North Central Small Business Development Center offers consulting on Minnesota Paid Leave – Brainerd Dispatch

BRAINERD — With Minnesota Paid Leave now in effect as of Jan. 1, the North Central Small Business Development Center at Central Lakes College is hosting a series of no-cost lunch and learn training sessions to help businesses understand and implement the new law.

Upcoming Lunch and Learn training sessions include:

• Noon, March 17, Pine River,
• Noon, March 24, Aitkin,
• Noon, March 31, Walker,
• Noon, April 14, Brainerd,
• Noon, April 20, Wadena.

Each one-hour session covers Minnesota Paid Leave basics for employers, including key responsibilities, payroll contributions, reporting considerations and how the program may interact with existing leave policies. The goal is to provide clear, practical guidance that business owners can immediately apply.

“We know small businesses are navigating a lot of change,” said Katie Heppner, regional director of the North Central Small Business Development Center, in a news release. “These sessions are designed to break the law down into straightforward steps so businesses can move forward with more confidence.”

In addition to the training sessions, one-on-one consulting is available for small businesses looking for more individualized support. To register for a lunch and learn training or request consulting, visit

northcentralsbdc.com/paid-leave

.

Consulting and training are offered at no cost through the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development Paid Leave Outreach Grant.

The North Central Small Business Development Center is hosted at Central Lakes College and provides no-cost, confidential business consulting, training, and resources to entrepreneurs and small business owners across an 11-county region, as well as the Leech Lake and Mille Lacs Bands of Ojibwe. The organization supports clients at all stages of business from idea development to growth and transition.