Great River Energy News

Thursday, April 25, 2019

In 2019, women in some parts of America still get the short end of the stick — even as they outnumber men in most states. For instance, women represent nearly two-thirds of all minimum-wage workers in the U.S. Their political representation also suffers, as women make up 51% of the U.S. population but only 25% of the Senate and 23.4% of the House of Representatives. And the prevalence of sexual harassment remains a prominent issue in 2019’s political landscape. In order to determine how women are faring and where they can find the best opportunities relative to where they live, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District...

MSP named best airport in North America for 3rd year in a row

Wednesday, April 24, 2019

It shared the honor this year with Detroit. Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport continues to fly high atop the rankings for the best airports in the world. The Twin Cities travel hub was named the best airport in North America for its size for the third year in a row by Airports Council International (ACI). Click here to view the original article from Bring Me The News.

Building up gender diversity

Tuesday, April 23, 2019

If enrollment growth at Dunwoody College of Technology is a good tape measure, women are poised to made big strides in Minnesota’s construction industry. Women currently make up about 18 percent of all students in the school’s popular construction management program, up from just 2 percent a decade ago, said Heather Gay, who has taught at Dunwoody since 2008. Click here to view the original article from Finance & Commerce.

Budget for One Minnesota: Minnesota Innovation Collaborative

Monday, April 22, 2019

States and cities that create attractive environments for startups, entrepreneurs, and innovative talent are quickly distancing their economies from those who do not. For every one job created in the innovation sector, five more jobs are created in adjacent sectors – the strongest network effect in job growth today. Minnesota must put our economy on the cutting edge of this ecosystem by making strategic investments in our innovation ecosystem. The proposed Minnesota Innovation Collaborative (MIC) contains a series of initiatives focused on growing Minnesota’s innovation economy by accelerating the growth of our startup ecosystem and attracting top technology talent to the state. Comprised...

DEED Names Assistant Commissioner for Economic Opportunity

Saturday, April 20, 2019

Will lead strategic, department-wide efforts to address economic disparities ST. PAUL - The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) announced that Hamse Warfa has been named Assistant Commissioner for Economic Opportunity. This external-facing role will work with stakeholder groups, DEED partners, and local officials and boards across the state to advance economic equity in our State and amplify DEED programs that target under-invested and under-capitalized communities of color. Additionally, the position will work internally with DEED's senior leadership team to bring a lens of equity into the agency and champion department-specific objectives against priorities for economic equity. Click here to view the original...

API Outsourcing expanding its Robotic Process Automation at Two Harbors location

Friday, April 19, 2019

API Outsourcing, Inc. provides its customers with Robotics Process Automation (RPA) technology that offers simple and secure solutions to automate accounts payable and accounts receivable processes. Centreviews, the technology recently developed and branded by API, poises the company for significant growth. The cloud-based application involves software robots and artificial intelligence, and customers can implement it without making capital investments. “RPA is now vital in accounting and other back office departments,” said Gary Halleen, API CEO. “As companies grow, daily operations become more labor-intensive. Our new RPA product helps organizations process and manage invoices, payments and other documents in a secure and...

Minnesota briefs: State ripe for mass timber manufacturer, study finds

Thursday, April 18, 2019

Minnesota has the capacity to launch mass timber manufacturing, according to a new study by the Bureau of Business and Economic Research and the Center for Economic Development at the University of Minnesota’s Duluth campus. The study considered the feasibility of introducing mass timber manufacturing to the state of Minnesota and/or Minnesota’s Arrowhead region, according to the Minnesota Department of Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation. Researchers specifically analyzed the market for cross-laminated timber (CLT), which is a manufactured wood product in wide use in Europe. Click here to view the original article from the Star Tribune.

Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation (IRRR) is a big supporter of Cook County

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

For many years, Cook County has benefited from the generous support and partnership of the MN Department of Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation (IRRR). Since July 2014, Cook County projects have received over $3 million in grants and loans from the IRRR. Projects of the following entities have benefitted from the support of the IRRR. These projects help to diversify the economy, improve the quality of life, create employment opportunities and increase the tax base of Cook County and the IRRR service area. Click here to view the original article from the Cook County News Herald.

Arrowhead Cooperative installs electric car chargers

Tuesday, April 16, 2019

It’s not exactly the Flintstones meeting the Jetsons, but Cook County just got a bit more modern with the installation of electric vehicle chargers. Arrowhead Cooperative member owners who own battery powered vehicles, or hybrid vehicles, now have three places they can charge those autos in the county, with more to come in the near future. Click here to view the original article from the Cook County News Herald.

Minnesota Exports Jump to Record $23 Billion in 2018

Monday, April 15, 2019

Canada and China lead in export gains ST. PAUL – Minnesota exports of goods grew 10 percent between 2017 and 2018, reaching a record high of $23 billion, according to a report released by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). U.S. exports grew 8 percent during the same period. Minnesota’s solid export performance led to the state’s ranking rising to 20th highest in exports among all states in 2018, up from 23rd last year. Export growth was strong, even within an environment of continued uncertainty created by changing trade policies in the U.S. and trading partners. Click here to view the original...

Greater FF receives Otto Bremer Trust

Friday, April 12, 2019

The Greater Fergus Falls Corporation has recently been awarded $50,000 from the Otto Bremer Trust (OBT) to support economic development through new and expanded businesses in Fergus Falls. "We are incredibly grateful to OBT for believing in our mission and awarding this grant," GFFC Executive Chairman Bruce Thom said in a press release. "These funds will expand our efforts in reaching our goal of bringing in 20 new or expanded businesses by 2020. We look forward to the impact this funding will have on our community." Click here to view the original article from the The Daily Journal.

Study: Minnesota is No. 3 in the nation for life expectancy

Wednesday, April 10, 2019

The results are based on average life expectancies over a 6-year period. A person born and raised in Minnesota can expect to live 5.5 years longer on average than someone born in Mississippi. That's according to 24/7 Wall Street, which ranked each state after analyzing life expectancy data between 2010-2015 from the National Association of Public Health Statistics and Information Systems and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Click here to view the original article from the Bring Me The News.

Three Greater Minnesota Cities Awarded Infrastructure Grants

Wednesday, April 10, 2019

Funding will support infrastructure improvements in North Branch, Spring Valley, and Wadena ST. PAUL – Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) announced $1.69 million in infrastructure grants for projects in Greater Minnesota. The funding awarded from DEED’s Greater Minnesota Business Development Public Infrastructure Grant Program (BDPI) was approved for the cities of North Branch, Spring Valley, and Wadena. The three projects were all funded during the first quarter of 2019 and are expected to create more than 2,800 full-time jobs. Click here to view the original article from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.

Q & A: New DEED leader talks budget, workforce

Tuesday, April 09, 2019

Minnesota’s new economic point person is bringing a tech executive’s love for innovation to the role. Northfield native Steve Grove, commissioner of the Department of Employment and Economic Development, has spent the past 12 years as a senior leader at YouTube and Google, most recently leading a team focused on innovations in journalism. A Minnesota native, he moved back to the state in April 2018 with his wife, Mary, a San Diego native (“This is definitely her first Minnesota winter,” Grove says) and 2-year-old twins. Click here to view the original article from Finance & Commerce.

Minnesota Innovation Collaborative

Monday, April 08, 2019

The Minnesota Innovation Collaborative will support a series of new initiatives designed to accelerate the growth of startups and innovative companies. Each initiative is uniquely designed to lower the risk required to fund, start, or grow a venture-backed startup in Minnesota. The MIC will bring all of these initiatives together under a new office that acts as a touchstone for the state to support and enhance our visibility and interest in the innovation ecosystem. Click here to view the original article from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.

Expo Gets Youth to Think About Careers; Employers, the Next-gen Workforce

Monday, April 01, 2019

An HR executive, truck loader, court reporter and physical therapist will be among 25 Minnesota professionals who are blind, DeafBlind, or low-vision networking with blind students at the 2019 Career Expo sponsored by State Services for the Blind. The Expo highlights the diversity of career paths for job seekers who are blind. This free event, focused on high school and undergraduate students, will be held Sat., April 27 at Minnesota Department of Education, 1500 Highway 36 West, Roseville, Conference Center B. Click here to view the original article from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.

MPMA Education Foundation offering scholarships

Monday, April 01, 2019

The MPMA Education Foundation is offering scholarships in amounts ranging from $500 - $1,000 to help motivated students with an interest in manufacturing get the training they need to become successful in the field. Applications must be submitted by April 15, and the form can be filled out online or downloaded on the Education Foundation page at www.mpma.com. Click here to view the original article from the Fergus Falls Daily Journal.

Financing high-impact business projects

Friday, March 29, 2019

One important way Great River Energy invests in the communities it serves is through incentive programs that enable business development. A new Business Expansion Loan Program is geared toward large, high-impact projects that bring in significant investments and create quality jobs. The first business expansion loan of $500,000 to the Rice County Housing & Redevelopment Authority was just finalized. The financing will help build the necessary infrastructure for Daikin Applied to build a state-of-the-art production facility near Faribault. The new facility will be located in the Met-Con Business Park north of Faribault and is served by Great River Energy’s member-owner Steele-Waseca Cooperative...

American manufacturing companies have a spring in their step

Thursday, March 28, 2019

Foxconn's latest reversal suggests manufacturing is undergoing a revival, especially among agile smaller firms and those using advanced techniques. When Taiwanese giant Foxconn announced plans to build a massive factory for high-end televisions in 2017, many cheered, including President Donald Trump. Electronics manufacturers had long ago abandoned America for cheaper countries, especially China, so the investment seemed to mark a reversal, albeit one that came with a significant amount of subsidies. But what Foxconn will do in southeastern Wisconsin is now in question. The company has discovered that it is hard to get thousands of Midwesterners to work long hours at stressful...

Walz Budget Plan Includes Restoration of Angel Tax Credit Program

Tuesday, March 26, 2019

The Medical Alley Tech Association lauds the move, noting that the Angel Investment Tax Credit generated at least $108 million in investment in the state’s health tech industry over a five-year period. In Governor Tim Walz’s two-year, nearly $50 billion budget plan, heavy emphasis was placed on funding education, roads, and health care. However, Walz also served up support for the startup community with a proposal to restore the state’s Angel Investment Tax Credit (AITC) program. The tax credit was a state-sponsored rewards program for investors who take high-risk bets on technology-focused products, entrepreneurs or startups. It provided investors or investment funds with...

Tax credits proposed to spur business investments in Minnesota

Friday, March 22, 2019

Gov. Tim Walz, legislators want to reinstate the angel tax credit program. State lawmakers and Gov. Tim Walz want to replenish funding for a lapsed program that gave tens of millions in tax breaks to investors who helped start businesses in Minnesota. The state could spend up to $20 million a year on investors who support startups, under a proposal in the Legislature. Walz did not commit to an exact amount but told members of the TwinWest Chamber of Commerce that the tax credits will be part of the budget he unveils. Click here to view the original article from the Star Tribune.

University of Minnesota launches startup incubator to aid new ventures based on university research

Thursday, March 21, 2019

The University of Minnesota announced the launch of a startup incubator to support companies that are spun out of research undertaken at the university. The "Discovery Launchpad" program was developed by the university's Venture Center to support researchers who want to bring new technology to market. It's currently working with eight startups and plans to graduate eight from the program this fiscal year. Click here to view the original article from the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal.

Budget for One Minnesota: Child Care Investment and Integrity

Tuesday, March 19, 2019

For many Minnesota families, child care is a necessity, yet a growing number of Minnesotans can’t access it – it just doesn’t exist. The number of licensed family childcare providers has decreased almost 30 percent in Minnesota since 2005, according to the Minnesota Department of Human Services. Census data from 2014 show that about 310,000 children in Minnesota ages 0-5 have both parents or guardians in the workforce and likely need some form of child care. Lack of affordable, quality child care is a significant barrier to workforce participation that can negatively affect job and wealth creation, business expansion and retention,...

MLEC welcomes Sarah Cron

Monday, March 18, 2019

Sarah Cron replaces Brian Zelenak, who left Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative in mid-November. Cron comes to MLEC from Two Harbors, where she was the marketing manager at Cooperative Light and Power for over 18 years. Cron and her husband love the outdoors and are excited to explore the Aitkin area. According to Board President, Harold Harms, “Sarah brings 19 years of cooperative senior management and sales/marketing experience to us. Sarah is active in the community and the cooperative community as well, having been on the board or committees for Great River Energy, MREA, Touchstone Energy, Leadership Duluth and more. The board...

Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development report on the timber industry

Friday, March 15, 2019

It is not surprising that almost half of the state’s remaining employment in Forestry and Logging is located in the seven county Northeast Minnesota region, home to most of the state’s forest land. The Forestry and Logging sector is a vital part of the Forest Product Industry which also includes establishments and employment in two other NAICS codes: Wood Product Manufacturing and Paper Manufacturing. Despite long-term declines, these three sectors still combined for an average of 139 business establishments and 3,078 jobs in 2017 in Northeast Minnesota, accounting for 2.1 percent of total employment in the region. Click here to view the...

'Still a lot more to do' as Minnesota lawmakers push for border-to-border broadband

Thursday, March 14, 2019

ST. PAUL — Minnesota broadband development advocates made their case for keeping a program that provides state dollars to match private investments in building out the infrastructure for high-speed internet. And they asked lawmakers to back a proposal to boost state funding to fill gaps in internet coverage in pockets of rural Minnesota. Click here to view the original article from the Echo Press.

Five Minnesota Businesses Awarded $1.7 Million from Job Creation Fund

Wednesday, March 13, 2019

The state’s award will leverage up to $141.8 million in private investment ST. PAUL – The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) approved grants totaling more than $1.7 million in funding for five Minnesota businesses. The Minnesota Job Creation Fund awarded funding to Cantel Medical Corp., NAPCO International LLC, QA1 Precision Products, Inc., Up North Plastics Inc., and Vision Ease, LP. The projects are expected to create a total of 549 new jobs. Click here to view the original article from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.

Lessons about the power of being a 'headquarters economy'

Monday, March 11, 2019

For many who move to the Twin Cities for jobs, cold winters are not the draw -- it's good schools, health care and outdoor recreation. Our governor and legislators might be a little busy now but by next session they should have read a new book called “Headquarters Economy” by business school Prof. Myles Shaver. It’s an easy read, but this isn’t a recommendation for book club. They need to read it because they likely don’t understand Minnesota’s economy as well as they should — and certainly not as well as Shaver does. Click here to view the original article from the Star...

Minnesota’s manufacturers expecting to see stability in 2019

Friday, March 08, 2019

Minnesota manufacturers reported mostly unchanged or improved conditions during 2018, according to an annual joint survey by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) and the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. The 2018 Minnesota “Manufacturing Business Conditions Survey” also found that respondents had a split outlook on production for 2019 with 47 percent believing production would increase and an equal percentage expecting it to remain the same. Click here to view the original article from the Redwood Falls Gazette

North Mankato has record building permit year

Wednesday, March 06, 2019

NORTH MANKATO — It was a banner year for development in North Mankato with a record dollar amount of building permits issued, some big industrial projects underway and a brisk market in new home construction. "The outlook for North Mankato is very strong," said City Administrator John Harrenstein. Click here to view the original article from The Free Press

Anoka County works to attract businesses with new website, economic development leader

Tuesday, March 05, 2019

The goal, officials said, is to offer a regional tool in an area — economic development — that typically is handled by each city independently. When business comes knocking, Anoka County officials want to be ready. It’s why the county has been working for months on a website that offers an easy look at available properties and commercial real estate ripe for development across the county’s 21 communities. Click here to view the original article from the Star Tribune.

$429K state grant sought for Embers redevelopment

Monday, March 04, 2019

Bridge Plaza project includes five-story mixed-use building MANKATO — Old Town has been undergoing a renaissance in recent years with multiple new businesses, the creation of Riverfront Park and the opening of a Minnesota State University satellite office focused on entrepreneurship. Two blocks away, the northeast edge of downtown Mankato is seeing construction of a seven-story office building and a three-story outpatient mental health clinic, along with the renovation of the Ridgely Building into a 160-slot daycare center and the potential remodeling of the Landmark Building into a 62-room boutique hotel. Click here to view the original article from The Free Press.

Anoka County recognized for economic partnership

Friday, March 01, 2019

The Anoka County Regional Economic Development Partnership was honored with a 2019 Economic Development Association of Minnesota Award during EDAM’s Winter Conference in St. Louis Park. The award was given to the Anoka County Regional Economic Development Partnership — which was formed in 2017 as a collaborative effort between Anoka County, Connexus Energy and the MetroNorth Chamber of Commerce — for its Economic Development Roadmap and innovative partnership. Bruce Sayler, principal of community and economic development at Connexus Energy, was nominated for his key role in getting the partnership started, and he accepted the award on behalf of the partnership. Click here to view...

From Bold North to True North—Explore Minnesota Unveils New Campaign

Friday, March 01, 2019

“Find Your True North” ads launch this spring to promote the state’s $15.3 billion tourism industry. Minnesota’s Super Bowl may have been bold, but in 2019, the northern spirit will be marketed as true. “Find Your True North” is Explore Minnesota’s new tourism campaign, unveiled at the annual state tourism conference in St. Paul. It furthers the state’s shifting identity away from the midwest and into the “North,” a moniker that started as a grassroots movement and has grown steadily—right up to the national stage last year when Minneapolis hosted Super Bowl 52 with “Bold North” as its tagline. Click here to view the original...

Anoka County recognized for economic partnership

Thursday, February 28, 2019

Google looking at Becker to build a $600 million data center

Wednesday, February 27, 2019

The development would be powered by two dedicated wind farms, according to a regulatory filing by Xcel. Google is looking at building a giant Minnesota data center in Becker that would cost at least $600 million and be powered by two dedicated wind farms. The data center, essentially a big building full of servers, was disclosed in a regulatory filing by Minneapolis-based Xcel Energy, which would play a big role in the project. The Google server farm would create about 50 full-time tech jobs and about 2,000 construction jobs over 18 to 24 months. Click here to view the original article from the Star...

Twin Cities metro has second-highest rate of female breadwinners in the country

Monday, February 25, 2019

The Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area is the second-best in the country for women making more money than their partners, broker service Lendingtree announced. Their rankings were based on the results of the American Community Survey, which is an ongoing project by the U.S. Census Bureau. Lendingtree looked at the 50 largest U.S. cities and their metro areas. Click here to view the original article from Business Journal

These Minnesota companies made Fortune's 'Most Admired' list

Friday, February 22, 2019

Three Minnesota companies landed spots on Fortune magazine's annual ranking of the world's most-admired companies. The list, which is compiled by Fortune with management consulting firm Korn Ferry, ranks the largest 1,000 U.S. companies (along with some big non-U.S. companies from Fortune's Global 500), and solicits impressions of each from 3,750 executives, directors and analysts, using criteria like social responsibility, long-term investment value and the companies' ability to attract talent. Click here to view the original article from Business Journal

Denmark picks Minnesota as its 'bridge' to U.S. med-tech

Wednesday, February 20, 2019

A new $1.3 million economic-development initiative called MedTech Bridge is trying to capitalize on Denmark's strengths. Denmark is widely known for its large health care companies, such as Coloplast and GN ReSound, and impressive bridges like the 5-mile-long Öresund Bridge to Sweden. A new $1.3 million economic-development initiative called MedTech Bridge is trying to capitalize on Denmark’s strengths in medical inventions, and bridge-building, by creating international connections to help Danish companies grasp the vast but bewildering U.S. health care market. Click here to view the original article from the Star Tribune

These Minnesota companies made Fortune's 'Most Admired' list

Tuesday, February 19, 2019

Three Greater Minnesota Cities Awarded Infrastructure Grants

Friday, February 15, 2019

Funding will support infrastructure improvements in Arlington, Becker and Hendricks ST. PAUL – Grants totaling more than $2 million were approved by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) for infrastructure projects in three Greater Minnesota communities. DEED awarded the funding from its Greater Minnesota Business Development Public Infrastructure Grant Program for projects in Arlington, Becker and Hendricks. The grants were approved during the fourth quarter of 2018. Click here to view the original article from the MN DEED website.

Report Outlines Early Outcomes of Minnesota Equity Grants

Thursday, February 14, 2019

Grants have helped further develop nearly 1,500 businesses; train almost 50,000 individuals ST. PAUL – Grants focused on programs that assist Minnesotans of color, women, youth and people with disabilities have helped further develop nearly 1,500 businesses and assist almost 50,000 career seekers and youth with employment, education and support services across the state, according to a new report released by the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). The report outlines the work that resulted from passage of the Equity Article, a one-year, $35 million supplemental package of strategic investments that was passed by the legislature in 2016. In 2017, the legislature continued...

MLEC Revolving Loan Fund supports growth in area

Wednesday, February 13, 2019

American Peat Technology (APT) continues to expand its capacity to meet a growing demand for its reed-sedge peat products. Officials from Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative (MLEC) and APT gathered at the Aitkin production facility to celebrate another milestone in the company’s growth: equipment financing secured through the MLEC revolving loan fund. Using a $132,000 loan approved by the MLEC board of directors at its regular meeting on Nov. 16, APT will invest a total of $165,000 in equipment that will help the company harvest and handle reed-sedge peat, before refining the raw material into products used in agricultural and water treatment applications. “American...

‘Optimistic’ Minnesota manufacturers expect an improving or stable 2019

Tuesday, February 12, 2019

Minnesota manufacturers are starting the year with an optimistic outlook, with most saying they expect business conditions to either improve or stay the same in 2019. That was the takeaway from an annual survey released Monday by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development and the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Most of the 249 state manufacturers who responded to the survey in November said their business had improved or remained stable in 2018. Click here to view the original article from the Pioneer Press

MLEC Revolving Loan Fund supports growth in area

Wednesday, February 06, 2019

Co-ops help secure funding for Park Rapids senior living facility

Tuesday, February 05, 2019

By: Great River Energy staff One of the ways electric cooperatives demonstrate their commitment to the communities they serve is by providing loans to businesses looking to start or expand in the rural areas where cooperatives are found. The United States Department of Agriculture has designated a loan program specifically for these types of projects: The Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant (REDLG) program exists to fund rural projects through local utility organizations. A recent example of this loan in action is Park Rapids, Minn.-based Itasca-Mantrap Cooperative Electrical Association (I-M) providing a $1.36 million zero-interest loan to KI Developers to construct the Crystal...

EDAM names Lambrecht ‘Economic Developer of the Year’

Tuesday, February 05, 2019

By: Great River Energy staff Tom Lambrecht, economic development manager at Great River Energy, was recently honored for his leadership in the industry by the Economic Development Association of Minnesota (EDAM). Lambrecht received the Economic Developer of the Year award last month at EDAM’s annual winter conference where the organization recognizes projects and professionals in the economic development industry who have gone above and beyond or faced significant challenges in the last year. “These awards highlight what is great about Minnesota – innovative people, organizations and projects that continue to make this an exceptional place to live, work and play,” said Matt Brown,...

Growing to meet the energy needs of the craft beer industry

Tuesday, February 05, 2019

By: Great River Energy staff Across the country, small craft breweries are giving new life to old industrial neighborhoods. They are helping revitalize local economies and attract additional investments. This trend is certainly playing out in Minnesota, where craft breweries had an estimated economic impact of more than $2 billion in the state in 2017. While the largest concentration of the state’s nearly 200 breweries is currently in the Twin Cities metro area, more breweries have cropped up throughout Greater Minnesota in recent years. This trend is expected to continue, and Great River Energy and its member-owner cooperatives are prepared to play...

Projects bring $3.3M in value to Great River Energy member systems in 2018

Tuesday, February 05, 2019

By: Great River Energy staff Day in and day out, Great River Energy’s economic development services staff provides a variety of opportunities to the communities it serves. Team members aid in business financing assistance, which can spur job growth for a startup company or an established enterprise looking to expand, ultimately leading to a more prosperous area. And when one cooperative community thrives, the entire system benefits. The staff – made up of manager Tom Lambrecht, economic developer Erin Sparks and economic development lead Jeff Borling – works to promote areas of Minnesota that Great River Energy’s 28 member-owner cooperatives serve as...

Working to expand the state’s advanced manufacturing sector

Tuesday, February 05, 2019

By: Great River Energy staff As an agricultural powerhouse, Minnesota is a state that understands food processing. Yet how many Minnesotans know how food products make their way into the unique and functional packages we find on our grocery store shelves? Between the farmer’s field and the breakfast table, a simple bowl of cereal will travel through a series of complex machines that measure and fill the bags, print and fold the boxes then pack and palletize the product for shipment. The same is true for every packaged food product in your pantry. Thanks to its skilled and highly-educated workforce, Minnesota excels in...

Business, education creating connections to address workforce shortage in the Redwood area

Monday, February 04, 2019

If today’s students were assured of a good-paying job in the region where they have been growing up, 75 percent of them indicated they would want to live and work there. That statistic was offered by Luke Greiner, a regional analyst for southwestern and central Minnesota for the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), during a presentation at Daktronics in Redwood Falls. Greiner spoke to the staff of the Redwood Area School District in late November as part of a staff development day coordinated by the school in conjunction with Daktronics in an effort to provide perspective for the...

Mankato prepares to lure investors to 'Opportunity Zones'

Friday, February 01, 2019

MANKATO — The city of Mankato and Greater Mankato Growth are rolling out new marketing plans geared toward investors to develop various projects around the downtown area. City officials and local leaders are hoping investors will take advantage of new federal tax incentives passed in 2017 as part of Congress' tax reform bill to put money toward renovations and even new developments along the Riverfront Drive corridor, as well as nearby areas northeast and southwest of downtown. Click here to view the original article from The Free Press

GMG names talent resources liaison

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

MANKATO — Emmy Forsyth, a Mankato native who has spent eight years working in southern California, will return to serve as Greater Mankato Growth’s first-ever talent resources liaison. She will begin working remotely Jan. 21 and moving here by March 1. In response to an ever-tighter labor pool, the GMG Board decided to fund the position to help attract talent to the region. Click here to view the original article from The Free Press

County awards $8.4M winning bid for Lake Connections

Friday, January 25, 2019

The Lake County Board of Commissioners has awarded the highest bid, $8.4 million, for Lake Connections, the county's municipal broadband project, during a meeting Tuesday in Two Harbors. The highest successful bid was the best and final offer from Pinpoint Holdings Inc. in Cambridge, Neb. The board unanimously accepted the resolution to accept the bid; Commissioner Rick Hogenson was absent. Click here to view the original article from the Lake County News Chronicle

More locals bring home Growler awards

Friday, January 18, 2019

It seems Hutchinson’s new brewery wasn’t the only local establishment to win an award last weekend at The Growler magazine Kind-of-a-Big-Deal 2018 Readers’ Choice awards ceremony. Crow River Winery earned a silver medal for Best Winery, finishing second behind Cannon River Winery. Liquor Hutch, Hutchinson’s municipal liquor store, also earned a bronze medal for Best Liquor Store in greater Minnesota. Casanova Liquor in Hudson and Mount Royal Bottle Shoppe in Duluth were first and second, respectively. Click here to view the original article from the Hutchinson Leader

Tapping homegrown talent

Wednesday, January 16, 2019

Many Greater Minnesota students say they would prefer to remain in their hometowns after graduation, but perceptions about employment opportunities sometimes get in the way. Using survey data from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development’s participation in the Southwest Minnesota Career Expo in October 2017, we can gain valuable insight into the perceptions of the next generation of workers. It’s likely the views and influencers of the students in southwestern Minnesota are the same for students across Minnesota. Roughly 2,000 10th-grade students in the southwestern region took the survey. Click here to view the original article from the Hutchinson Leader

Broadband: Now and into the future

Monday, January 14, 2019

As part of the ongoing Iron Range Blandin Broadband Communities, Aitkin County held a community broadband visioning meeting 4 at Long Lake Conservation Center (LLCC). The Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board (IRRRB) is a state agency that serves the area based on school district boundaries where there was a mine or a power sourcing facility that served that mine. Grant-funded Broadband Community projects must be within Aitkin County, with a majority of the projects benefitting the service area. Click here to view the original article from the Aitkin Age.

Magazine Highlights Minnesota as a Top Spot for Business

Friday, January 11, 2019

The new edition of Minnesota: Thriving in the North spells out the benefits of doing business here. It highlights the state’s inviting business climate, innovative atmosphere and world-class workforce. The publication, available in both print and digital versions, is part of DEED’s ongoing work to promote the state’s advantages for business investment and expansion, as well as its culture of innovation and quality of life. Click here to view the original article from DEED Developments Blog

Crystal Brook celebrates grand opening

Thursday, December 27, 2018

Crystal Brook Senior Living Community literally rolls out a red carpet for its new residents. Hundreds toured the 138,000-square-foot facility Wednesday during its grand opening. "We're thankful to be a partner in Park Rapids to offer this senior housing," said Knute Nelson CEO Mark R. Anderson in his opening remarks. Click here to view the original article from the Park Rapids Enterprise

Cattle producer sees market potential in China

Wednesday, December 26, 2018

The potential for American beef sales in China is good, said Ashley Kohls, the executive director of the Minnesota State Cattlemen's Association. Kohls was the featured speaker at the West Central Cattlemen's Association's meeting in Morris. Kohls was part of a recent beef promotion tour in China and Japan. Producers from Minnesota, Nebraska and other states visited the two countries to promote beef as a food source. Click here to view the original article from The Stevens County Times

Craft cideries cultivate apples, taste buds

Tuesday, December 25, 2018

Local orchards sell in fall only To the trees at Sweetland Orchard, 2012 was the year of the false spring, an unmitigated disaster, but Gretchen Perbix would later come to see opportunity there, as well. On St. Patrick’s Day that March, temperatures hit a record high 78, leading the apple trees at her orchard, just east of New Prague, to blossom early. Well into April, the weather did a characteristic about-face, and nightly temperatures plunged into the teens. Click here to view the original article from The Free Press

Lake Connections receives 4 bids

Monday, December 24, 2018

The Lake County Board of Commissioners learned four entities submitted bids for Lake Connections, the county's municipal broadband project. The initial bidding period ended Nov. 2 with Lake Partners, Hanson Communications, Mediacom Communications Corp. and Cooperative Light and Power (CLP) in Two Harbors submitting bids, along with a $100,000 deposit, for the network. They will have the opportunity to submit a "best and final offer," according to the terms of the sale set by the county and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service (RUS). Click here to view the original article from the Lake County News Chronicle

Country chic meets rustic charm at Fiddler's Green

Sunday, December 23, 2018

Thinking about a romantic farm wedding, marriage vows under a willow tree surrounded by acres of rolling green fields and dancing the night away in an enchanted barn? Fiddler’s Green near Litchfield can make this dream come true. Fiddler’s Green, at 63054 County State Aid Highway 11, opened in June as a performance and event venue. Home to what its owners call “fairytale weddings and epic events,” the venue is situated on 15 acres just northeast of Litchfield on County State Aid Highway 11. Click here to view the original article from the Hutchinson Leader

Potential improvements down the road

Friday, December 21, 2018

As plans for future expansion in McGrath are underway, American Peat Technology (APT) and Aitkin County are in discussion about potential road improvements on a four-mile segment of Hwy. 26 near the proposed new peat processing facility. APT Vice President Peggy Jones and representative Courtney Bot gave an update during the Nov. 13 Board of Commissioners meeting. The current APT location in Aitkin, in operation since 2003, harvests reed-sedge peat to produce value-added granular peat products for several industries. The Aitkin location will remain in operation, but it has reached capacity due to a high global demand for APT’s products, necessitating...

Incentives to invest in Opportunity Zones

Thursday, December 20, 2018

A new opportunity for funding development in Aitkin County was mentioned during the Economic Development Committee meeting on Nov. 14. Aitkin County Growth Executive Director Barb Carr said the county has received Opportunity Zone designation in areas including Aitkin and McGregor, and Tamarack down to the southern county boarder. An Opportunity Zone is an economically-distressed community where new investments, under certain conditions, may be eligible for preferential tax treatment. Opportunity Zones were created by the federal government as a way to spur private investment in distressed areas by allowing investors holding unrealized gains in stocks or mutual funds to invest in...

Meet R2DMoo, the Robot Cowboy on Duty at Cargill’s Beef Plants

Sunday, December 16, 2018

Cargill’s beef plant in Schuyler, Nebraska recently welcomed a new co-worker: a remote-controlled, two-armed, bag-waving robot cowboy some are calling R2DMoo. The silly-sounding robot serves a serious purpose: keeping employees safe. The average bovine that moves through Cargill’s beef plant can weigh up to three quarters of a ton, and the plant processes more than 5,000 each day. There are a lot of safety risks attached to these gentle-looking giants. Click here to view the original article from the MINNEINNO

Three Greater Minnesota Cities Awarded Infrastructure Grants

Friday, December 14, 2018

Funding will support infrastructure improvements in Jackson, St. Joseph, and Faribault ST. PAUL – Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) awarded just over $2.35 million in grants to infrastructure projects in the Greater Minnesota area. The funding awarded from DEED’s Greater Minnesota Business Development Public Infrastructure Grant Program(BDPI) was approved for the cities of Jackson, St. Joseph and Faribault. It is expected to create an additional 166 full-time jobs and prepare these cities for future growth. Click here to view the original article from MN Employment and Economic Development

DEED Launches Tool to Measure, Report Broadband Access

Thursday, December 13, 2018

Check Speed Minnesota will give insight into consumer experience, inform policymakers ST PAUL - The Minnesota Office of Broadband Development, located within the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), today launched a new tool that will allow Minnesotans to test, map and report various broadband internet speeds across the state. CheckSpeedMinnesota.com is a benchmarking tool designed to gather information about the high-speed internet consumer experience in Minnesota. By answering a few questions and running a speed test, the input captured will help create a better overall picture of broadband in the state. Click here to view the original article from MN Employment...

Sun Country Airlines partners with Minnesota State in Mankato for new pilots

Tuesday, December 11, 2018

Sun Country Airlines on Thursday unveiled a partnership with Minnesota State University, Mankato, to offer commercial aviation students full-time employment prior to graduation through a new initiative, the Sun Country Bridge Program. Students in the aviation program at Minnesota State can apply for the program their freshman year, said Jessica Wheeler, spokesperson for Sun Country. Applicants will be chosen on "technical requirements, professionalism, and commitment to their profession," she said Upon completion of the program and the required flight hours, members of the program enter Sun Country's three-month pilot training program for full-time employment. Click here to view the original article from the Minneapolis/St....

Sparks receives designation of Certified Economic Developer

Monday, December 10, 2018

Erin Sparks, economic developer at Great River Energy, recently earned the designation of Certified Economic Developer (CEcD), a national recognition that denotes a mastery of skills in economic development, professional attainment and a commitment to personal and professional growth. This designation recognizes qualified and dedicated practitioners in the economic development field and sets the standard of excellence within the profession. Candidates must pass a comprehensive examination, which has three parts and spans two days. The exam tests a practitioner’s knowledge, proficiency and judgement in the following key areas of economic development: Business retention and expansion Finance and credit analysis Marketing and attraction Strategic planning Entrepreneurial and small...

Uncovering the issues surrounding rural housing

Monday, December 10, 2018

Opening the door to welcome solutions and ideas for the area Each of the nine articles in the “Rural Housing Series” investigated an aspect of the the multi-dimensional issues surrounding the shortage of available and affordable housing in the area. The goal of the series is to connect people with ideas to find solutions to this dilemma. In conclusion, the Age shares its findings related to the complex issue with a breakdown of each topic covered. Workforce housing “Lack of adequate rural housing hinders workforce” (June 13) explored the topic of hiring and housing from the perspectives of human resource staff from six of...

Minnesota's ACT scores remain steady, among best in the U.S.

Sunday, December 09, 2018

Minnesota's average declined slightly but not enough to alter its best-of-the-nation standing. Minnesota students’ scores on the ACT college entrance exam dipped slightly this year but were still higher than those of any other state where nearly all students take the test. Graduating seniors in the class of 2018 earned an average composite score of 21.3 out of a possible 36, according to test results released Wednesday. That’s down from last year’s state average of 21.5, but still above the national average of 20.8 for the test that measures students’ college readiness in math, reading, science and English. It was also enough to...

How Minnesota became the Land of 10,000 Startups

Friday, December 07, 2018

Minnesota is no stranger to big business. It’s home to such names as Target, Best Buy, General Mills, and Ecolab — all of which have made their homes in Minnesota for generations and have become a source of pride. But a new industry — technology — is taking Minnesota by storm, boosting the local economy and putting the state on the global map once again. Minnesota has long been known for its high standard of living, agriculture industry, and flourishing community of performing arts. But over the past decade the Twin Cities area has made great strides to become a forward-thinking...

The University of Minnesota’s craziest, most interesting innovations

Thursday, December 06, 2018

The University of Minnesota is a research giant. Sure, most colleges and universities have an active team of researchers, but few institutions churn out inventions at the same rate as the U. Last year, the U was named by the National Science Foundation as one of the nation’s top 10 research institutions. A report released by the university in late 2017 estimates that it has had an $8.6 billion impact on Minnesota, and that its inventions generated more than $320 million for the state between 2009 and 2015. Simply put, the University of Minnesota is, and always has been, at the heart of the state’s...

An Enterprise of Entrepreneurs

Wednesday, December 05, 2018

Entrepreneurs, makers and artists networked with DEED representatives from the Offices of Small Business Assistance, Business Finance, Business Development, Small Business Development Centers, Minnesota Trade Office and Unemployment Insurance to learn about technical support and financing programs DEED offers that help get startups up and running. DEED’s Startup open house, held Oct. 9 at the First National Bank Building in St. Paul, competed with some major Startup Week events taking place that morning, such as Manova Global Summit and specialized tracks in FinTech and Food Ag Ideas. Startup Week program attendees had twice as many events to choose from this year, compared to...

Million-dollar partnership to spur business growth

Tuesday, December 04, 2018

A partnership formed between Great River Energy and The Entrepreneur Fund will benefit small businesses and entrepreneurs in the two organizations’ shared service areas with a $1 million program loan provided by Great River Energy. An event held Thursday, Aug. 16, at Clyde Iron Works in Duluth, Minn., celebrated this venture with a check presentation. “It is so important to continue to support entrepreneurship and growth in our region,” said Shawn Wellnitz, Entrepreneur Fund CEO. “This funding from Great River Energy – some of the largest we’ve received so far in 2018 – will be beneficial in many different facets.” For more than...

Three Greater Minnesota cities awarded infrastructure grants funding will support improvements in Jackson, St. Joseph and Faribault

Tuesday, December 04, 2018

ST. PAUL – Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) awarded just over $2.35 million in grants to infrastructure projects in the Greater Minnesota area. The funding awarded from DEED’s Greater Minnesota Business Development Public Infrastructure Grant Program(BDPI) was approved for the cities of Jackson, St. Joseph and Faribault. It is expected to create an additional 166 full-time jobs and prepare these cities for future growth. “These grants demonstrate how state government and the private sector can collaborate to create greater opportunity and continued economic growth throughout Minnesota,” said Governor Mark Dayton. “Working together these business expansions will support vibrant communities and create...

DEED launches tool to measure, report broadband access

Monday, December 03, 2018

Check Speed Minnesota will give insight into consumer experience, inform policymakers ST PAUL - The Minnesota Office of Broadband Development, located within the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), today launched a new tool that will allow Minnesotans to test, map and report various broadband internet speeds across the state. CheckSpeedMinnesota.com is a benchmarking tool designed to gather information about the high-speed internet consumer experience in Minnesota. By answering a few questions and running a speed test, the input captured will help create a better overall picture of broadband in the state. “The Minnesota Office of Broadband Development is charged by law...

Faribault is a global businesses hotspot. Can other Minnesota cities learn from its success?

Friday, November 30, 2018

When some people think of Faribault, they may think of Shattuck St. Mary’s boarding school (and its elite hockey program), or the processing plant for Jennie-O meat, or the fancy-blanket purveyors at Faribault Woolen Mill Co. Others may think of the cultural and racial tensions in the town as its Somali population has grown in the last decade. But when some state officials think of Faribault, they think of it as a success story. That’s because despite a population of fewer than 25,000 people, Faribault has four major employers owned by companies outside of the U.S., an abundance of foreign investment that experts...

Surprise! Some area land values seem to be rising

Wednesday, November 21, 2018

WEST FARGO, N.D. — Brent Qualey realizes that what he's about to say will surprise many in Upper Midwest agriculture. Despite poor crop prices and tough-to-achieve farm profitability, overall area land values have, in his experience, inched upward from a year ago, said Qualey, a veteran area real estate salesman and appraiser. "Land prices are steadying up a little bit. That surprises a lot of people," Qualey said. Qualey spoke Sept. 11 at the 38th annual Big Iron farm show in West Fargo. The three-day event ended Sept. 13. The show focused on the biggest, newest types of farm equipment, as well as agricultural...

Program gives Mankato students a head start in manufacturing careers

Tuesday, November 20, 2018

MANKATO — At MTU Onsite Energy, East High School senior Ethan Dempster is mounting control panels, installing radiators and trying almost every other job on the assembly line. His favorite job is testing the generators after they are assembled. “You get to see everything come together,” he said. Dempster is earning both a paycheck and school credit while he works at the Mankato manufacturing company. He's one of a dozen participants in the Mankato Area Public Schools Youth Employment Acceleration Program. School district officials and business partners promoted the manufacturing apprenticeship program to business supporters from across the state. They presented at the Minnesota Chamber...

Minnesota's oldest co-op the 'heart' of Finland

Monday, November 19, 2018

For more than a century, the Finland Cooperative General Store on County Road 1, in its namesake unincorporated community, has reflected the diversity of its residents and culture with a vast array of inventory that makes it more than just a grocery store. It is the oldest continuously operating co-op in Minnesota and is one of the oldest in the U.S. What makes it really stand out, however, isn’t its age. It’s a true general store in the tradition of generations of settlers throughout the nation’s history. If someone needs an American flag for the Fourth of July — or maybe the St....

Cost share program makes organic certification more affordable

Sunday, November 18, 2018

Minnesota organic farmers and processors can apply for a rebate of up to 75 percent of the cost of their organic certification. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for the Minnesota Organic Cost Share Program from now until Wednesday, Oct. 31. Organic certification is a third-party verification system. It assures consumers the organic products they buy are produced in accordance with federal organic regulations. Organic operations must follow National Organic Standards and are monitored through review of their records and on-site inspections at least once a year. “The yearly cost of certification can range from a few hundred to several...

Happiest states: MN ranks third, ND fourth

Friday, November 16, 2018

FARGO — Minnesota ranked third and North Dakota fourth in WalletHub's 2018 Happiest States in America report. To determine where Americans are happiest, WalletHub compared the 50 states across 31 indicators. The data set includes emotional health, job satisfaction, income growth and safety. The top 10 happiest states are Hawaii Utah Minnesota North Dakota California Idaho Maryland Iowa South Dakota Nebraska The five least happy states are West Virginia, Arkansas, Louisiana, Alaska and Oklahoma. North Dakota ranked first for lowest long-term unemployment rate and highest income growth. Minnesota came in as third safest, had the third-highest volunteer rate and fifth-highest sports participation rate. Both were in the top five for lowest divorce rate. Continue to...

Realty check: Broadband sells

Thursday, November 15, 2018

A common theme among realtors within the area is lost sales due to a lack of adequate broadband, Economic Development Coordinator Ross Wagner told Aitkin County commissioners during its meeting on Sept. 11. Wagner said, “The straw that broke the camel’s back was finding out that we are losing potential residents due to the lack of broadband in the area.” The county was recently awarded an IRRRB matching grant, enabling it to award both SCI Broadband Inc and Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative an Aitkin County Broadband Development Grant of $150,000 each. With this award, a total of 738 homes and two businesses...

Rochester, Twin Cities ranked among most innovative on earth

Monday, November 12, 2018

ROCHESTER, MN — Innovation isn't easy. Case in point, your kids have heard of Netflix and Facebook, but will give you a blank look if you talk about Blockbuster or MySpace, two companies routinely listed among the biggest to fail specifically because they didn't innovate. So when we say three Minnesota cities were just ranked among the most innovative on Earth, it's — with apologies to Ron Burgundy and the movie "Anchorman" — kind of a big deal. The Australian data research company 2thinknow, which crunches numbers from cities across the globe, released its 11th annual Innovation Cities Index rankings of the...

How are we doing? Minnesota near top of 'best economy' states

Friday, November 09, 2018

A ranking of state economies using metrics like poverty rate, home ownership, job growth and education puts Minnesota ahead of California (and, more important, Wisconsin). USA Today reports on the listing, compiled by financial site 24/7 Wall Street. Minnesota comes in No. 7 overall, just behind Hawaii. The state scored points for its low unemployment rate (3.1 percent at the time of the survey), GDP annual growth rate of 1.7 percent (the 14th best in the list) and an especially high home ownership rate of 71.3 percent. The top-ranked states overall were Colorado, Utah and Massachusetts. Louisiana, Alaska and West Virginia came in last. Continue...

Innovation Voucher Award Program

Friday, November 09, 2018

Financial Awards Give Small Businesses Access to Technical Assistance The Innovation Voucher Award Program provides $5,000 to $25,000 awards to help small businesses purchase technical assistance and services necessary to advance research, development or commercialization of new or innovative products and services. Qualifying businesses receive awards – which the recipient must match on a 50 percent basis – to reimburse for expenses incurred for assistance and services rendered by public universities, colleges, technical schools and non-profits in Minnesota. Reimbursable expenses include purchased technical assistance and services in research, technical development, product development, commercialization, market development, technology exploration, and improved business practices, including strategies to...

Aitkin Action Alliance: Strategy for success

Thursday, November 08, 2018

Last year, the Aitkin Area Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Committee partnered with APEX to form the Aitkin Action Alliance. A strategic plan was formed, and a business outreach program began. Local areas of opportunity and strength were identified and built upon to drive investment in the region. During the committee’s meeting on Sept. 12, APEX Business Developer Tamara Lowney gave an update on the strategic plan. Target areas addressed by the strategic plan are: workforce, support existing businesses, brand and marketing plan, beyond the status quo, industrial park, training-entrepreneur, recreation-hospitality, attraction, housing and legislative. “The success of the plan is heavily...

HC Event Center opens in classic style

Wednesday, November 07, 2018

Many area residents know of HC Photography in Milaca, but they may not know that as of this summer, owners Christine and Russ Hugg took a big leap of expansion and opened a one-of-a-kind event center on property near their rural-Milaca home, about 6 miles north of the city. “I built it for weddings,” Christine said, but she will market it for other events, such as corporate events, anniversary parties and funerals. Continue to full article

Crystal Cabinets completes expansion, enters second phase of work

Tuesday, November 06, 2018

Crystal Cabinet Works, Inc., of Princeton, a family owned manufacturer of premium and affordable custom cabinets, announces the completion of its building expansion that accommodates a large automation project. The company held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for employees in June to commemorate finishing the 22,500-square-foot addition on the northeast corner of the plant, which sits on the south end of Rum River Drive. The project required more than 400 yards of cement. It began in August of 2016 at the annual International Woodworking Fair (IWF) show, which that year was held in Atlanta. The show features the latest technology in wood working, and...

Local brand is best in the land

Monday, November 05, 2018

Prairie Organic Spirits was recently named the No. 1 craft vodka distillery in the country in USA Today’s 10 Best Reader’s Choice Awards for 2018. The award is a testament to the product line’s organic and sustainable practices, as well as the distilling process they employ. The brand is one of the many under the 106-year-old Phillips Distilling Co. label out of Princeton and was developed in 2007, with its first vodka product available to consumers in 2008. Continue to full article

Electric charging stations coming to Grand Marais

Thursday, November 01, 2018

Grand Marais is one step closer to joining Minnesota’s electric vehicle charging corridor, which runs from the Twin Cities to Thunder Bay. In late August, city council voted in favor of the PCU granting a license to allow Zeff to place two electric vehicle charging stations in the City Hall parking lot. The city’s license is good for seven years, with the understanding that if the building use changes, then the city will find an alternate location for the stations. Starting from the Twin Cities, heading north on Interstate 35W, there are currently 60 charging stations. According to plugshare.com, a few are...

Lutsen lodge under new ownership

Tuesday, October 30, 2018

Lutsen Resort on the North Shore is off the market. The North Shore Resort Company, part of the family-owned Campbell Hospitality Group in Ontario, purchased the historic resort, which includes the lakeside lodge, townhomes and condos, on Aug. 15 after the property was put up for sale last year. "It's neat to be the next generation carrying on that legacy," said Bryce Campbell, who co-owns the company with his mother Sheila Campbell. "It'd be nice for people to come up the shore, even if it's a day trip, come and have dinner and see the changes we make throughout the future and...

More Minnesotans are working past 65

Monday, October 29, 2018

NUMBER PROJECTED TO INCREASE WITH FUTURE GENERATIONS DULUTH — Sixty-five came and went, and Marcia Gurno didn’t bat an eye. “As long as I feel like I’m still making a contribution, and as long as my mind is sharp and I’m still willing to learn and be open to new ideas, and my body holds out — that’s my order for how I look at retirement.” The St. Louis County social worker turns 67 in November and has no plans to stop punching the clock anytime soon. “People expect me to show up and perform, and it keeps me going.” She’s not alone — both...

MnDOT announces availability of competitive grants for community transportation projects

Friday, October 26, 2018

Minnesota communities, schools and their partners are invited to apply for funding on local projects that enhance transportation goals, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. For the 2018-19 application cycle, MnDOT is conducting a joint solicitation for the Transportation Alternatives and Safe Routes to School State Infrastructure programs. Applicants submit a single letter of intent to be considered for both programs. A regional representative will contact applicants to help review the project proposal and the steps necessary for delivering a funded project. Applicants will then submit a full grant application. A total of $6.5 million is available in federal funding through...

Minnesota Manufacturing Week

Thursday, October 25, 2018

Governor Mark Dayton has proclaimed Oct. 1-7, 2018 as Minnesota Manufacturing Week. Because manufacturing is a vital part of Minnesota’s economic health. One in nine jobs in Minnesota is in manufacturing – and these tend to be high-quality jobs that pay well. The average manufacturing job paid $65,728 in 2017. That’s over $9,500 – about 17 percent – higher than the typical job in Minnesota. “Manufacturing plays a critical role in the growth of Minnesota’s economy, providing access to high-quality, high-wages jobs,” said DEED Commissioner Shawntera Hardy. Manufacturing contributed $49.2 billion to the state’s economy (Gross Domestic Product) in 2017. Minnesota has 319,000 jobs...

Minnesota looking to attract 'mass timber' producers

Thursday, October 04, 2018

A burgeoning industry based on a relatively new type of material may be coming to Minnesota. Known as mass timber, the material is an alternative to steel in building construction. While dozens of buildings constructed with the product are dotted around the country, the majority stand in the Pacific Northwest. "This type of building product is new to the U.S.," said Brian Brashaw, a program manager with the U.S. Forest Service. "It's geared at taller buildings; it's building more along the lines of four, five and six stories. That product is seeing a lot of growth in the United States." Now, local groups...

Helping startups succeed—and stay—in the Midwest

Wednesday, October 03, 2018

At the University of Minnesota, launching a new company is one of several ways that breakthrough research can move beyond the lab to benefit the public. But finding the right leader, with the right experience, to bring these new technologies to market can be difficult. “Leadership is just as important as intellectual property to a startup’s success,” said Mary MacCarthy, Venture Center program manager with the U’s Venture Center in the Office for Technology Commercialization. “The biggest challenge the U of M has with launching our startups is finding skilled, available CEOs with experience in particular industries.” A new network comprising 11...

Daikin Applied expanding its manufacturing presence in Minnesota

Wednesday, August 08, 2018

On its journey to become the No. 1 applied HVAC manufacturer in North America, Daikin Applied recently announced its proposal to expand production capabilities with a new state-of-the-art, built-to-order manufacturing facility in southern Minnesota, north of Faribault. Daikin selected Minnesota to host the $40 million project over competing sites in the southern United States and Mexico, due in part to infrastructure upgrade commitments made and financed through a partnership between the city of Faribault, Rice County and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). Great River Energy is also assisting in the project by covering Rice County’s portion of the financial...

Illume to move its headquarters to Maple Grove Business Park

Wednesday, August 08, 2018

Maple Grove's new 50-acre business park has found an anchor tenant. Illume Holding Co., which produces candles and other personal fragrance products, recently announced plans to consolidate its operations into a 288,000-square-foot facility in the Arbor Lakes Business Park being developed by Duke Realty. Bob Sandberg, vice president of power supply and business development for Wright-Hennepin Cooperative Electric Association (WH), said “the addition of Illume will help diversify the economy in the Arbor Lakes area, adding a new segment of development from the retail and apartments complexes which have driven development to date.” In addition, Sandberg noted, “the addition of Illume candles and...

Women collaborating, making strides in their industries together

Wednesday, August 08, 2018

Women are playing an increasingly important role in the worlds of commercial real estate and economic development – and they are bringing with them a wealth of knowledge from previous jobs on their career path, as well as the strength of relationships built among each other along the way. Erin Sparks, economic developer with Great River Energy – a not-for-profit wholesale power cooperative based out of Maple Grove, Minn. – and Kylle Jordan, regional business development manager at Minnesota’s Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), are examples of women making strides in their fields while working collaboratively to achieve both...

MMCDC appoints new president

Wednesday, December 12, 2018

The board of directors of Midwest Minnesota Community Development Corporation (MMCDC) has appointed of Julia Nelmark as company president. Nelmark started at MMCDC in 2004 as an investment analyst and was promoted to director of new markets tax credit financing. She led the deployment of $544 million of NMTC allocation across Minnesota and surrounding states, for dozens of projects ranging from $250,000 to $20 million. Click here to view the original article from the Park Rapids Enterprise

Facts

MN Ranks 1st

MN Is Best

3rd

3rd

1st

2nd

US News Ranks MN

CNBC Ranks MN