the CDA is here to help you.

Contact Tyler Hilsabeck at thilsabeck@mccdmn.org or at 612-789-8838 to set up a consultation.