Great River Energy News

Meeker Cooperative dedicates new Vibrant Broadband service

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Meeker Cooperative's big move to making its Vibrant Broadband service available to its customers throughout the county received praise from Miinnesota Gov. Tim Walz. The governor attended a "ribbon cutting" ceremony at the cooperative's headquarters in Litchfield during which he and other speakers said that internet connectivity today is as important as electricity was 80-some years ago when rural electric cooperatives began supplying that service. Click here to view the original article from the Litchfield Independent Review.

Minnesota ranked 6th healthiest state for women and children

Monday, September 23, 2019

Minnesota is the sixth healthiest state for women and children, according to the United Health Foundation’s 2019 “America’s Health Rankings Health of Women and Children Report.” That’s a good ranking relative to the other 49 states, although it’s one slot lower than last year. Click here to view the original article from the MinnPost.

Announcing the Launch Minnesota Advisory Board

Friday, September 20, 2019

I'm excited to announce our advisory board for Launch Minnesota, our new statewide collaboration to support technology startups. Each of the 10 members of our advisory board come from unique backgrounds in technology and entrepreneurship. We believe their wisdom and guidance will help Launch Minnesota empower a stronger startup ecosystem for everyone. Launch Minnesota will provide financial incentives, training, and grants to people starting scalable innovative businesses in sectors such as aerospace, agricultural processing, nanotechnology and medical devices. The program provides special consideration for startups in Greater Minnesota, as well as businesses started by women, veterans and people of color. Th...

Exciting, Dynamic, Challenging Work: What Workforce Strategy Consultants Do

Thursday, September 19, 2019

I am one of the seven regional CareerForce Workforce Strategy Consultants. One of the things I love about this work is that every day is different. That makes describing a day in the life a bit tricky, but I’m going to try my best to break it down in this blog post. The typical day can start a few different ways. We could be reporting to the CareerForce location where we are based or we might be traveling to meetings throughout our region. The seven Workforce Strategy Consultants cover vast areas similar to the regional Labor Market Analysts or Business Developmen...

Rebranded CareerForce is all about finding the right job

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

What is the best way for governments to support unemployed workers – and get them back to work? From job-search and retraining assistance to unemployment insurance and other safety nets, state leaders seek a balance that offers tools and support needed to find the next job without letting people put off their job search indefinitely. Minnesota is retooling its workforce support system under the name CareerForce, and hopes to bring a new emphasis to getting workers into the right job, not just the quickest, said Mike Lang, job service director for the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. Click here to vie...

Twin Cities score high among places for best work-life balance (gallery)

Sunday, September 01, 2019

Whether it's disconnecting from your phone after clocking out or taking off early to get to a recital, everybody has their own ways to maintain their work-life balance. But based on a recent study, that balance could be harder to achieve depending on the city you live. Based on a ranking from the New York-based company Kisi, while U.S. cities often aren't the best in the world at helping workers achieve this balance, there are some where you won't burn you at quite as quickly. On a 100-point scale, only three U.S. cities achieved a rating barely over 50. Minneapolis/St. Pau...

Twin Cities score high among places for best work-life balance (gallery)

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

University of Minnesota spins out a record number of startups

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

The University of Minnesota's Venture Center announced that it had spun out 19 startups in the most recent financial year, its most ever. The class of 2019 includes a company that creates concussion recovery technology, a cancer therapy for dogs and a line of acne products for boys. "It was a really good year," Russ Straate said. Straate is the Venture Center's associate director. The Venture Center was founded in 2006 and is part of the University of Minnesota Technology Commercialization, aims to transform research done at the U into tangible products. Click here to view the original article from the Minneapolis/St. Paul Busines...

2019’s States with the Best & Worst Community-College Systems

Monday, August 19, 2019

University education is out of reach for many Americans, especially those from low-income households. But thanks to community colleges, higher education is more accessible than ever. Compared with public four-year institutions, where tuition and fees cost almost three times as much on average, community colleges offer many savings for students. Some states make community college even more accessible than usual. Multiple states and numerous cities across the U.S. have started “College Promise” programs that give residents free rides to community college. New York, Oregon, Rhode Island and Tennessee are some of the states that have joined so far. Such initiatives are proving to be mor...

Minnesota’s startup ecosystem

Sunday, August 11, 2019

Tucked away in this year’s motley special session package at the Legislature was a bill authorizing the creation of Launch Minnesota, a $5 million public-private program to grow the state’s innovation economy. Amid partisan sniping over proposed increases to public education funding and the state gas tax, Launch Minnesota’s relatively modest investment drew low-key support from both sides of the aisle, emerging from the legislative gantlet with the broad strokes of Gov. Tim Walz’s original proposal intact — albeit with a slimmer budget. The passage of Launch Minnesota was hailed as an early win for the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED...

Minnesota Maintains AAA Ratings

Saturday, August 10, 2019

Standard & Poor's and Fitch Affirm Minnesota’s Bond Ratings ST. PAUL, MN – Top financial analysts Standard & Poor's and Fitch announced that they are affirming Minnesota’s AAA, the highest rating awarded by the analysts. The following is a statement from Governor Tim Walz: “AAA ratings from Fitch and Standard & Poor’s is a testament to Minnesota’s strong economy and fiscal management. We are proud of the work we did this legislative session to help secure this rating. Now we need to work to pass a robust bonding bill to invest in the future and ensure our economy works for all Minnesotans.” Click her...

CareerForce Customer Video

Friday, August 09, 2019

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fF2nB-yVRU#action=share

Minnesota: Thriving in the North

Wednesday, August 07, 2019

From startups to Fortune 500 companies, Minnesota is the place for businesses to grow and thrive. With a top notch education system, great quality of life and a history of technological growth and innovation, anything is possible in Minnesota. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cl6_87_3hZg

Minnesota Business Firms Expect Stable Conditions in 2020

Monday, August 05, 2019

Annual survey by DEED, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis measures stability of business services ST. PAUL – Minnesota business service firms feel positive about the economy, with 86 percent expecting sales revenue to increase or remain stable next year, according to a joint survey released by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) and the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Business services firms are less optimistic however that labor availability will grow or remain stable in 2020. Seventy-nine percent expect labor availability to remain stable, while 13 percent expect a decline. Only 8 percent of respondents anticipate labor availability to grow next year. Th...

How Minnesota's economy depends on small businesses

Thursday, July 11, 2019

Minnesotans around the state owe their paychecks to small business owners. The Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) reported that in 2016, 60 percent of private jobs in greater Minnesota were with businesses that employed fewer than 500 employees. These businesses pay taxes and provide economic stability during even the worst economic times, according to DEED. Small businesses increased by 5 percent in spite of the Great Recession. They were a source of stability for rural parts of the state that saw large organizations shed workers. Now, though, small businesses need to keep up with wage growth if they want to continu...

Best States to Live in

Wednesday, July 10, 2019

Deciding on a place to call home can be a tough process. You’ll need to balance things like the cost of living with job opportunities, quality of education and safety. Personal preference also comes into the equation, as you’ll want to live somewhere with the types of attractions, recreational opportunities and weather that suit you. Luckily, there’s 50 states to choose from, from frigid Alaska to sunny Florida. Each has its own benefits and drawbacks. If you do the math, some states clearly outshine others in various categories. To find out the best states to live, WalletHub compared the 50 state...

DEED Names Assistant Commissioner for Workforce Services

Saturday, July 06, 2019

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) announced that Carol Pankow will serve as Assistant Commissioner for Workforce Services. Within DEED, the workforce services division helps individuals overcome barriers to employment and develop job skills by providing a range of programs and services for laid-off and unemployed individuals. Click here to view the original article from DEED.

Launch Minnesota: Come Help Us Grow Minnesota’s Startup Ecosystem

Thursday, June 20, 2019

One of the most exciting outcomes of the 2019 Legislative session for DEED was the creation of a new program called Launch Minnesota. Designed to nurture technology startups and entrepreneurs across the state, Launch Minnesota will work with private industry to create financial incentives and programming to demonstrate that Minnesota is committed to fostering an innovation ecosystem that draws global attention. The program concept grew out of a collaboration between DEED and the Minnesota Legislature – with legislators on both sides of the aisle making meaningful contributions. It is a joint initiative with private businesses and nonprofit organizations statewide. Click here t...

Minnesota’s Angel Tax Credit Is Back. Here’s What You Need to Know.

Wednesday, June 12, 2019

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and other state lawmakers have reinstated a program that gives tax breaks to investors backing Minnesota startups. The angel tax credit provides incentives to investors backing small businesses in Minnesota. It was (in general) popular among local startups, and when you look at the numbers it’s easy to see why. Between 2010 and 2017, more than $420 million was invested in 855 Minnesota businesses through the state’s angel tax credit program, according to the Department of Employment and Economic Development. In 2017, about 48 percent of investors were non-Minnesotans whose investments made up about 53 percent of all investment tha...

USDA to offer $16B in funds for farmers

Monday, June 10, 2019

The USDA will offer more than $16 billion in programs to help farmers impacted by trade disruption and “unjustified retaliation.” U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced that the USDA will take several actions to assist farmers with programs that estimate the “impacts of unjustified retaliatory tariffs on U.S. agricultural goods and other trade disruptions.” Click here to view the original article from the Litchfield Independent Review.

Minnesota ranked third-best state in U.S. News & World Report survey

Saturday, June 08, 2019

The U.S. News & World Report survey ranks states based on 70 metrics, including education, health care, the economy, public safety, roads and the fiscal health of the state's government. As states go, it doesn’t get much better than Minnesota, according to an annual “Best States” survey by U.S. News & World Report. The Land of 10,000 Lakes came in at No. 3. The survey ranks states based on 70 metrics, including education, health care, the economy, public safety, roads and the fiscal health of the state’s government, as well as “the opportunity it affords its residents,” the report said. Click here t...

Minnesota teens savor best summer job market in years

Friday, June 07, 2019

They’ve noticed storefront windows flush with “hiring” signs. Their friends have jobs. And they say Google, that all-knowing oracle for teens, has been serving up a buffet of options from simple web searches. It means Joe Kinsman will fill his summer days dishing out soft serve at Conny’s Creamy Cone in St. Paul. Harshini Sunil will be whipping up drinks at Caribou Coffee in Plymouth and teaching dance. Cole Boelter will be wooing passersby with fuzzy llama prizes at Valleyfair game booths in Shakopee. Click here to view the original article from the Star Tribune.

Business Expansions Reflect State’s Diverse Economy

Thursday, June 06, 2019

Minnesota’s diverse economy is reflected in the 226 business expansion projects that were publicly announced in 2018 and tracked by DEED. These projects were spread across the state and involved companies of all sizes in more than 40 industries. While complete data is not available for all of the projects, these expansions represent at least 8,829 new jobs and 1,672 retained jobs. They also reflect new investment of at least $2.4 billion and over 7.5 million square feet. Click here to view the original article from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.

DEED Names Director of CareerForce

Wednesday, June 05, 2019

The Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) announced that Lorrie Janatopoulos has been hired as Director of CareerForce. Led by a network of private, public and nonprofit partners throughout Minnesota, CareerForce guides people toward rewarding careers, connects individuals to employment opportunities, and provides valuable economic and employment development information to employers. Within DEED, the CareerForce team manages and executes the direct services efforts of our workforce development work, in contrast to our grant-making team that deploys capital to partners for workforce development. Click here to view the original article from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.

Minnesota Exports up 1.5 percent in the First Quarter of 2019

Sunday, June 02, 2019

Exports to Europe grew 14 percent to $1.4 billion ST. PAUL – Minnesota exports grew to $5.4 billion, representing growth of 1.5 percent between the first quarters of 2018 and 2019, according to a report released by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). U.S. exports grew 1.4 percent during the same period. Minnesota exports grew to markets within Europe (up 14 percent) and North America (up 4 percent), but fell within Asia (down 8 percent) and Central and South America (down 1 percent). Click here to view the original article from Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.

Minnesota manufacturing thrived last year despite long list of challenges

Sunday, June 02, 2019

Several of the state's largest manufacturers, such as General Mills, announced or closed major acquisitions, many of them ranking among their largest deals ever. A robust U.S. economy helped bolster overall sales for Minnesota’s manufacturers last year as they weathered a litany of challenges, such as a severe labor shortage, rising freight costs and the trade war with China. Manufacturing is Minnesota’s largest and most diverse sector on the Star Tribune 50, with expertise ranging from motor homes to ice cream bars. Several of Minnesota’s largest manufacturers in the past 12 to 18 months announced or closed major acquisitions, many of the...

Minnesota Exports up 1.5 percent in the First Quarter of 2019

Saturday, June 01, 2019

DEED Tracked 226 Business Expansion Projects in 2018

Monday, May 27, 2019

They represent at least 8,829 new jobs and $2.4 billion in new investment ST. PAUL – Minnesota had 226 business expansion projects in 2018 – up from 187 the previous year, according to tracking by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), based on publicly announced expansions. While complete data is not available for all of the projects, these expansions represent at least 8,829 new jobs and 1,672 retained jobs. They also reflect new investment of at least $2.4 billion and over 7.5 million square feet. Click here to view the original article from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.

Six Minnesota Businesses Awarded $1.5 Million from Job Creation Fund

Friday, May 24, 2019

ST. PAUL – Business expansion projects in four Greater Minnesota communities and two metro locations will create more than 200 new jobs over the next three years. The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) is supporting these projects with grants totaling $1.5 million from the Job Creation Fund. Click here to view the original article from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.

Enticing Businesses to Stay

Monday, May 13, 2019

Trying to attract businesses from outside the community or launching startup businesses are key economic development activities. However, economic developers generally agree that the most practical strategy for growth is Business Retention and Expansion, or keeping established businesses in the community. Enticing Businesses to Stay, co-authored by Michael Darger, University of Minnesota Extension, and Cameron Macht, DEED, looks at results from DEED’s Business Employment Dynamics dataset and provides insights and examples from ongoing business retention and expansion projects in Barnesville, near Fargo-Moorhead, and Cottage Grove, metro area. Click here to view the original article from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.

DEED Names Deputy Commissioner for Workforce Development

Sunday, May 12, 2019

Recently appointed Assistant Commissioner of Economic Opportunity Hamse Warfa has been promoted to Deputy Commissioner for Workforce Development here at DEED. In this role, Warfa will continue to lead the Office of Economic Opportunity, and will also take on leadership of Employment and Training Programs, CareerForce, and the Governor’s Workforce Development Board. Warfa’s experience in the philanthropic/nonprofit and private sectors has helped him bring great thinking to DEED’s workforce efforts. After interviewing dozens of candidates for our commissioner-level roles in workforce development, I’m confident that Hamse is the right leader for these efforts. Click here to view the original article from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.

PFA Awards Over $28 million in Water Infrastructure projects

Saturday, May 11, 2019

ST. PAUL – The Minnesota Public Facilities Authority (PFA) approved $28.35 million in loan and grant funding for water infrastructure projects in Minnesota. Funding was approved for Crystal Bay Township, Fertile, Glencoe, Glenwood and Rice County. “I’m working hard to rebuild infrastructure in every corner of our state,” said Governor Walz. “I’m excited that $28 million dollars will be going directly to these greater Minnesota communities to help improve their water quality. Everyone in Minnesota deserves clean drinking water–regardless of their zip code.” Click here to view the original article from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.

Best and worst states for women

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 Distric...

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. Comprise...

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