A sign above the front entrance of the Brooklyn Park Small Business center, located at 7970 Brooklyn Blvd.
(Sun photo by Jack Wiedner)
Brooklyn Park has decided to continue an agreement with an employment firm to temporarily run its Small Business Center.
The Brooklyn Park City Council, acting as the Economic Development Authority, voted Aug. 17 to extend the city’s agreement with Robert Half Inc. to continue providing operator services for the center. Meanwhile, the city continues to seek a long-term solution via a request for proposals process.
In April, the council signaled interest in a hybrid model for the center’s staffing. A contracted operator would provide front desk workers, janitorial services, technical support and marketing — while a city employee would serve as manager.
Earlier in the meeting, the council discussed the RFP topic but no motion was made as the council decided to continue discussions at a future meeting.
Robert Half, which took over staffing of the city-owned property in February, is an international employment firm that places professionals across finance, technology, administrative support and operations. For SBC operations, Robert Half is charged with recruiting, staffing, and adjusting staffing levels as membership needs change.
“Robert Half has been able to work successfully with both city staff and its members to ensure that the SBC has continued to grow in both revenue and membership,” said Malcolm Hicks, economic development and housing director for Brooklyn Park.
The city began utilizing Robert Half’s services at the Small Business Center amid a sudden split with the previous operator, I Alexander Agency, at the end of 2025.
The center, which opened in 2023, is a 25,000-square-foot, member-based facility focused on developing small local businesses. The center supports businesses through workspace access, technical assistance, referrals and direct services.
Hicks noted that 24 out of 27 office spaces are currently occupied at the center, with 18 out of 21 retail spaces occupied. The center’s dedicated desk area has 4 out of 12 spaces currently occupied.
“We are trending upward as far as revenue and membership right now,” Hicks said of the center. “We currently have 130 active members with 68 new members added from the time that city staff and Robert Half took over daily operations. In addition to that, monthly revenue is up. We are currently at $36,000 plus some for the month of August alone, which is the highest revenue-producing month since the opening of the Small Business Center.”
According to the city, continued services through Robert Half will help to maintain consistent operations, allowing the center to respond to increased demand while providing flexible staffing while city leaders work to approve a new operating model.
The Small Business Center will continue to operate under joint oversight of Brooklyn Park city staff and Robert Half staff for the duration of the extension.
The agreement will cost around $25,000 per month. Funding will be provided through SBC-earned revenue, the MNDEED State Appropriation Award and the Northwind Plaza subsidy.
The agreement will extend through the end of the year or until the start date of a new member services operator.