Ultra Green makes sustainably-produced packaging for the food you get at some of your favorite grocery stores and cafes, but like many small businesses, they’ve been hit hard by tariffs, supply chain issues, and workforce shortages. Dean discussed all of this while working on the assembly line making recycled plastic lids – and then recycling the leftover plastic to close the supply loop.
Located along the Dakota Trail, Dakota Junction is a not-so-hidden gem in Mound. Dean spent his shift taking orders, delivering food, busing tables, and chatting with the restaurant’s owners about what it has been like to operate during the COVID-19 pandemic – and what federal relief has meant for them and others in their industry
Mt. Olivet provides care for individuals with a wide range of physical and mental disabilities. In between taking residents for walks and serving food at snack time, Dean heard from dedicated employees – many who have been there for decades – about the challenges of providing care in an industry where pay is often too low and the physical and emotional toll is high.
Rep. Phillips didn't talk about Bruno on the job at New Horizon Academy, but between dance parties and drawing in the preschool room, he did talk about what's driving high child care costs, fair wages for early childhood providers, early learning standards, and making care more affordable for working families.
Rep. Phillips helped clean kennels, clip nails, administer vaccines, draw labs, remove sutures, serve treats, and learned how the Northwest Animal Hospital team uses technology - and a whole lot of compassion - to serve MN-03's cutest residents.
From the host stand to the bar, and the kitchen to the dish pit, Rep. Phillips packed a lot in during his shift at Rock Elm Tavern - but not as much as the restaurant packed into two years of pandemic pivots. Rep. Phillips heard how Rock Elm utilized federal support, innovative takeout programs, and a lot of grit, to stay open and preserve jobs during the pandemic. Web episode premiering soon.
Rep. Phillips manned the phones, took custom orders, wrapped arrangements, washed buckets, made deliveries, and heard about how the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act helped Lilia Flower Boutique keep their doors open during the pandemic. Web episode premiering soon.
At Orangetheory Minnetonka, Rep. Phillips checked members in for morning classes, mopped floors, sanitized equipment, and got into the Orange Zone on a rowing machine. He spoke with Orangetheory franchise owners about the investments they've made in state-of-the-art cleaning and filtration systems to keep Minnesotans safe, how gyms are still struggling to recoup the losses they endured during the pandemic, and how Congress can support their recovery. Web episode premiering soon.
When the pandemic hit, 90% of live events shut town almost overnight. At STAR, Rep. Phillips helped build, ship - and clean up after - elaborate trade show sets for clients all over the world, and learned more about how federal relief programs helped businesses that depend on people gathering stay in business during the pandemic.
There's a lot more to owning a brewery than pouring the perfect pint, so between turns at the tap, Rep. Phillips talked with the Luce Line Brewing team about what it's like to open a business that depends on people gathering in the middle of a global pandemic, and how small business support kept their industry afloat.
At Smith Coffee and Café, Rep. Phillips took orders, pulled espresso shots, bussed tables, and heard how global policies are impacting small businesses in Minnesota. From pandemic relief to health insurance to supply chains, Rep. Phillips will take what he learned at Smith back to the House Small Business Subcommittee on Oversight. He's still working on his latte art.