Entrepreneur and local small business advocate Sheletta Brundidge is teaming up with a state agency to connect food businesses to support during an immigration crackdown in Minnesota.

Sheletta Brundidge (Scott Takushi / Pioneer Press)

Hosted by Brundidge’s nonprofit and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, the free lunch-and-learn event, called, “Growing Food & Agriculture Businesses,” will connect food producers, vendors and entrepreneurs with support, resources and funding opportunities that are available through the agriculture department.

The Feb. 2 event comes at a time when some local businesses are afraid to open their doors due to “Operation Metro Surge,” which has sent thousands of federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.

“The immigration crackdown is destroying the infrastructure that entrepreneurs and small business owners have been working to build up for years,” Brundidge told the Pioneer Press on Wednesday.

Related Articles

Hours after ABC News ran a story about Mischief Toy Store, ICE agents arrived at their door

Business people: Laura Watterson to lead human relations at Andersen Corp.

Ross Raihala: How four small businesses are speaking out about ICE

Date-night dinner specials: Spoil your sweetie for less

Business People: Richard Coffey named to lead Ujamaa Place

“ICE is terrorizing our citizens and people are afraid to leave the house,” she said. “If they are afraid to leave the house, they aren’t coming to your pop-up, they aren’t buying your products and you are going out of business.”

The upcoming event will include information on starting a food business in Minnesota, accessing commercial kitchens, ingredient sourcing, wholesale markets and grant programs.

Assistant Commissioner Patrice Bailey and other MDA staff will also be available to help food entrepreneurs navigate licensing, marketing and whether to sell under cottage food versus wholesale, Brundidge said.

Catered by Afro Deli, the event kicks off at 11 a.m. at 625 N. Robert Street. To register, go to http://pipr.es/BvY45zT.

Local shops speak out

Some local businesses are speaking out about ICE actions and decrying the death of Minneapolis mother Renee Good, who was fatally shot by ICE agent Jonathan Ross on Jan. 7.

Mischief Toy Store, located on St. Paul’s Grand Avenue, is being vocal about its feelings toward ICE by handing out whistles and posting signs on social media that read “No Ice: Resist Fascism.” The toy store caught the attention of ICE this week after ABC News ran a story about its activism. “Three hours later, two plainclothes ICE agents came into our store and served us with a Notice of Inspection,” said owner Dan Marshall.

The Black Hart of St. Paul, Makwa Coffee in Roseville and 620 Club in St. Paul are among the businesses making their stances known. Wes Burdine, owner of Black Hart, said he has gotten some blowback over his vocal opposition to the president and ICE. He recently received an email from someone telling him he’s alienating half of his customers, which he disputes.

Upcoming strike

Thousands of union members, religious faithful and ordinary citizens are expected to participate in a massive statewide economic strike on Friday that organizers are hoping will bring an end to ICE activity in Minnesota.

The event, called “A Day of Truth and Freedom,” is being organized by union representatives, faith leaders and community members who are urging Minnesotans not to go to work, school or go shopping in response to the ongoing federal immigration enforcement surge in the state.

Related Articles

January is ‘Divorce Month’ — 5 questions to ask about your home

Ryanair CEO dismisses Elon Musk’s idea of buying the airline as verbal feud escalates

Wall Street bounces back after Trump says he won’t use force to take Greenland

FTC says it will appeal Meta antitrust decision

Minnesota statewide strike, economic blackout to protest ICE on Friday

Businesses, stores and restaurants across the metro area have announced plans to be closed on Friday. Among them is Mississippi Market Co-op, which has three stores in St. Paul, Claddagh Coffee, J. Selby’s, Wet Paint, River Market Co-op in Stillwater, Marc Heu Patisserie and others.

Some businesses are modifying their approach: Catzen Coffee, on Grand Avenue in St. Paul, plans to pause its regular business model to open for the day as a community space with free drip coffee.

“A Day of Truth and Freedom” will culminate in a 2 p.m. rally and march through downtown Minneapolis. The rally will start at the Commons, at 425 Portland Ave. S., organizers say.