News and Media

How Site Selection Can Help Meet Corporate Social Responsibility Commitments

Wednesday, October 28, 2020

The increased role of corporate social responsibility in site selection Corporate social responsibility is playing a major factor today in company's decisions on where they're locating their business. That's happening for a few reasons. I think companies are realizing that they need to be more conscious as to what's going on in the environment today, and they need to react to that. But primarily that's being driven by their consumers (for any company that is selling a product to the consumer base). Consumers want to know that the company is delivering on certain sustainability goals. They want to feel like they'r...

How Technology Is Making Data Collection for Incentives Programs Applications Easier

Wednesday, October 28, 2020

The Importance of Software in Incentives Analysis Software is becoming a bigger part of incentives analysis as clients increasingly want to use this tool. Many clients are building the internal capabilities to perform initial credits and incentives and site location analyses. They want to do some of that research on their own with their internal team prior to pulling in an advisor, or maybe they have an internal team that can handle the project from start to finish. Unless they have the ability to go to all the various jurisdictions under consideration and understand all their programs, the team’s software, dependin...

The Next Recovery: Regional Leaders & Laggards

Tuesday, October 27, 2020

To call the road that most metro areas have traveled this year rocky would be akin to labeling Mount Everest a speed bump. But the most turbulent period of our lifetimes will eventually give way to a sustained recovery. And when it does, certain types of metro areas are in far better shape to take advantage. In the short run, places that suffered the steepest job and income losses will struggle most, which bodes especially ill for the Northeast and tourism-dependent Hawaii and Nevada. But what happens after that? Much depends on the course of the virus, such as whether outbreak...

Why are Foreign Trade Zones Making a Comeback?

Tuesday, October 27, 2020

FTZs Are Making a Comeback There was a double-digit growth in foreign trade zone use [in 2018], according to the federal government's report for that year. When the 2019 report comes out, that double double-digit growth will have increased even more. The reason is that these tariffs are a whole new way to save money, compared to before, when the most important things were speed to market, using direct delivery and weekly entry, cutting your supply chain time and lowering your cost of operations. Now it's cut your supply chain time, lower costs and mitigate the tariffs. The number one thing w...

COVID-19 Reshuffles The Cold Chain & Logistics Deck

Monday, October 26, 2020

No sector now is more active than logistics, and there is no busier niche within it than cold chain for grocery and medical needs. The busiest companies within that niche, before and since COVID-19, are automated logistics pioneers and the grocers they serve. Digital Commerce 360’s 2020 Online Food Report, released in August, analyzes the top 1,000 food-dedicated retailers, as well as mass merchants with growing sales in the category — Walmart and Amazon represent more than 60% of the online grocery market, with Walmart having the biggest market share of online food in 2019 at 31%. Read full article.

Have Years of Darwinism in Rural America Paid Off During COVID-19?

Monday, October 26, 2020

As cities reel from a public health crisis and civic unrest, rural and small town community leaders are the unspoken heroes during the COVID-19 pandemic. They have historically learned how to thrive through fostering creative connections between limited resources and community needs. Years of practice navigating threats and finding solutions keeps rural America surviving, even amidst a pandemic. Progressive rural community leaders developed a task force in March. They used frequent and clear communication on the local plan. Rural America applied well-practiced skills listening to citizens, health care professionals, business owners and educators to make decisions right for their own communities...

Make Your Next Pitch Instantly More Compelling By Using This One Philosopher's Framework

Monday, October 26, 2020

Want to know with confidence that your elevator pitch will land? Would clarity and persuasion help you attract more clients, investors, mentors and sales? To maximize success in conversation, ensure you are following Grice’s maxims. Twentieth-century British philosopher Paul Grice shifted the way we think about semantics and language. His maxims for conversation are part of his work on the cooperative principle, which states that when people engage with one another there are unspoken assumptions around how the conversation will unfold. Research tells us that we grasp the nuances of Grice’s maxims from an early age; a 2015 study found that children as young as six year...

Employers are Building More Inclusive Places to Work in Northwest Minnesota

Wednesday, October 14, 2020

Minnesota’s workforce is becoming increasingly diverse – most workforce growth in the coming decade will be from Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) workers. However, many disparities in employment and economic outcomes exist for BIPOC Minnesotans. To help address these disparities and acknowledge the critical role a diverse workforce plays in organizations’ success, Northwest Minnesota employers launched an initiative to recognize organizations that foster an inclusive workforce. The Inclusive Workforce Employer or I-WE designation is an innovative workforce solution that emerged from discussions among several organizations in Northwest Minnesota brought together by the Regional Workforce Alliance. The Alliance called a summi...

Historic Old Central High School building in Duluth may be redeveloped

Wednesday, October 14, 2020

The Duluth School Board is moving forward with the sale of the historic Old Central High School building to a developer. The School Board voted Tuesday night to finalize a purchase agreement, according to the Duluth News Tribune. An architect with the State Historic Preservation Office told the paper that a developer has had "very serious" conversations about seeking tax credits for a renovation. Read full article.

Minnesota Family Business Awards 2020

Tuesday, October 13, 2020

When time are tough, it’s often our families we turn to for support. The 2020 Minnesota Family Business Awards honorees can all speak to the resilience, agility, and strength of family relationships that carry them through challenging times, personally and professionally. Particularly this year, with a pandemic making it nearly impossible to separate the personal from the professional, relying on that emotional bedrock is not only comforting, it sets company culture. The leaders of the businesses TCB is recognizing this year will all eagerly tell you that they are bonded to their employees and, in many cases, their clients and customers, in way...

Minnesota Food And Ag Leaders Team Up For World Food Day

Friday, October 09, 2020

On the heels of the United Nations World Food Programme winning the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Friday, some of Minnesota’s largest food manufacturers and nonprofit organizations will come together this week to address challenges facing the food and agriculture sectors as part of Global Minnesota’s World Food Day 2020 Conference. “The future of food is being created here,” said Mark Ritchie, president of Global Minnesota, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to advancing “international understanding and engagement” by bringing local perspective to global issues such as food insecurity. Global Minnesota typically marks World Food Day with a live event; Ritchie said this year’s virtual forma...

Manufacturing Week Highlights Critical Role Industry Plays in State’s Economy

Thursday, October 01, 2020

St. Paul - Manufacturing, which has long played a key role in the state's economy, is even more important now as Minnesota focuses on revitalizing our economy and rebounding from the impacts of COVID-19. As the state's second-largest industry, manufacturing added $52.7 billion to Minnesota's economy last year. Governor Tim Walz has proclaimed Oct. 1-7 as Minnesota Manufacturing Week. During the week – and throughout the month – manufacturers are opening their doors to virtual tours by the public as a way of attracting new workers and students who are considering careers in manufacturing. Read full article.

DEED Examines: Where are the Job Seekers?

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

St. Paul - The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) released a new article that examines the question many Minnesota employers are asking right now: Where are the job seekers? Employers in industries such as Health Care, Hospitality, Retail and Food Service are desperate for staff at a time when the statewide unemployment rate is at 7.4%. While the August unemployment rate is lower than it has been the last few months, it is still 4.5 points higher than in March 2020. This 7.4% unemployment rate in Minnesota represents over 230,000 unemployed workers – over two-and-a-half times the number o...

Five Common Ways To Fund A Small Business Beyond Personal Savings

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

One of the most cliched statements in starting a small business is that “it takes money to make money”... but it is often true. Many businesses need an infusion of cash to buy essential components of their operations. For a pizzeria, that could be an industrial oven, and for a yard care business, that could be a commercial lawn mower. A common funding practice many new business owners take is to use personal savings and start small by reinvesting profits into the business. This approach, known as bootstrapping, seems rooted in common sense, but can be restrictive to your business’ growt...

Beat Zoom Fatigue With These 6 Tips

Tuesday, September 29, 2020

Do you audibly sigh every time you have to log on to what feels like your thousandth Zoom meeting of the day? You’re not alone. While we’re all more or less used to video calls and meetings being the norm now, the newly coined effect of Zoom fatigue hasn’t gone away. Since working from home is here to stay, video calls are here for the long run too. This makes it incredibly important to find a way to prevent Zoom fatigue from taking over your workday. Here are a few ways you can mitigate its effects. Read full article.

Tips on How to Prepare for Influx of Site Selector Requests

Tuesday, September 29, 2020

Many companies have decided to onshore manufacturing operations due to delays and supply chain disruptions caused by COVID-19. As the onshoring trend grows, community leaders, property managers and developers should be preparing for the opportunity to attract these companies. As manufacturers in the United States and worldwide seek out ways to protect their supply chains from future disruptions caused by pandemics and a growing number of natural disasters, site selectors are issuing requests for information. The most prepared leaders will have the opportunity to compete and win new business for Red Wing. The Site Selectors Guild predicts the onshoring trend wil...

How To Keep Women In The Workforce During The Pandemic

Monday, September 28, 2020

We may be losing some of our best leaders to caregiving duties, and the pandemic is sending us backwards when it comes to gender equality. Women’s careers often take a backseat when caregiving duties rise, and women are more vulnerable to job loss during an economic downturn. The research shows that pandemic is hitting women hard on both fronts. Women are more than twice as likely as men to say they handle more than 50% of the caregiving and education responsibilities and 34% of working families are still without childcare coverage, according to Cleo’s State of Working Parents Study. A recent FlexJobs survey reports that 80% of workin...

5 Effective Strategies for Employee Retention

Wednesday, September 23, 2020

Effective hiring and retention practices are key to effective leadership. The reality is that managers that hire well and that are able to keep talented employees produce better results. Replacing employees is time-consuming, expensive, and disruptive. Plus, when an employee leaves, it can impact the entire team and cause a ripple effect of unhappiness or turnover. Read full article.

Infrastructure Investment as an Economic Stimulus Tool

Wednesday, September 23, 2020

In times of economic struggle — such as the recession that abruptly arrived with the COVID-19 pandemic — analysts and advocates promote an array of options as effective tools for stimulating the economy. One of the most frequently suggested options is infrastructure spending. Proponents of infrastructure spending during dire economic times view it as a productive job creator and essential foundation for a long-term recovery and return to sustained prosperity. Read full article.

Could a Post-Pandemic National Industrial Strategy Advance the Cause of Advanced Manufacturing?

Tuesday, September 22, 2020

As the coronavirus pandemic disrupted global supply chains, a new report released in April by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) urged the U.S. government to develop a national industrial strategy to strengthen the competitive position of advanced, traded-sector industries that are “too critical to fail.” “Even before this pandemic, China posed an unprecedented competitiveness challenge in the advanced industries that are most critical to America’s economic wellbeing and national security,” said ITIF President Robert D. Atkinson, the report’s author and a past contributor to Site Selection. Read full article.

First Person: Effects of the Global Pandemic on Company Supply Chains

Tuesday, September 22, 2020

AD: Will more companies be re-shoring or near-shoring as a result of the global pandemic? Jensen: For certain, most companies are closely examining the options available to them to avoid future supply chain interruptions. Part of the challenge of making a decision on a future sourcing direction is that this story isn’t over. As the pandemic progresses, every week, sometimes every day, brings new information to light regarding risks associated with both the supply available for companies to transact business, as well as the fluctuations in the demand associated with their specific product offerings. It is very safe to say that at present...

Survey Reveals Manufacturers’ Post-Pandemic Plans

Tuesday, September 22, 2020

Few implications of the COVID-19 pandemic are as consequential to global manufacturers as disruptions to their supply chains. For many, this is the most consequential by far. Supply chains are always a work in progress as such market variables as transportation costs, tariffs and trade agreements force logistics managers to tweak their supply chains a little here, a lot over there and everywhere in between. That’s under normal conditions. Add a global health pandemic originating in the world’s second largest economy and the largest in industrial output, and it’s a whole new ballgame. Read full article.

How Small Businesses in the Heartland Are Coping

Monday, September 21, 2020

The Brookings Institution hosted a webinar on June 10 titled “Mitigating the Economic Impacts of COVID-19 in Rural Areas.” Moderator Tracy Hadden Loh, a Brookings Institution Fellow, engaged three experts on rural economies in looking back at the pandemic’s effect on two small towns and across rural America, and how recovery steps are taking shape. The panelists were Lindsey Dotson, executive director of the Main Street Downtown Development Authority in Charlevoix, Michigan; Todd Wolford, executive director of Downtown Wytheville, Inc., Wytheville, Virginia; and Matt Wagner, vice president of revitalization programs at the National Main Street Center. Read full article.

Minnesota Business Services Firms Expect Mostly Contracting Conditions in the Next Year

Monday, September 21, 2020

ST. PAUL – Minnesota business service firms expect mostly contracting conditions during the next four quarters due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with slightly more than half (52%) anticipating a decline in consumer spending and corporate profits, according to a joint survey released today by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) and the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Business services firms – such as engineers, accountants and architects – have a mixed outlook on their own profit projections over the next four quarters, with 49% expecting to see a drop, 34% expecting no change, and 17% anticipating an increase in profits. Read ful...

Tech Talent & COVID-19

Monday, September 21, 2020

Beset by the COVID-19 pandemic and its recessionary shocks, companies across the globe are paring workforces at alarming rates. In the United States alone, some 40 million workers had filed jobless claims by the end of May, with the biggest losses occurring in the leisure and hospitality, professional business services, retail trade and manufacturing sectors. Driven, however, by the expectation of long-term social distancing, the remote economy is soaring, as is the demand for technology workers, especially engineers. Read full article.

Work from Anywhere?

Monday, September 21, 2020

Somewhere between your umpteenth Zoom meeting of the month and the latest webinar on the economic impacts of COVID-19, this thought probably crossed your mind: “How long will I be working from home?” While an exact answer to that question still eludes most companies, the effects of remote working are starting to come sharply into focus. Read full article.

Shifts in Mobility and Transportation Infrastructure in a COVID-19 World

Friday, September 18, 2020

While the COVID-19 pandemic continues to create an environment of unpredictability, the one certainty is that the way in which people previously commuted to their jobs — and the way in which goods and services were traditionally delivered — is likely changed forever. It is still too early to predict the entire spectrum of mobility changes that are destined to occur, but one thing is for sure — the COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare the fact that our mobility systems are critical to our day-to-day lives and serve as the backbone of the U.S. economy. Now, more than ever, if th...

The COVID Black Swan & Infrastructure Investment in 2021

Friday, September 18, 2020

The Covid-19 Black Swan has completely disrupted the U.S. and global infrastructure market, magnifying the cracks in the global infrastructure investment model. The magnitude of the problem is significant, but so is the opportunity. The International Finance Corporation sees emerging market domestic private investment declining by $700 billion this year over last, and foreign direct investment declining by $250 billion. A return to pre-crisis levels of investment will only occur in 2023. Using another metric, infrastructure project finance is down 75% when compared with 2019. Now for the opportunity: We believe that, both globally and in the U.S., this is ...

Leveraging Data for Workforce Development

Thursday, September 17, 2020

During these unprecedented times, it is more important than ever to make sure we are using all the tools we have to serve Minnesotans looking for work. Data is a hugely important tool in the Workforce Development toolbox. In order to help people know which jobs are in demand now, and are likely to be in demand for the foreseeable future, DEED's Labor Market Information (LMI) Office does weekly analysis of jobs posted in Minnesota. LMI does this by analyzing new listings in the state on the National Labor Exchange (NLx). We share this information in a public way on the Jobs in Deman...

2020 Manufacturing Excellence Conversations

Tuesday, September 15, 2020

Throughout August and September, Twin Cities Business is hosting online conversations with executives from each of the 10 companies that received our 2020 Minnesota Manufacturing Excellence Awards. You can register here for free to join us live at noon every Tuesday and Thursday through Sept. 15. And if you missed one, catch up now: Protolabs Protolabs president and CEO Vicki Holt talks about how manufacturers across the country have collaborated on best practices during the Covid-19 crisis and how quick actions on the part of her own team set the company up to respond to new and growing applications for digital printing. Read full article.

8 Leadership Lessons with Indeed CEO Chris Hyams

Tuesday, September 08, 2020

As part of a new series Comparably has in partnership with Entrepreneur, entitled “If I Knew Then: Leadership Lessons,” I have the privilege of hosting virtual fireside chats with high-profile CEOs of major brands, from Waze and Blue Apron to NerdWallet and the Dallas Mavericks. During our one-hour sit-downs, I ask these incredible leaders to share invaluable lessons that they learned on their path to success, as well as practical career advice they would give other entrepreneurs. Read full article.

A Heightened Focus on Reshoring

Monday, August 31, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the risks inherent in the global supply chain, particularly the worldwide reliance on China for medical supplies. The supply chain turbulence experienced during the pandemic undoubtedly will impact future business decisions, extending beyond medicine to other industries, including electronics, aerospace, automobiles, defense, consumer products, and technology. Incentivizing Reshoring Manufacturing companies accelerated moving production to low-cost manufacturing countries (known as offshoring) in the early 1990s. In the rush to globalize, key manufacturing sectors were abandoned in the United States. But now that the vulnerabilities of doing so have been exposed, there is talk of “de-globalization,” or reshoring. Read full article.

In Focus: Sale-Leasebacks Help Companies Leverage Capital

Monday, August 31, 2020

As the U.S. economy begins to dig itself out of a deep hole caused by the COVID-19 crisis, many businesses now face the stark reality of a substantially reduced pool of working capital along with credit lines that will likely not thaw out anytime soon. Yet despite those challenges, retailers, logistics firms, and other industrial real estate users are now finding new opportunities in the sale-leaseback arena that are enabling companies to quickly unlock capital and increase cash flow. Read full article.

Proactive Management of Incentives Deals

Monday, August 31, 2020

If you or your clients have incentives contracts, now is the time to examine your incentive agreements to understand the potential risks if your company is unable to perform key obligations. The first step in any crisis is to determine exactly what the problem is. Review your incentive agreements to confirm with specificity your obligations. Second, closely review the language of your agreements to determine if any of your obligations can be delayed due to a “force majeure” provision, a “market conditions” provision, or a similar provision. Third, as soon as the crisis begins to abate, and perhaps sooner in certai...

Why Companies Should Onshore in Red Wing in the Wake of the Pandemic

Monday, August 31, 2020

Business executives across the country have watched their supply chains be disrupted and product deliveries delayed in recent months due to COVID-19. Onshoring is now on the mind of many of them. Companies have offshored manufacturing operations overseas for four decades in order to save costs. Now may be the time to consider onshoring those operations. Many companies have been forced to ask, “At what cost?” due to COVID-19. For some, the cost has been an inability to supply customers and fulfill contracts. In this scenario, onshoring is worthwhile. With 60% of U.S. manufacturing companies surveyed by Thomas reporting COVID-19 busines...

Site Selection 2020: The Importance of “Regional Depth” with Global Reach

Friday, August 28, 2020

The last several years of corporate site selection have been influenced by many trends. Among these are corporate tax cuts, a red-hot industrial real estate market, the explosion of e-commerce, increasing trade protectionism, record economic growth and, in a stunning reversal, a global health pandemic and recession. It seems the ever-shifting tide of global and domestic affairs can be confusing at best and downright frightening at worst to corporate executives evaluating where to locate their next headquarters, newest manufacturing plant, or distribution center. Risk and uncertainty have never seemed higher, and without looking deeper and thinking differently, it can b...

The Best Cities For Women Business Owners

Friday, August 28, 2020

Women’s entrepreneurship has been dramatically on the rise in America during the past decade. There are now 12.3 million women-owned businesses in in the U.S., according to a report by American Express and SCORE. The average annual revenues of women-owned companies rose 68% in 2019, to $384,359 from $228,578 in 2018, according to Biz2Credit’s annual study of 30,000 women-owned companies. Businesses owned by women are thriving all across the country, but in some places more than others. Fundera recently conducted a study of the Best Cities for Women Entrepreneurs based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Tax Foundation. The study foun...

Indemnification Provisions in Incentives Agreements: Best Practices and Special Public Entity Issues

Thursday, August 27, 2020

Indemnification provisions are an important part of the fine print of many contracts. These clauses generally operate to protect one party against the other party’s actions or failures to act that lead to a loss claimed by a third party (not a party to the contract). A common example is the indemnification provisions (or entire agreements) used in the rental car setting. Before you drive off the lot, the rental car company will require you indemnify (or protect) it against a third party (not you) bringing a claim due to your being in an accident. Read full article.

Optimizing Project Outcomes Through Advanced Project Planning

Thursday, August 27, 2020

While APP involves a modest amount of additional upfront time for planning, the investment pays significant dividends throughout the project — and at the most critical times. Detailed planning is executed in advance, enabling the project team and stakeholders to discuss project objectives, prioritize needs, and examine costs from the very outset. This relieves some of the reactive urgency surrounding these decisions, when such issues are addressed amid the thin margins associated with not only time but also the cost of business today. Using APP, facilities that have inevitable downtime related to modifications can plan more efficiently. Read full article.

Front Line: COVID-19 Spurs More Automated Manufacturing

Wednesday, August 26, 2020

The global pandemic has upended the labor market and dramatically and suddenly reversed U.S. economic expansion. COVID-19, especially, has caused U.S. manufactures to face unprecedented labor challenges. With COVID-19 and the need for social distancing, these shortages are escalating. Many factories have shuttered to protect workers and prevent COVID-19’s spread. Even before this global crisis, in 2018 Deloitte had already projected that manufacturers would face shortages of some 2.4 million workers through 2028. Read full article.

Hidden Biases in the Workplace: Recruiting and Hiring

Wednesday, August 26, 2020

As discussed in the first article of our series on Hidden Biases in the Workplace, we all have biases. It is critical that you are aware of your biases, especially when recruiting for your company. Humans make decisions every 2.5 seconds: Should I get out of bed or hit snooze one more time? What should I wear today? Do I have time for breakfast? Should I email or call that person? Because of the fast pace of our society, people begin to use intuition for all decisions. This unconscious psychological behavior can lead to biases without our even realizing it. Read full article.

How are Uncertain Times Altering Company Location Strategies?

Wednesday, August 26, 2020

As corporate decision-makers develop their business strategies for the future, the markets they consider are rapidly changing. This dynamic trend was already in place before the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic as businesses sought to alleviate concentration risk. With the unprecedented impacts on the global economy of the current public health crisis, however, the search for alternative locations has taken on new urgency and quickly became a priority. Read full article.

How to Leverage LinkedIn for Lead Generation and Sales

Wednesday, August 26, 2020

With 700 million users, LinkedIn provides a massive opportunity for businesses to increase sales leads and revenue. In this video, the creator and host of “The Startup Story” shares tips for leveraging LinkedIn to start conversations with cold contacts, namely: Research, learning more about the contact you’re reaching out to from their profile as well as other social media accounts Requesting to connect, adding a personal message using the information you’ve discovered in your research and suggesting next steps Read full article.

New Strategies for Learning and Development in an Increasingly Virtual World

Wednesday, August 26, 2020

Newly dispersed work teams are facing new challenges. During the early months of the global pandemic, more than three-quarters of organizations reported 80 percent or more of their employees were working from home, according to a global survey on workplace re-entry. While workplace mobility isn’t new, the scale of remote work has accelerated digital transformation, with rollout timelines shrinking from years to weeks. Workflows have also been upended as employees try to adopt new tools as part of their daily routines. Read full article.

Southwest light rail, a project left for dead (more than once), is 25 percent complete

Wednesday, August 26, 2020

When Hennepin County Commissioner Jan Callison thinks of the long saga known as the Southwest Light Rail Project, she said she thinks of the movie “The Princess Bride.” The Princess Bride? Specifically, the scene when Westley’s friends think he is dead and bring him to see the character Miracle Max, played by Billy Crystal: “It just so happens that your friend here is only mostly dead,” Max says. “There’s a big difference between mostly dead and all dead.” Read full article.

State Fair fun, without the actual fair; Robert Robinson at Crooners

Wednesday, August 26, 2020

It’s almost as if the Minnesota State Fair is actually happening. The Fine Arts Exhibition will open in its usual place on the fairgrounds – with limited capacity (of audience, not art), but still. You’ll have to reserve a time slot and buy a ticket ($10). The first five nights (Thursday, Aug. 27-Monday, Aug. 31) are sold out, but plenty of tickets remain starting Tuesday, Sept. 1. Masks are required. FMI. Check the fair’s website for other events and opportunities to get in the mood, like a list of State Fair brews and beverages and where to find them. Plus the Star Tribune is hosting it...

PFA Announces $122 Million in 2020 Project Funding

Monday, August 17, 2020

St. Paul – The Minnesota Public Facilities Authority (PFA) today announced $122 million in loans and grants in the first half of 2020 for water and infrastructure projects in 24 communities throughout Minnesota. “COVID-19 hasn’t postponed the need for Minnesotans to protect one of our most prized natural resources, our water,” said PFA Chair and Commissioner of the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), Steve Grove. “These 24 projects will help local communities protect their waterways and prepare for future economic growth.” Read full article.

Hidden Bias in the Workplace Series: An Overview

Wednesday, August 12, 2020

Workplace bias takes many forms, but the result is always the same—exclusion of members of the workforce from experiences and opportunities for which they are qualified. This is the first post in a series that will walk through addressing hidden biases in the workplace. We will start with identifying biases, move on to hidden biases in recruiting, selection and interviewing processes, following up with retention strategies, and ending with evaluation and sustaining diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies and efforts. We all have biases. We ALL do. We are often tricked into thinking that we are much more rational and objective a...

How to Work from Home Successfully

Wednesday, August 12, 2020

Whether you’re a 9-to-5 office worker or an entrepreneur used to running around to clients and conferences for different business opportunities, the health crisis has caused many people to make the dramatic shift to working entirely from home. As someone who’s experienced the whole spectrum of work setups — everything from corporate offices to coworking spaces to getting work done on cross-country flights — I can say firsthand that even though it can be hard to make this quick transition, there are steps you can take to make working from home more manageable. Many people will even find some advantages to this setup that ca...

Jobs in Demand: Light Truck/Delivery Drivers

Monday, August 10, 2020

With the spike in online shopping, perhaps no job is better equipped to grow in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic than Light Truck/Delivery Drivers. Like in the job itself, getting started early provides an advantage, and reacting quickly to the shift toward online shopping and home delivery has created a huge opportunity for delivery drivers. Many drivers start their days early in the morning loading trucks and planning their routes. For people who like a fast-paced and active work environment, this job provides a lot of benefits. However, it also requires some physically demanding work including lifting and sorting packages, drivin...

23 Minnesota Cities Recognized as Telecommuter-Friendly Communities

Friday, August 07, 2020

St. Paul – Today, Governor Tim Walz issued a proclamation congratulating 23 cities, townships and counties across Minnesota as telecommuter-friendly communities and declared August 7, 2020 as Telecommuter Forward! Day in the State of Minnesota. The communities commit to coordinating and partnering with broadband providers, realtors, economic development professionals, employers, employees, and other stakeholders to promote the availability of telecommuting options in their region. Read full article.

23 Minnesota Cities Recognized as Telecommuter-Friendly Communities

Friday, August 07, 2020

St. Paul – Governor Tim Walz issued a proclamation congratulating 23 cities, townships and counties across Minnesota as telecommuter-friendly communities and declared August 7, 2020 as Telecommuter Forward! Day in the State of Minnesota. The communities commit to coordinating and partnering with broadband providers, realtors, economic development professionals, employers, employees, and other stakeholders to promote the availability of telecommuting options in their region. “The COVID-19 pandemic has made clear how important it is for the state to support telecommuting capabilities,” said Governor Walz. “This initiative will help ensure options for remote work expand in our state, improving the quality of life fo...

Business Development Return On Investment During New Normal

Wednesday, August 05, 2020

In the marketing world, many businesses focus on ROI (return on investment). However, when the business does not obtain the immediate monetary results it desires, the decision makers begin to pull away from social media marketing. This is especially true with ROI during a time of crisis, such as the pandemic. But, there is another side of the coin called return on influences, says social media marketing expert Christopher Tompkins. Read full article.

DEED Announces Cultural Mall Operator Grant Awards

Wednesday, August 05, 2020

St. Paul – The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) announced recipients of the $2.5 million Minnesota Cultural Mall Operator Grants program, which was part of the $62.5 million Small Business Relief Grants package that passed with bipartisan support in the Minnesota Legislature during the 2020 first Special Session and was signed into law by Governor Tim Walz. Grants ranging from $110,000 to $250,000 will be awarded to 12 cultural mall operators whose facilities have a combined total of over 1,150 tenants. Read full article.

How To Empower Your Team: It’s All About Leaning In, Not Stepping Away

Tuesday, August 04, 2020

Many organizations have been trying to shift from a model of authoritarian leadership to a model of worker empowerment. As firms are finding out, that transition is not an easy one to make. It requires new behaviors and new ways of thinking for both executives and employees. The expansion of remote work during the pandemic only exacerbates the problem. Managers are tasked with ensuring flawless execution but are now physically less connected to their teams – and in-person, face-to-face time matters tremendously in relationships. Read full article.

The Importance Of Remote Working To Younger Generations

Tuesday, August 04, 2020

As more jobs shifted to remote work during the Covid-19 crisis, many Millennial and Gen Z employees experienced “flex work” for the first time in their careers. According to the Deloitte Global Millennial Survey 2020, 45% of these younger employees had never worked remotely before the pandemic, compared with just a third after the onset of the pandemic. As of May 2020, the shift to remote work had largely been viewed positively by employees, with more than 60% of younger generations saying they would like the option to work remotely more often after the crisis and use video conferencing instead of travelin...

The New Normal Is The Distributed Company

Sunday, August 02, 2020

There has been a sharp increase in demand for property in upscale vacation areas, such as Lake Tahoe, about 200 miles from San Francisco, or The Hamptons, 100 miles from New York, from well-paid people fleeing the city and looking for properties with more space, as distributed work environments become the new norm and their children will also likely have to study from home. More and more companies are making it clear that the distributed work environments are the future. It started with companies like Square or Twitter, which soon after lockdown announced that their workforce will not have to return to the office unless they expressly want t...

Coursera as a Training Resource for Employers

Wednesday, July 29, 2020

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) has announced a new partnership with Coursera, to provide Minnesotans FREE career-based, online learning resources. Coursera offers 3,800 courses and training modules from over 200 top businesses and universities, including more than 60 courses from the University of Minnesota. These learning opportunities are aimed at both preparing people for in-demand jobs and upskilling employees at businesses. Read full article.

DEED Announces First Virtual Pitch Event Winners

Wednesday, July 29, 2020

St. Paul – The Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) announced four winners in its first virtual pitch competition, held in partnership with SelectUSA on June 30. Competitors in the pitch event consisted of international companies utilizing innovative technology incorporating Artificial Intelligence (AI) in solving real world problems in the agricultural technology (AgTech) and clean technology (CleanTech) sectors. The four winners were selected by an impartial panel of industry experts following a virtual pitch from each of the seven finalists from four different countries. This virtual pitch event is the first of two events planned for this summer and was organize...

DEED Announces Names of Businesses That Received Small Business Emergency Loans

Friday, July 24, 2020

St. Paul – The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) announced that 1,020 small businesses throughout Minnesota received a Small Business Emergency Loan, which is different than the more recently announced Small Business Relief Grants. More than $27 million in loans were made from $30 million in special revenue funds allocated to the emergency loan program. The remaining $2.8 million was distributed to lenders to assist with loan administration and technical assistance expenses. DEED worked with lenders throughout Minnesota to implement the emergency loan program, which opened for applications in late March. Loans were issued to qualified businesses beginnin...

Study: Your dollar goes further in rural Minnesota, if you can find a place to live

Friday, July 24, 2020

Nowhere in Minnesota can a person afford the cost of living on the state minimum wage of $9.86 an hour. In fact, most regions require well over $15 an hour to afford to live. However, rural Minnesotans can often afford a similar or higher quality of life than their metro area counterparts, despite overall lower wages, according to a new study from the Center for Rural Policy and Development. Read full article.

Jobs in Demand: Retail Salespersons

Wednesday, July 22, 2020

As the largest and most common job in the state, Retail Salespeople are seemingly always in demand. Nearly 85,000 people are employed as Retail Salespeople, working on the frontlines during the COVID-19 pandemic to help customers find and purchase the products they need. Though many retail workers were laid off temporarily in March and April, many have come back to work as retailers have re-opened. There are many job duties, skills and knowledge that make a good Retail Salesperson, including preparing merchandise for purchase or rental, maintaining knowledge of products and sales, and operating cash registers to complete financial transactions. Retail sales is incredibl...

What we’re hearing about the Workforce Optimization Cycle

Wednesday, July 22, 2020

We are getting great feedback on the Workforce Optimization Cycle (WOC) resources Workforce Strategy Consultants developed to help Minnesota businesses plan for and meet their workforce needs during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The six stages in the cycle help employers walk through assessing their business, projecting labor demand, identifying workforce gaps, developing workforce strategies, communicating about and implementing strategies and monitoring, evaluating and adapting strategies to meet changing needs. Read full article.

Jobs in Demand: Combined Food Preparation and Serving Workers, including Fast Food

Monday, July 20, 2020

Combined Food Preparation and Serving Workers were among the first workers affected by the emergence of COVID-19 and subsequent executive orders that closed the businesses that employ these workers. As many restaurants and bars have re-opened, these workers are in high demand on the front lines doing specific tasks such as taking customer orders, relaying that to the cooks, and cleaning and organizing eating, service and kitchen areas. Read full article

Car Makers Turn on a Dime to Manufacture Healthcare Solutions

Tuesday, July 14, 2020

When the going gets tough, North American automotive companies don’t roll as many new vehicles off the line. They do, however, roll up their sleeves. Here we look at just a few of the pivots companies have made to address urgent COVID-19 needs and impacts. Their model behavior and speed demonstrate why North American manufacturing ingenuity continues to attract substantial investments for new vehicle models to come. Read full article.

Frontline Care, Pioneering Innovation

Tuesday, July 14, 2020

Rock Health — the first venture fund dedicated to digital health — is a fitting prism for viewing the current and future world of digital health technologies, and how they’re navigating their own paths through the multinational life sciences and medical device ecosystem. As the COVID-19 pandemic has unfolded, they navigated a path to immediate action — and job creation. Read full article.

Will COVID-19 Kill Globalization? What You Need to Know

Tuesday, July 14, 2020

Recent trade battles with China, Mexico, Canada, and Europe have reduced trade flows. Now, with the outbreak of COVID-19 severely impacting international commerce, many argue that globalization will soon be dead. Globalization is not dying. Rather, it’s evolving, and existing trends are accelerating. American companies and workers would be wise to prepare for what’s ahead. Read full article.

COVID-19 and Site Selection in the Near and Long Term

Monday, July 13, 2020

Companies and communities are attempting to navigate through the current crisis, but as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, how will corporate location strategy be affected in the near and long term? Recessionary Forces The level of damage to the economy will depend on the spread of the virus, the healthcare response to the virus, and the effectiveness of the government stimulus and aid programs. This was clearly exemplified in the analysis and research completed by McKinsey & Company in “Safeguarding our lives and our livelihoods: The imperative of our time.” The accompanying graphic contains the group’s projection of the recovery and what w...

Downtown Investment Partnership Works to Revitalize Downtown Red Wing

Monday, July 13, 2020

In efforts to revitalize properties in Downtown Red Wing, the City and community members determined to develop a partnership whose main mission was to accomplish this revitalization. The Red Wing Downtown Investment Partnership was approved by City Council in 2018 as a structure and funding source for improving Downtown Red Wing. The partnership was commenced on a pilot program basis, to be re-evaluated after a two year period. Since then, the partnership helped with financing to renovate a building in the downtown area, providing more attractive and usable square footage. Key Partners The key partners of the Downtown Investment Partnership are Red Win...

Jobs in Demand: Nursing Assistants

Monday, July 13, 2020

With demand for long-term care workers surging amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Nursing Assistants are among the most in-demand jobs in Minnesota right now. Typically working under the direction of nursing staff, Nursing Assistants provide immediate patient care such as feeding, bathing, dressing, grooming, and moving patients, as well as basic healthcare procedures such as taking blood pressure and temperature. Nursing Assistants (NAs) are most likely to work in nursing and residential care facilities, assisted living facilities and retirement communities, home health care services, and in smaller numbers, at hospitals. Read full article

Successfully Returning to the Workplace Post-COVID

Monday, July 13, 2020

With the easing of restrictions surrounding the Covid-19 outbreak, organizations are starting to bring employees back into the workplace. A successful re-entry program will ensure the safety of company personnel and the public, obviate charges of discrimination and invasion of privacy, and avoid actions that inadvertently violate federal, state, and local employment laws. Employers should set a positive tone to motivate their personnel in a difficult environment. Read full article.

First Person: Handling Plant Shutdowns and Re-Openings During the Pandemic

Friday, July 10, 2020

AD: The global COVID-19 pandemic has caused some manufacturing plants to temporarily suspend — wholly or in part — their operations because of employees suffering illness. What — and who — is involved in coordinating the suspension of operations? Vetter: To my knowledge, I don’t believe that we have seen this type of activity happening within our food and consumer products clients’ operations. In fact, what we are experiencing is a ramp up in production on their existing lines. Lines that had some, or even significant amounts of idle time in their production schedule prior to COVID-19, have now been replaced with increase...

Proactive Management of Incentives Deals

Friday, July 10, 2020

Stick the Landing: How to Help Optimize Workplace Reentry

Friday, July 10, 2020

We are at a pivotal point in time, surrounded by growing uncertainty. Yet we know one thing for certain: The way we work will change following this pandemic. That includes everything from the ways we interact with one another, to the tasks we take on, and the physical environment we work in. Organizations carefully planning their safe return to the workplace will find key allies in corporate real estate experts who specialize in office location, planning, layout, and design. Read full article.

Xena Therapies Founder and CEO, Tammy Lee, Launches Cool Therapy Company in Red Wing

Wednesday, July 01, 2020

Xena Therapies founder and CEO, Tammy Lee, has risen above COVID-19 hardships and opened a manufacturing company and plant in Red Wing. She worked with Red Wing Port Authority and others in the community to develop her latest enterprise despite challenges brought on by the pandemic. Xena Therapies Opens Despite Roadblocks After securing a loan in January, the business guru opened the Xena Therapies manufacturing company and plant in Red Wing. The plant began operations in February but quickly hit a COVID-19 roadblock in March. Xena Therapies was forced to close operations and pause plans to sell products directly to health an...

Greater Minnesota solar projects highlight utility plans for speeding up the green economy

Tuesday, June 30, 2020

When Minnesota’s largest utilities released plans for putting people to work during a sagging economy while also speeding up the state’s transition to green energy, solar energy topped two of the companies’ lists. The June proposals by Xcel Energy and Minnesota Power, which include solar projects at four sites in Greater Minnesota, came at the urging of the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, which had asked the big utilities it regulates to move up the completion dates of energy projects that were in the works. Read full article.

With small grants, Pink Cloud Foundation helps recipients take the next step in recovery

Tuesday, June 30, 2020

As she got close to completing a 90-day inpatient addiction-treatment program, Brenda Meizo thought she should be feeling jubilant. Sober for the longest stretch in years, she was about to step out into the world, to go back to her real life. But instead of feeling excited, she was scared. Though she’d successfully made it through treatment, Meizo knew she needed more time to make her newfound make sobriety stick. At her treatment center, she’d learned about sober-living programs, temporary housing where people fresh out of addiction treatment could live beside others committed to a sober lifestyle. For many people, ...

DEED grant would put $10K in the pockets of small business

Saturday, June 27, 2020

The application period opened up for $30 million in available grant funding for small businesses in Greater Minnesota. The Minnesota Small Business Relief Grants Program is made available through the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development and breaks down to a $10,000 grant for those businesses that are chosen through a lottery draw. The grants are another effort to get much needed funds into the hands of struggling small business owners during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read full article.

9 Ways to Lead Your Team Into an Unknowable Future

Wednesday, June 24, 2020

The workplace is changed. As parts of the world begin to loosen coronavirus-related restrictions, organizations are emerging from COVID-induced hibernation. These transitions back to work are gradual. Uncertainty will remain for months as threats of renewed waves of coronavirus persist. We are anticipating a new normal — but what we need is a new now. The radical change of these times demands empathic leadership to keep teams engaged, cohesive and forward-focused. Leaders must demonstrate a spirit of purpose and optimism to reinforce the idea that an uncertain future has the potential to be a better future. Here are nine steps for leading your team into an unknowabl...

A Top TED Speaker on the Most Important Leadership Skill Right Now

Wednesday, June 24, 2020

Shortly after George Floyd’s death, I contributed an article to Entrepreneur that told the story of what happened when I responded individually to 170 emails from members of my list. I had asked them how I could best show up for them during this tumultuous time. Based on how many of these folks took this opportunity not to ask for certain content, but to simply share their thoughts, I came to understand that what they most wanted was to feel heard. Read full article.

How Businesses Can Leverage the Power of TikTok

Wednesday, June 24, 2020

If you want your own business to grow and prosper as the world reopens and a new sense of normalcy settles in, getting to know TikTok is a good first step. The video-sharing platform has emerged from relative obscurity to become one of the leading social media companies in the world, and one of the most business friendly for entrepreneurs who know how to make it work. TikTok is particularly custom-made for personal-brand building, and many entrepreneurs are using it in just that way. By way of example, in a scant three and a half months, one top TikTok chef has amassed an army of more tha...

6 Phrases You Won’t Hear Successful People Say

Monday, June 22, 2020

Your thoughts and the things you say to yourself and others are more powerful than you know. These phrases define how you think, how you act and how others perceive you. What you might think is a flippant, non-committal remark could frame your entire day and career without you even realizing. Here are six phrases that will undermine your success, that you won’t catch successful people using. Read full article.

Nearly $19 Million Awarded for Development Projects in Small Cities

Monday, June 22, 2020

St. Paul – The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) announced Small Cities Development Program (SCDP) grants totaling nearly $19 million for infrastructure and rehabilitation projects in 32 Minnesota cities. SCDP grants are part of the Community Development Block Grant Program administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The SCDP grants pay for rehabilitating housing and commercial buildings and updating public infrastructure in small cities and counties. Read full article.

8 Signs You Have Validated Your Startup App Idea

Saturday, June 20, 2020

If you have been gearing up to launch your startup app for quite some time, chances are you have given a lot of thoughts to the viability, validation, and potential of your idea, especially when it means the difference between success and failure. Quantifying and qualifying your validation milestones will help you create a roadmap and benchmark by which you can evaluate your path while reducing your uncertainty, hesitation and doubt. Here are 8 of the most common signs indicating whether you have validated your startup app idea. Read full article.

A Guide To Investor Pitch Decks For Startup Fundraising

Saturday, June 20, 2020

Startups frequently prepare a “pitch deck” to present their company to prospective angel or venture capital investors. The pitch deck typically consists of 15-20 slides in a PowerPoint presentation and is intended to showcase the company’s products, technology, and team to the investors. Raising capital from investors is difficult and time consuming. Therefore, it’s crucial that a startup creates a great investor pitch deck by articulating a compelling and interesting story. Read full article.

DEED announces partnership with Coursera to provide free online learning content to Minnesotans

Wednesday, June 17, 2020

ST. PAUL, Minn . – The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) announced a new partnership with Coursera, the leading online learning platform that offers courses from 200 top universities and businesses around the world, including more than 60 courses from the University of Minnesota. This partnership is made possible by the Coursera Workforce Recovery Initiative . Read full article.

Forbes Under 30 Leaders Find Innovative Solution Addressing Systemic Issue Of Access To Capital For Small Businesses

Tuesday, June 16, 2020

The coronavirus pandemic has taken a catastrophic toll on America’s small businesses. Those with small cash reserves are owed nearly $1 trillion by suppliers, and according to a recent survey by Goldman Sachs, 85% of small business owners say their personal finances have been hurt due to the crisis, while 64% say their cash reserves will last less than three months. When the government rolled out the first round of Paycheck Protection Program funding on April 3, the $349 billion in emergency relief ran out in less than two weeks, and the program was widely criticized, as much of the money went to the best-connecte...

How the Covid-19 Crisis is Affecting the 2020 U.S. Census

Friday, June 12, 2020

Every 10 years, the U.S. Census is conducted in the United States. The purpose of the Census is to count the entire population of the United States. The Census asks American households certain questions such as sex, age, and race of each person in the household. These demographics help determine congressional representation and how much funding each state, county, and community received of the $675 billion per year in federal funding. These funds are spent on schools, hospitals, roads, public works, and other essential programs. The U.S. Census data is also very helpful for businesses and developers in Red Wing. Businesse...

Launch Minnesota Awards More Than $250,000 to 10 Startups

Friday, June 12, 2020

St. Paul – The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) today announced $255,390 in Launch Minnesota Innovation Grants to 10 technology startups. In this fourth round of grant funding, twelve grants were awarded: seven for business operations, three for housing and child care expenses and two Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) awards. Read full article.

Can energy companies help Minnesota’s economy recover from the COVID pandemic?

Monday, June 08, 2020

In early May, Joseph Sullivan, a commissioner on the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, challenged the state’s major energy companies to speed up the completion of projects that could put people to work in a COVID-19-ravaged economy. Sullivan floated the idea in a memo to commissioners ahead of their May 7 meeting, noting that it could have the added benefit of helping the environment by getting green projects like wind and solar farms on the energy grid. Read full article.

A brief history of Minnesota’s Mesabi Iron Range

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

The Mesabi Iron Range wasn’t the first iron range to be mined in Minnesota, but it has arguably been the most prolific. Since the 1890s, the Mesabi has produced iron ore that boosted the national economy, contributed to the Allied victory in World War II, and cultivated a multiethnic regional culture in northeast Minnesota. The Mesabi Iron Range’s history as a mining district begins well before ore was unearthed. More than two billion years ago, an era of mountain building known as the Algoman orogeny occurred. High mountains were built in northern Minnesota and, later, a large shallow sea covered muc...

Minnesota isn’t going to run out of meat

Friday, May 22, 2020

If you’ve been to a grocery store in recent weeks, you may have noticed the meat section looking a little picked over. Then again, maybe not: while some stores have imposed limits on how much meat customers can buy, or have run out of some products, others haven’t seen much change in supply. There’s no shortage of animals. But as COVID-19 has closed down or slowed down meat processing plants, the meat supply chain has been strained, making it more difficult to get animals processed and get the meat to the right places at the right time. Read full article.

No Experience Required: 9 Occupations Hiring Now

Thursday, May 14, 2020

Many businesses working to provide essential services like health care, food, supplies and transportation are hiring right now in Minnesota. Some positions may be temporary during the COVID-19 pandemic, but many are permanent and, particularly in the health care field, can serve as a stepping stone to higher-paying careers for those who get additional experience or training. In many cases, a person can find a job in one of these occupations without previous experience in the field. Many of the jobs listed below may be posted under multiple titles – some of which vary in their job descriptions, requirements, and wages...

A “Now, Next, Later” Approach for Dealing with Pandemic Challenges

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

As the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the U.S. spread in March, leading to shelter-in-place orders in most states and a rapid slowdown of the national economy, businesses have started adopting Baker Tilly’s “now, next, later” framework in dealing with the pandemic challenges: “Now” is focused on the first 30 days; “next” is focused on the following 60 days; and “later” focusing on 90 days and beyond. The “now” response reflects the immediate reality for businesses – survival. An early March 2020 poll by the National Association of Manufacturers showed 35 percent of manufacturers are facing significant interruptions in supply chain operations, though onl...

Assembling the Right Site Selection Team

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Your company has just decided to invest in a new facility expansion, and you have been chosen to lead the effort. Perhaps you have specific knowledge about a certain manufacturing process or maybe you are the most trusted individual to the CEO. Whatever landed you the assignment is irrelevant; now you must understand the CEO and the entire company are putting their collective faith in you to succeed at finding the best location for the planned expansion. Read full article.

Business Stories

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

If you have a good story to tell about your Minnesota business or labor organization helping during this time, or have photos or stories showing creative solutions to social distancing and keeping workers safe, please submit these stories to GoodBusiness@state.mn.us. Read full article.

Empowering Women Entrepreneurs

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

For Magdalah R. Silva, joining Dell Women’s Entrepreneur Network (DWEN) was a game changer right from the start. As co-founder, CEO, and president of DMS International—an information and technology services company for the Federal government and the private sector—Magdalah attended the 2019 DWEN Summit in Singapore along with other global women entrepreneurs, investors, and thought leaders. It was there that she connected with Dell representatives and other women who understand the role data and technology play in driving global growth. Read full article.

How Is the Pandemic Affecting Location Decisions in the Food & Beverage Industry?

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

I've been fortunate to have some great conversations with economic developers over the past few weeks, with many questions on the pandemic's impact on site location decisions for the food and beverage Industry. While nothing is certain, I've read and attached links to some important insights which I would like to share with those who currently or plan to target this industry. Be very aware that: Disruption of reliable demand and labor shortages have resulted in huge supply chain inefficiencies, leaving too much food in the wrong places. New facility locations that process products that heavily rely on predictable supply chain will n...

The Future of Manufacturing Site Selection is Connected

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Top Site Selection Concerns for Heavy Manufacturing Companies When you think of heavy manufacturing, utilities and transportation logistics infrastructure is key for those operations. So, for example, you have operations with demands in the 400 megawatt or the 200 megawatts range. Some smaller heavy-industrial operations require 10 to 20 megawatts – which is already a big operation in terms of electricity demand. It’s not that you find a lot of locations that are ready with 400 megawatts waiting for that operation to come. It's important to find locations that can meet this type of electricity demand, and you can couple tha...

DEED Awards $681,000 in Airport Infrastructure Grants

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

St. Paul – The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) has awarded $681,000 in grants to Alexandria, the Duluth Airport Authority and Elbow Lake. “These grants will create jobs and expand economic development opportunities in the Greater Minnesota communities receiving these grants,” said DEED Commissioner Steve Grove. “This is an important investment as Minnesota’s economy begins to recover from the impacts of COVID-19 over the coming months.” Read full article.

10 Site Selection and Economic Development Takeaways from the COVID-19 Crisis

Thursday, April 30, 2020

Over extended and overly risky supply chains are no longer tolerable. Coronavirus is providing new and forceful momentum for the reshoring of manufacturing investment back to the U.S. from China and elsewhere. Our nation’s medical devices and biopharma sector — now dangerously concentrated in China — must be the first in line to disinvest there and reinvest back here in the States. Currently, less than 30% of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) -producing facilities are in the U.S. - while the number of Chinese facilities has more than doubled since 2010. The recent bipartisan bill introduced by Senator Blackburn (R-Tennessee) an...

COVID-19 - Suffocating the global medical supply chain, while breathing life into its future.

Thursday, April 30, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has further exposed the vulnerabilities of the United States’ reliance on imported medical supplies and equipment. Global manufacturers of these much-needed products have had capacities curtailed due to shutdowns, social distancing, and travel restrictions. At the same time more than 50 countries around the world have embargoed or restricted exports of items like personal protective equipment (PPE), ventilators and other much-needed medical equipment and pharmaceutical products. Read full article.

Job Club Online Joins CareerForce Lineup of Virtual & Interactive Offerings

Thursday, April 30, 2020

Over 600 Minnesotans across the state – from Minneapolis and Winona to Hibbing and Twig – registered to take part in our first Job Club Online on Tuesday. Catherine Byers Breet – who has 22 years of experience as a career consultant, job hunt coach and recruiter – hosted the job club via webinar. Her topic this week was Video Interviewing: How to stand out and be the one they want. Read full article.

Minnesota nonprofits, schools participate in first-ever Give At Home MN campaign

Thursday, April 30, 2020

The first week of May felt a lot like November as Minnesota nonprofits make a flurry of pitches for donations in a first-ever virtual fundraising campaign during the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting Friday, GiveMN — the nonprofit that in November puts on the largest annual giving day in the state, Give to the Max — is hosting a new eight-day campaign called Give At Home MN. Read full article.

Spending All Day At Your Desk? Four Exercises To Boost Productivity When Working From Home

Thursday, April 30, 2020

We knew sitting all day was not a healthy lifestyle choice, even before the coronavirus hit. Now, however, without commutes to get us walking, or the ability to stroll down office hallways to see a colleague or join a meeting, it’s even easier to spend all day in one chair, with little movement. “Spending all that time online can be grueling,” says Marie Di Virgilio, a core faculty member with Benedictine University’s Ph.D./D.B.A. program in Values-Driven Leadership, for senior executives. Read full article.

The Secret To Retail Success Post Coronavirus? Adopting A Consumer-Centric Approach

Thursday, April 30, 2020

Fashion retail was facing unprecedented upheaval long before any of us had even heard of coronavirus or could imagine a situation where all stores would be forced to close and the world would be in global lockdown. This pre-coronavirus need for change was being driven by shrinking margins and an increase in nimble new entrants to the market who were growing their market share at a rapid pace, striping away sales from large incumbent brands and retailers. For the majority of retail businesses, trying to evolve and keep pace in recent years has been a painful experience as it’s meant questionin...

American Retail Reopens—Sort Of: A State-By-State Guide To What’s Back

Wednesday, April 29, 2020

The stores of American retailing are starting to reopen—at least some of them, in some places and at some times. As the coronavirus pandemic stretches into its third month on Friday, states and businesses across the country are making fateful decisions on reopening. These acts are accompanied by copious rules and regulations on social distancing, health and safety measures, and reprogrammed shopping procedures—all of which are dependent on shoppers and store employees to both obey and embrace. Read full article.

Announcing new tools to help businesses promote safe work environments

Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Health experts around the world will tell you that one of the most important aspects of workplace safety during a pandemic is careful and effective health screening of employees. That's why in Executive Order 20-40, the Governor requires all non-critical businesses coming back into workplace environments to engage in proper health screenings each day. Now, thanks to a unique collaboration between Target Corp, Minnesota IT Services, and the Minnesota Safety Council – Minnesota businesses have a digital tool that can make those screenings even more effective. Read full article.

DEED Awards more the $1.3 Million in MJSP Grants

Tuesday, April 28, 2020

St. Paul – The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) awarded nine workforce development grants totaling nearly $1.3 million under the Minnesota Jobs Skills Partnership (MJSP) to assist businesses and educational institutions in training workers to keep high-quality jobs in the state. These grants were awarded in early March 2020, prior to impact from the COVID-19 pandemic in Minnesota. “The MJSP is a vital tool in helping Minnesotans train for high-skill, high-paying jobs, particularly as Minnesota’s economy will begin to recover from the impacts of COVID-19 over the coming months,” said Commissioner of DEED, Steve Grove. “Training workers to mee...

As many as 20,000 Minnesota businesses could reopen Monday, but will they?

Monday, April 27, 2020

If you’re looking to enjoy the spring weather with a newly assembled pair of Minnesota-made Riedell roller skates, you’ll need to wait a touch longer. Afforded an early-bird chance along with other select businesses to reopen Monday amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Riedell opted to continue to retrofit social-distancing strategies in its Red Wing plant and resume skate manufacturing as planned on May 4 — the final day of the state’s current stay-at-home order. Read full article.

Dan's News & Views Blog: March/April 2019

Wednesday, March 27, 2019

The Anderson Center Photo Credit: Wendy Amundson The Anderson Center’s historic water tower is known as a prominent landmark in Red Wing. Built in 1915, the tower is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Recently, the Anderson Center secured a $107,500 grant from the Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Program to repair and prevent future damage to the tower’s balcony. Work on the balcony is expected to begin late spring and be completed by the end of 2019. A portion of the project cost is covered by a three-year grant from the Red Wing Area Fund. Named one of the to...

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