Business Wise HELPING BUSINESSES SUCCEED IN DAKOTA COUNTY
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HELPING YOU SUCCEED IN DAKOTA COUNTY
FIND, DEVELOP AND KEEP YOUR WORKFORCE
Dakota County is home to a growing population, skilled workers and vibrant businesses.
If you want to attract new talent, improve your team’s skills or take part in a job fair, Dakota County’s CareerForce Center has the resources and expertise you need.
We know how important a strong business community is to the county’s success, and we’re committed to supporting businesses by using tax dollars wisely and providing the reliable services you depend on. Dakota County has among the lowest property tax rates of all Minnesota counties. This benefits our more than 430,000 residents, helps 10,700 businesses and attracts other employers to the area. Efficient, reliable services are also important. We’re doing our part to ensure infrastructure — from safe, well-maintained highways to high-speed internet — meets your needs. We offer a variety of resources to help employers and employees alike. We’re proud to work with our business community. Thank you for choosing to do your business in Dakota County.
CareerForce Center ready to assist you and your employees
Our CareerForce Center offers virtual and in-person events that will put you in front of those who are actively seeking employment. Opportunities include: • Job fairs and hiring events • Employer panels • Applicant referrals
If you’re looking for training, whether specialized or something as routine as computer or software instruction, we can connect you with local resources, including community colleges and available grants. Training can be conducted in person or online. At the CareerForce Center, your employees can take advantage of professional development courses such as how to prepare for a promotion and Microsoft Word and Excel skills. Most courses are free and held virtually and in person. For more information visit www.dakotacounty.us, search CareerForce Center.
DO I NEED A LICENSE? County assists with business licenses While the Minnesota Office of the Secretary of State handles most business licenses, Dakota County provides help with a variety of business licenses for liquor, tobacco, hazardous waste and more.
Liquor and tobacco licenses
Hazardous waste licenses
Dakota County grants liquor licenses only to establishments outside of city limits. Licenses for 3.2% malt liquor and intoxicating liquor are available. Tobacco licenses are currently issued to the communities of Coates, Hampton, Inver Grove Heights, Miesville and Vermillion.
If your business creates hazardous waste, it must be licensed by the county. There are two levels of licensing based on the amount of waste produced. The county also conducts mandatory training of hazardous waste producers, so businesses can stay in compliance with the laws.
Forms and fees can be found on the county website and sent to Public Services & Revenue.
Application forms are available on the county website.
Businesses within city limits should contact their city.
Some jobs require a professional license in order to work in the state or county.
Occupational licenses
Dakota County license centers can provide ministerial registrations that allow you to perform marriage ceremonies in the state. They also provide notary commission registration to certify and attest documents. Auctioneers, precious metal dealers and transient merchants can also be licensed in the county by Public Services & Revenue.
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UNDERSTANDING YOUR PROPERTY VALUE, TAXES Dakota County wants property owners to understand how their property is assessed and taxed, and what to do if they have questions about the process.
Assessments Dakota County determines the market value and classification of all properties in the county each year. Estimated market value is recalculated every year based on an analysis of the real estate market. The market can change with economic conditions and other factors. Assessors view each real estate parcel at least once every five years and they inspect annually for completed improvements. If you disagree with your property’s market value or classification, here are your appeal options: • Collect facts to show that your property’s assessed market value is inaccurate, including recent appraisals or sales of like property. For leased properties, this could include income and expense information. • Contact the assessor’s office at 651-438-4200 or by email at assessing.services@co.dakota.mn.us to discuss your property. • Disputed future-year assessments can be discussed with the assessor’s office after valuation notices are mailed each March. • Disputed prior-year assessments can be petitioned in the Minnesota Tax Court. File a tax petition by April 30 of the year in which taxes are due.
Property taxes The county calculates and collects property taxes on behalf of all the governments that levy property taxes, but it keeps only about 20 percent to fund county services. Many factors affect your property taxes, including market value changes to your property or other properties, changing tax bases and local government levy changes. The county calculates property taxes by multiplying the value of the property by the total tax rate, then applying any credits or programs that may lower property taxes. The total tax rate for a property varies based on the property’s location in the county. The property value used to calculate taxes will also vary depending on property classification. If you have property tax questions, call 651-438-4576 or email taxation@co.dakota.mn.us.
RECYCLING MAKES CENTS Save money, reduce pollution Businesses generate more than half of the total waste in Dakota County — and nearly two-thirds of that waste is recyclable. Recycling conserves natural resources, reduces pollution and can save your business money as recycling is tax exempt. All businesses in Dakota County must meet recycling requirements that include providing recycling containers with proper labels to collect a designated list of materials, offering education and training for tenants and employees, and more. Subscribe to the county’s e-News
for updates on business recycling and waste reduction. Visit www.dakotacounty.us, search business recycling. If your business generates small amounts of hazardous waste — less than 220 pounds or 22 gallons each month — you may qualify for the county’s Very Small Quantity Generator (VSQG) program. Materials such as solvents, oil, paint and other chemicals are accepted. Apply at www.dakotacounty.us, search VSQG.
KEEP IT CLEAN AND CUT YOUR COSTS You can take simple steps to protect our water and save your business money. A lot of stormwater runoff is created in roads and parking lots. This runoff can move pollutants into streets and storm drains, affecting water quality in lakes and rivers. Improve runoff water quality and save money in the winter by shoveling well and then applying salt, using less salt, not salting if it’s 15 degrees or colder, and sweeping excess salt for reuse. If you use a snow removal contractor, pick one certified by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency as a Smart Salting applicator. Visit www.pca.state.mn.us, search certified applicator.
Participate in the county’s Smart Salting classes and learn how to reduce salt use, apply it efficiently and reduce maintenance. There are easy ways to reduce stormwater runoff and lower your watering bill in warmer months. Make sure to properly direct sprinklers to avoid wasting water, keep grass longer, don’t water more than 1 inch at a time and plant native flowers and grasses that absorb more water. Sign up for the county’s turf maintenance class to learn about fertilizer and pesticide use, mowing, irrigation, and more. Visit www.dakotacounty.us, search stormwater.
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BUILDING BONDS Volunteering brings benefits back to the workplace Volunteering can have a positive impact on your employees — it can help build camaraderie, foster collaboration, improve team communication and boost morale. Dakota County’s volunteer program offers a rewarding experience for your team and the community. We offer many different opportunities for team volunteering, including invasive species removal in county parks and greenways, highway cleanup,
library activities and event support. You can even create a unique experience that is meaningful to your organization and benefits the Dakota County community. We’ll provide the training, supplies and tools you need to get started. To learn more about group volunteering, visit www.dakotacounty.us, search volunteer.
IMPROVE YOUR SKILLS WITH ONLINE LEARNING Free how-to training videos available Dakota County Library can help you and your team access thousands of free, professional training videos. Using a Dakota County library card, you can explore a wide range of business-specific video tutorials on Lynda.com — from project management and negotiation skills to leadership fundamentals and brand building. Meet your professional development goals and take courses to learn more about search engine optimization, spreadsheets and word processing, conflict resolution, and more. Videos are led by industry professionals with real-world
experience and are designed for nearly any learning style. Take courses at whatever pace works best for you and your team. Complete either an individual course or a Learning Path, a recommended list of multiple courses related to a specific professional topic or industry. Once you’ve completed a Learning Path, you’ll be able to add a certificate of completion to your LinkedIn account. To access Lynda.com, visit www.dakotacounty.us/library, search Lynda and log in using your library card number and password.
LOOKING OUT FOR OTHERS Mental health resources can improve wellbeing Mental health is important to our overall well-being. Good mental health can help us be more productive at home and in the workplace. Dakota County and our community partners offer mental health resources for those in need and information about how to maintain a healthy well-being. Here are some helpful resources: Life-threatening emergencies Call 911. (24/7) United Way 2-1-1 Call 211 for confidential help with health, housing, food and transportation. Help available 24/7 and in multiple languages. Urgent help (24/7) Call the Dakota County Crisis Response Unit at 952-891-7171 for help with adult and youth mental health crises. Dakota County Mental Health Intake A starting point for referrals for mental health assistance. • Adult Mental Health: 651-554-6424 • Children and Family Services Intake: 952-891-7459
Dakota County Chemical Health Assists people with a chemical health assessment if they don’t have insurance or the insurance has denied coverage. Eligibility based on residency and income. Go to www.dakotacounty.us, search mental health. National Alliance On Mental Illness (NAMI) — Minnesota NAMI provides support, resources, online support groups and classes to children and families living with mental illnesses. Call the help line at 651-645-2948 ext. 117. MinnesotaHelp.info Hundreds of organizations that help people listed at www.MinnesotaHelp.info. Also connects to: • Disability Hub MN 866-333-2466 • Veterans Linkage Line 888-546-5838 • Senior LinkAge Line 800-333-2433
2021
DAKOTA COUNTY
SUCCEED IN
HELPING BUSINESS Dakota County Administration 1590 Highway 55 Hastings, MN 55033