News and Media

Minnesota Main Street COVID Relief Grants to Begin Accepting Applications September 20; Informational Resources Available Today

Wednesday, September 08, 2021

St. Paul - The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) will begin accepting applications for the Main Street COVID Relief Grants Program on September 20th. This program was approved by the Minnesota State Legislature and signed by Gov. Tim Walz on June 30, 2021. A total of $64,200,000 is available in grants for Minnesotan owned and operated businesses that can demonstrate financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Businesses that are majority-owned by military veterans, women, and Black, Indigenous, and people of color individuals; employ 6 people or fewer; and/or did not receive previous assistance from other state relief program...

2021 Leaders Lab Profiles

Tuesday, August 24, 2021

Leaders Lab is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to engage Minnesota’s developing business leaders (approximately late 20s to 30s). It will enhance your personal and professional growth, connect you with business leaders statewide, and provide understanding into what drives Minnesota’s economy and how policy affects the success of business in our state. The program consists of four sessions two-day sessions. To learn more about Leaders Lab, click here. Check back to this page as more of our wonderful 2021 Leaders Lab participants are profiled! Read full article.

A Revitalized Vision for the Corporate Campus

Friday, August 20, 2021

When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, tech companies were among the first to successfully adapt to working remotely at scale. Having quickly deployed tools and strategies to keep workers connected and productive, many of the major players in tech leaned into the new work-from-anywhere paradigm, announcing that their flexible or fully remote working arrangements would continue indefinitely. The rest of the world followed suit, primarily out of necessity as social distancing and lockdown orders became the new normal. But as the beginning of the end of the pandemic starts to emerge, companies of all sizes may soon follow tech again — bac...

In Focus: Creative Funding to Enable Sustainability

Thursday, August 19, 2021

Many building managers have realized that — in the same way that they have a responsibility to keep their occupants safe and healthy — they also have a responsibility to keep the planet safe and healthy. In fact, Johnson Controls found in its 2020 Energy Efficiency Indicator Survey that 65 percent of participating organizations have an internal or public goal for energy or carbon reduction. A global leader for smart, healthy, and sustainable buildings, Johnson Controls has delivered more than 3,000 energy-savings projects globally that reduced carbon emissions by more than 30.6 million metric tons and achieved $6.6 billion in energ...

Front Line: U.S. Supply Chains Face Critical Stage

Wednesday, August 18, 2021

It’s too soon to gauge the ultimate result of the Biden administration’s efforts to address long-standing vulnerabilities in the nation’s supply chains. But findings from the comprehensive Executive Order (E.O.) 14017 “America’s Supply Chains” released on June 8th set out to put the nation on a stronger course. Following the release of the report, officials told reporters during a White House briefing that the administration had created a task force that would tackle near-term bottlenecks in construction, transportation, semiconductor production, and agriculture. The group would be led by President Biden’s Cabinet secretaries. Some in industry view the effort as much needed...

Getting the EV Industry Charged Up

Tuesday, August 17, 2021

Electric vehicles (EVs) have had a good year. According to Cox Automotive, EV sales accounted for 7.8 percent of total sales in the first quarter of this year, a significant increase over their 4.8 percent share during the same period in 2020. And though that increase translates to a relatively small number of EVs actually hitting the road, at least compared to traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) powered vehicles, opinion research and buying patterns show a rising interest in EVs from American consumers. At least some of that rising interest is attributable to concern about the environmental impact of ICE vehicles...

Front Line: Changing the Definition of MSAs

Monday, August 16, 2021

Earlier this year, the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) announced a proposed change that would double the minimum population threshold for Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) from 50,000 to 100,000. MSA designations are used to identify cities and surrounding communities linked by social and economic indicators as established by OMB for the purpose of allocating federal funds. Metropolitan and non-metropolitan designations are used by agencies across the federal government to determine eligibility for funding and services. The OMB proposal to revise the standard could threaten access to vital federal resources for about 150 communities across the country, according to the bipartisa...

2021 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards Recognize State and Local Economic Development Efforts

Friday, August 13, 2021

AROUND THIS TIME A YEAR AGO, a lot of life seemed to be in a holding pattern, with progress on many things at a near standstill amid the COVID-19 pandemic. But not everyone allowed adversity to stand in the way of opportunity. Indeed, while most of us were learning the term “social distancing,” exploring the ins and outs of masking, searching for toilet paper, and perfecting the art of sourdough baking, economic development leaders in quite a few states remained plugged into their phones and Zoom meetings, making impressive location deals. By many measures, 2020 was a downer of a busines...

Apple Rediscovers Its Core

Thursday, August 12, 2021

The sixth annual State of Manufacturing Report released by Fictiv in late April found that 95% of industry leaders see digital transformation as essential to their company’s success, and 62% see re-shoring as one part of future-proofing their manufacturing. Apple on that same day in late April backed up those findings. The company pledged to add 20,000 jobs while contributing more than $430 billion to the U.S. economy over the next five years. The new five-year investment goal is 20% higher than the $350 billion goal set in 2018, which the company has outpaced. The 20,000 new jobs are in addition t...

Which Way for Rural America?

Wednesday, August 11, 2021

The challenges facing rural America are well-known and exhaustively documented. Chronically shrinking populations beget shrinking tax bases and shriveling public services. Town squares board up. Hospitals close. The most promising youth light out for elsewhere, just as lack of reliable internet now helps to quash most any notion of winning back folks from the city, post-pandemic. It’s also been noted that many rural communities have fallen victim to a vicious cycle. “Some communities are dominated by people that really don’t want any change,” says Ron Tillery, executive director of the Phelps County Development Corporation in Phelps County, Nebraska, a top performer i...

Alternative Protein Facilities Gain Traction

Tuesday, August 10, 2021

This is not your father’s veggie burger — if he was ever near one. Today’s meat-alternative burgers and other foods are based on plant- or cell-based alternative proteins, and the global market for such products is exploding. According to analysis from Meticulous Research released in March, the alternative proteins market is forecast to grow by 11.2% from 2020 to reach $27 billion by 2027. Geographically, North America accounted for the largest share of the overall alternative protein market in 2020, according to the report, “Alternative Protein Market by Stage/Type — Global Forecast to 2027.” This region’s large share is mainly attribute...

The Numbers Don't Lie: Where Data Center Projects are Going Today and Tomorrow

Monday, August 09, 2021

Of the 400 major data center facility investments tracked globally by Site Selection and the Conway Data Projects Database since January 1, 2018, precisely 198 have taken place in the United States. Accepting that there are a few (dozen?) projects we’re probably not learning about in China, here are the non-U.S. countries where we’ve found the most projects landing that involve at least $1 million invested, 20 new jobs or 20,000 new sq. ft. of space. At the international metro level, London continues to lead the way, but India is the only country with multiple metros in the Top 10. Read full article.

Minnesota’s Angel Tax Credit Program Renewed

Friday, August 06, 2021

Minnesota’s Angel Tax Credit program has been very popular with investors and entrepreneurs since it launched in 2010. Early in this year’s legislative session, backers of the program put out the call to renew the program citing its importance to the state’s startup ecosystem and the Minnesota economy as a whole. But somehow amid the focus on Covid-19 recovery and other big issues at the Capitol this year, news about fate of the tax credit program got lost in the shuffle. The program received $15 million in new funding: $10 million for 2021 and $5 million for 2022. Gov. Tim Wal...

Are PEPS The Next Frontier For Employer Retirement Plans?

Thursday, August 05, 2021

Offering your employees benefits makes you competitive. But providing benefits can be expensive and complicated to manage. Are you a small business trying find top talent? Is it a struggle to afford the benefits – like a 401K for employees – that candidates expect? The Minnesota Chamber and Securian Financial formed a strategic alliance to offer high-quality, affordable solutions to help you compete. Pooled Employer Plans (PEPs) are retirement plans that bring down cost by allowing multiple employers to participate. These plans help streamline administration and allow for better investment access for smaller businesses that was previously only achievable fo...

DEED Offers Career Opportunity Webinars As Pandemic Unemployment Benefits End

Thursday, August 05, 2021

ROCHESTER, Minn. - Community members who receive extra pandemic unemployment benefits have a month to attend a number of webinars aimed at helping Minnesotans find a new career path. The unemployment benefits through Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) or Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), will be ending on September 4. Currently, participants are receiving an additional $300 a week on top of regular unemployment benefits. However, the Department of Employment and Economic Development wants to help Minnesotans prepare for the transition. Read full article.

Evolving DEED's strategy in the CareerForce system to grow opportunity

Wednesday, August 04, 2021

Minnesota's CareerForce system, a network of partners designed to help Minnesotans find jobs, is essential to our economic recovery from the pandemic. DEED plays an important role in this system, and we're committed to evolving our efforts to better connect Minnesotans with family-sustaining work – and help employers find the workers they need to grow and thrive. The pandemic highlighted – and in many cases accelerated – disparities that existed long before COVID-19, which workforce development leaders in the state, like DEED, need to address. Guiding our work is the One Minnesota strategic plan, which provides vision for all state agencies t...

Mall Of America Community Commons Entrepreneurs Shine At Women In Business

Thursday, July 29, 2021

At the Minnesota Chamber's recent Women in Business Conference: Changemakers from challenges, a group of four women entrepreneurs who took part in the Mall of America’s Community Commons program shared their inspirational stories. Community Commons is a space within Mall of America that offers a temporary home for 17 businesses impacted by the unrest in Minneapolis and St. Paul. "Community Commons is a project that was developed in response of the community unrest last spring," said Jill Renslow, Executive Vice President of Marketing and Business Development, Mall of America who moderated the conversation. "Just over a year ago as we watche...

2020-2021 Leadership Minnesota Participant Profiles

Wednesday, July 28, 2021

Minnesota’s economic engine is powered by more than 100,000 businesses, a diverse landscape interconnected in ways not understood by the casual observer. For a select group, Leadership Minnesota opens the window to a behind-the-scenes look at what makes our state’s economy tick. This exclusive program also helps you understand how public policy crafted at the Capitol impacts the vitality of each and every Minnesota company. By establishing a rich network of Minnesota business leaders, your shared experiences make you more effective leaders at your workplace. Check back to this page as more of our wonderful 2020-2021 Leadership Minnesota participants are profiled! Rea...

‘Attention please’: The new voices of MSP airport

Monday, July 26, 2021

Passengers returning to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport for the first time in a while may notice some new voices on the public address system. The airport decided to take a different approach to reminding travelers to report suspicious bags, mind the end of the moving walkways and wear face masks. Customer service managers held open auditions for airport employees last fall to be the next “Voices of MSP,” as the program is called. Read full article.

How to Keep Your Most Valued Employees During 'The Great Resignation'

Saturday, July 24, 2021

In the spring of 2020, millions of people were losing their jobs as the pandemic shuttered entire industries and sectors. Individuals who remained employed craved job security, so they hunkered down in gratitude, hoping that they wouldn't be one of the unlucky ones to become unemployed. Fast-forward to June 2021, and everything is different. The dire situation from last year has rebounded so rapidly that it's hard to comprehend the incredible resurgence in available jobs. During the third week of June, a new kind of headline started appearing on news websites. In what Texas A&M University professor Anthony Klotz predicted a...

The One Thing You May Overlook When Considering Your Professional Legacy

Saturday, July 24, 2021

If a global pandemic taught us anything, it’s that our time in this world can be cut short in an instant, so we should make the most of it while we can. This realization has caused many to reevaluate where they’re going professionally and map out how they’d like to make their mark. Their legacies as leaders and how and whom they impact include big dreams and aspirational goals, which they’re pursuing with a newfound zeal. While I applaud these forward thinkers, I’d like to suggest that they augment their strategies by applying a less lofty but highly impactful action they ma...

Amish paradise? The traditionalist Christian group’s population has been growing in Minnesota. A lot.

Friday, July 23, 2021

Earlier this month, the U.S. Supreme Court sent a case concerning a group of Minnesota Amish back to the state’s Court of Appeals. The group, known as the Swartzentruber Amish, sued southeast Minnesota’s Fillmore County over its requirement that most homes have modern septic systems to deal with greywater, which is water used for things like baths, dishes and other cleaning. Brian Lipford, the attorney representing the Swartzentruber Amish in the case, says the group believes that the septic requirement violates their religious freedom. The Supreme Court’s ruling came in the wake of another religious freedom case — that one about ...

DEED launches $80M economic development program

Friday, July 23, 2021

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development is opening applications for the first round of its Main Street Economic Revitalization Program on Aug. 3, which will direct half of the program’s $80 million to economic development and redevelopment projects. Read full article.

Jeff thanks CareerForce Native American Veterans Services Team

Friday, July 23, 2021

“Career Forces offered services to me shortly after I had graduated,” said Jeff “They were a valuable resource that shared job postings, offered classes for resume building, and preparation for interviews." Jeff turned to CareerForce Veterans Employment Services for assistance in the summer of 2020, shortly after graduating from the University of Minnesota during the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic. Jeff is a disabled veteran and used veterans benefits to attend college. His college degree would have normally opened many doors for him, but the pandemic had impacted available jobs in unprecedented ways and he needed assistance navigating the new labo...

Share your success stories with us!

Thursday, July 22, 2021

CareerForce has helped thousands of Minnesotans find work during the pandemic. Helping connect people looking for work with the employers who need them is what we do – and we’re honored when customers write us to share their employment success. Here are a few Minnesotans we’ve heard from recently. Read full article.

Why Minnesota Lawmakers Funded a Film Tax Credit

Tuesday, July 20, 2021

It was a quiet rebirth, emerging from the closed-door negotiations over the state Legislature’s taxes omnibus bill in June: Minnesota once again has a modest but significant incentive program aimed at luring TV and film production to the state. The tax credit — which has friends in high places and didn’t attract notable legislative opposition — was included in amendments to the taxes bill, which was the last measure adopted by the 2021 Legislature. It will cost taxpayers $5 million a year over the next four years. Melodie Bahan, executive director of the nonprofit Minnesota Film and TV board, described herself a...

How Economic Development Websites Can Increase Digital Marketing ROI

Monday, July 19, 2021

When it comes to bringing money into your community, your website is the most important component of your marketing strategy. And economic development websites can increase your digital marketing ROI. Design is key, but content is king. CONTENT MARKETING, done right, can give your economic development organization (EDO) ongoing search engine prominence while elevating your community's value propositions in ways that will yield benefits for years to come. On the flip side, a site that's not up to par will be a big liability. Many factors will affect your website's return on investment. Here is a list of key item...

The 7 Steps To Success Silicon Valley Startups Swear By

Monday, July 19, 2021

Silicon Valley, in San Francisco’s Bay Area in Northern California, serves as a global centre for technology and high innovation. According to Wikipedia it houses 30 businesses in the Fortune 1000, many of the world’s largest high-tech corporations and accounts for a third of the USA’s venture capital. As of 2013, Silicon Valley employed about a quarter of a million workers in info tech and the region was responsible for technologies including the microprocessor and the microcomputer. Accomplishments in tech are everywhere you look. You don’t have to be in Silicon Valley to be in technology, but it definitely make...

Minnesota’s pandemic-driven bike boom is showing no signs of slowing down

Friday, July 16, 2021

With restaurants, bars, concerts and other public spaces closed, the pandemic drove people outdoors. Parks were swamped, Minneapolis and St. Paul closed streets to accommodate a flood of people on foot and wheels, and stores that sold equipment for getting out — tents, snowshoes, skis — were often sold out. Demand for bikes surged, too. In 2020, U.S. consumers spent an estimated $29.5 billion on bikes and accessories, up 17 percent from the $25 billion spent in 2019, according to data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Many shops had trouble keeping up with demand, as bikes flew off the shelves. Further...

Main Street Economic Revitalization Program Will Launch Aug. 3

Thursday, July 15, 2021

St. Paul – The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) will launch its new Main Street Economic Revitalization Program on Aug. 3. This $80 million statewide economic redevelopment program will award grants to partner organizations to establish programs within specific communities that will, in turn, fund economic development and redevelopment projects. These projects will address the greatest needs that have arisen in our communities since March 15, 2020 and spur economic revitalization across Minnesota. This program was approved by the Minnesota State Legislature and signed by Gov. Tim Walz on June 29, 2021. “We’re excited to develop this new progra...

As Economy Recovers, Loan Approval Rates Increase For Small Businesses

Wednesday, July 14, 2021

Small business loan approval percentages at big banks ($10 billion+ in assets) climbed slightly from 13.5% in May to 13.6% and small banks’ approvals rose from 18.7% in May to 18.9%, in June 2021, according to the latest Biz2Credit Small Business Lending Index. The pandemic opened up opportunities for many banks. Many smaller banks that had not fully automated their small business loan application procedure are now heading in that direction. Banks that participated in the government’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) lending to help small businesses survive the pandemic often gained these small businesses as customers, and now that the PP...

Jobs in Demand: First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers

Wednesday, July 14, 2021

Have you worked in an office and administrative support occupation and you’re ready to move up into a supervisory position? If so, you may be ready to become a First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers. This occupational title encompasses many different types of supervisory roles, with examples including Accounts Payable Supervisor, Administrative Supervisor, Customer Service Manager, Office Coordinator, Office Supervisor, and Staff Services Manager. As this occupation does cover so many different areas, and is found in every industry sector, it is naturally a very large-employing occupation. In fact, with just over 20,000 jobs in Minnesota, this occupatio...

America’s Top States for Business

Tuesday, July 13, 2021

CNBC’s annual study once again puts all 50 states to the test, measuring them on more than 85 different metrics in 10 key categories of competitiveness. 7. Minnesota Inclusiveness is supposed to be this state’s North Star. But the state is at the heart of a national reckoning on race. Economic Profile Governor: Tim Walz, Democrat Population: 5,657,342 GDP growth (Q1 2021): 7.5% Read full article.

DEED Awards Funding to Nonprofit Lenders that Help Emerging Entrepreneurs

Tuesday, July 13, 2021

St. Paul – The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) has awarded grants totaling $3.1 million to 26 nonprofit lending partners across the state that provide business loans through DEED’s Minnesota Emerging Entrepreneur Loan Program (ELP). ELP supports the growth of businesses owned and operated by people who identify as Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), low-income persons, women, veterans and/or persons with disabilities. The program helps ensure that business owners from populations who’ve historically faced barriers to accessing capital are able to get funds to start and grow their business. “Now more than ever, the Emerging Entrepreneur Loan Progra...

Our Approach to Workforce Development Fund Reforms

Tuesday, July 13, 2021

Minnesota is home to one of the country’s most talented workforces. That’s no accident – it comes from years of investments by public and private sector leaders in education and training that produce strong talent for a diverse economy. One of the unique differentiators to training our workforce that many people may not be aware of is the state’s Workforce Development Fund – a payroll-tax-fueled training fund that puts serious money toward training workers for in-demand jobs across Minnesota. We are the only state in the country that has such a fund. Yet it has been operating since its inception without an...

GIS Planning by the numbers

Thursday, July 08, 2021

For the past 23 years, our clients have ensured we've always remained the industry's leading GIS data tool for corporate site selection and economic development. We've earned that trust through a combination of consistent, exceptional innovation and updates to our online data tools, along with exceptional customer service. No other vendor on the market comes close to offering this number of constantly added new features, enhanced functionality and intuitive interface. As a result, we feel fortunate to have experienced considerable growth in market share. We work hard to justify our clients' trust in our software products. Here is a selection o...

Bike-Pedestrian Bridge Construction Underway

Wednesday, June 23, 2021

The construction of a new bridge for walkers and bicyclists connecting the Old West Main Street business district and the future Upper Harbor recreation area is underway. The Bike-Pedestrian Bridge will serve as an accessible and safe way for people of all ages and abilities to travel between Bay Point Park and Old West Main Street business district. A Masterpiece in the Making The proposed bike-pedestrian bridge construction was approved for commencement at the December 2020 City Council meeting shortly after the City Council awarded a contract to Kraemer North American, LLC for the project. The project, which has been in the makin...

Life Sciences Fueling Construction Demand

Monday, June 14, 2021

In a time of widespread economic upheaval, the life sciences industry is one of the few whose prospects have changed for the better. Called upon to rapidly develop and distribute an all-important COVID-19 vaccine without sacrificing the research and production of existing drugs, the biotech industry is expanding at breakneck speed. Currently, around 13.9 million square feet of life sciences research and manufacturing space is under construction in key markets. In the United States, lab space vacancies have dropped to 7.1 percent, while commercial properties are being converted into R&D facilities on a massive scale. This biotech boom is providing a vital lifeline to the constructio...

Engaging the Workforce with Empathetic Leadership

Friday, June 11, 2021

Area Development’s staff editor Mark Crawford recently asked Ericsson’s Dan Kerber, vice president of digital services business operations for North America — who helps companies improve their financial and operational metrics through improved resource management processes — about his thoughts on leadership, especially the need for “soft skills” during the COVID-19 pandemic. Area Development: What are the most important soft skills needed for leadership today? Kerber: There are many important soft skills, but the three I have found most important are communication, giving effective feedback, and empathy. Good communication skills are essential for conveying information, decisions, and your thought processes to your team. Givin...

Infrastructure Upgrades Vital to U.S. Economy

Thursday, June 10, 2021

One of President Joe Biden’s first acts was to announce a $2.3 trillion bill to repair and upgrade the nation’s infrastructure. The bill addresses what has become a perennial topic of debate in Congress, and one that has repeatedly been set aside for action at some future date. It has been well-documented across the United States that years of neglect have resulted in roads and bridges in dire need of repair, outdated public transportation, subpar Internet service, and other critical infrastructure needs. In its most recent report card on the condition of America’s infrastructure, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE...

Community-Led Growth: How to Build a Community from Scratch

Wednesday, June 09, 2021

I’ve spent the past 10 years growing companies and I can say without a doubt that when done right, community building has the best short-, medium-, and long-term ROI out of all the marketing and sales tactics — and I have tried and tested hundreds of them. Why is community building such a magical asset? Because it can touch on all the business metrics that matter, from churn rate to MRR and to cost-cutting. But more on that later. For now, I’d like to focus on how you can build a community from scratch. Most entrepreneurs I spoke to have the same two objections when it comes to community-led growth: it’...

Here's How These Businesses Exploded During the Pandemic

Wednesday, June 09, 2021

It’s been incredibly interesting to watch just how the world has responded to the Covid-19 crisis. Some businesses and individuals didn’t seem to respond or pivot at all, but a select group of companies figured out how to not only stay afloat, but also thrive in the midst of this pandemic. These companies, the successful amidst the chaos, act as a compelling case study for many economists around the globe (since this is truly all unprecedented), and for myself. I’ve been looking at the companies that have actually grown during Covid-19, and I dug into just how they’ve been able to do it. Hopefully, this insight wil...

Shoring Up Operations for Growth

Wednesday, June 09, 2021

The pandemic wreaked havoc across every industry, and companies in the manufacturing and mobility/transportation sectors were not spared. The result? Companies are re-evaluating their supply chains and operations in a post-COVID environment. Realigning the Supply Chain For the past 20 years, manufacturing moved operations from the U.S. to East Asia to take advantage of cheap labor. This approach dominated manufacturers’ strategy, paving the way for a status quo where low-skilled and large-scale manufacturing was done in China. But COVID-19 — coupled with rising wages in East Asia, trade tensions, and a tariff war between the U.S. and China — undermined the busines...

A Turnkey Approach to Manufacturing Location Decisions

Tuesday, June 08, 2021

When scouting locations for a retailer, an experienced real estate team knows precisely what to look for: sites that have high visibility, easy accessibility, and close proximity to a population base and competing stores. By comparing options that meet this small handful of criteria, the final selection can be relatively simple. Compare that to locating a new manufacturing facility. As many as 70 or more different variables can influence site selection — from infrastructure, logistical, and incentive considerations to permitting requirements, staffing needs, and community acceptance concerns. Site selection models for these facilities, therefore, can be notoriously complex. The strengths o...

Designing A Security Strategy For An Era Of Uncertainty

Monday, June 07, 2021

2020 will be seen as one of the most consequential years in any security professional’s career. For many, there will be a bright line dividing how things were before the pandemic from how they are now. A Splunk global survey of 535 security leaders found that the next great security challenge is cloud complexity—including shifts in workloads, new software development models, remote work and heterogeneous public cloud usage. To help leaders tackle these obstacles, Splunk offers a step-by-step guide. Read full article.

Brielle Finds Career Fulfillment as a Nurse

Sunday, June 06, 2021

Brielle’s journey began as a youth in the Young Adult Program at Minnesota Valley Action Council (MVAC). She was a single mother and needed to find a job to support herself and young child. She worked one summer in a work experience at a nursing home in the activities department. It was during that experience that she realized she wanted to become a nurse. She obtained her Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certificate through Minnesota West Community & Technical College (MN West) and started working at a local nursing home. She worked there as a CNA for six years and the...

Tell us what you think about economic development marketing

Friday, June 04, 2021

If you are an economic development professional, we want to know what you think about place marketing - whether you're a marketer yourself or not. This survey is being shared with economic development and investment attraction professionals all over the world. Your contribution to this project benefits the industry as a whole; by sharing your perspective, you will be able to benchmark and compare your responses with economic developers everywhere. We're also doing a parallel concurrent survey with site selectors in order to compare and contrast the results. That's data that will be useful to economic developers everywhere. We're also going to be able to compar...

The Effects of the Pandemic on Industrial Design

Friday, June 04, 2021

The Covid-19 pandemic has affected every facet of our economy, increasing a cultural reliance on e-commerce that is here to stay. Retailers have responded by minimizing square footage of brick-and-mortar store fronts, keeping less inventory on site, and focusing more on entertainment and experiential retail to keep shoppers engaged. As a result, the need for warehousing and industrial space has exploded, driving the desire for large-scale, innovative facilities that maximize efficiency and logistical operations. The literal driving force behind the industrial surge is the expansion of transportation capabilities worldwide, with international trade becoming the engine of the global economy. Goods ar...

Immigration Tips for International Business Travelers During the Pandemic

Thursday, June 03, 2021

In the economic development world, site visits from company executives, who often arrive from every corner of the globe, are a typical day…but during the last year business travel has virtually stopped, or declined sharply, while the world faced the challenges of the pandemic. As vaccines continue to combat the pandemic, we are slowly seeing some site visits resume. While remote visits and virtual site tours have kept the company relocation and expansion processes moving forward, we are eager for the day when we can meet again — face-to-face — with company executives and site selection teams, as international companie...

They Promised Change. Did They Deliver?

Thursday, June 03, 2021

After George Floyd was murdered by a Minneapolis police officer a year ago, top players in Minnesota's startup community called for making the scene more racially inclusive. The calls were specific, so it's possible to check to see how entrepreneurs and investors stack up one year out. The community is addressing a stark and now well-known gap in funding: About 1% of founders nationwide who received venture capital in the past five years were Black. White founders, meanwhile, made up over 77% of venture capital recipients, according to a study RateMyInvestor and DiversityVC. "Everything they said, they've done." Read full article.

Two More Minnesota Companies Added to Fortune 500 List

Thursday, June 03, 2021

Minnesota had another strong showing on the annual Fortune 500 list. In the 2021 list, 18 Minnesota companies made the cut, up from 16 a year ago. Each year, Fortune magazine ranks the top U.S. companies by annual revenue. Minnetonka-based health insurance giant UnitedHealth Group held on to its spot in the top 10, landing in fifth place. In 2020, the company’s revenue hit $257.1 billion. “While widespread layoffs led to a decline in the number of individuals covered by its commercial insurance, [UnitedHealth’s] 6.2 percent revenue growth was powered by greater enrollment in its Medicare Advantage and Medicaid plans, and by the strong performance o...

Adapting to a New Workplace Ecosystem

Wednesday, June 02, 2021

Agile work is increasing due to the pandemic. Having experienced some of the benefits of working from home — such as reduced commutes, increased ability to balance work and life, preferred space to execute individualized focus work, etc. — more office workers are going to expect flexibility in where they work. Recognizing this coming shift is the easy part. Understanding how portfolio and workplace strategies need to adjust — and then executing on those adjustments — is the challenge. In order to explore and better understand how organizations are thinking about these changes, Cushman & Wakefield partnered with CoreNet Global to surve...

DEED Has Called More than 30,000 Unemployed Minnesotans, Connecting Them with Job Resources and Work Opportunities

Wednesday, June 02, 2021

St. Paul – The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) provided an update on its Good Jobs Now campaign to reach out to unemployed Minnesotans and connect them with employers hiring now. Many Minnesotans are currently searching for jobs, and DEED is reaching out to help. Since March, the Job Service and Unemployment Insurance (UI) staff have called more than 30,000 Minnesotans who are currently receiving unemployment benefits. During these conversations, DEED staff not only remind Minnesotans of the requirement to look for and attempt to find employment, but also talk to them about the CareerForce tools that can hel...

A Renewed Focus on Workforce Diversity

Tuesday, June 01, 2021

While 2020 will certainly be remembered for the COVID-19 pandemic, the year also turned out to be transformative on the diversity and inclusion front (D&I). While much of the world sat socially distanced in their homes, we watched as our fellow Americans expressed outrage and grief over the gaps in opportunity and equity experienced by people of color. While it may have been expected that a global pandemic would shape site location strategy, is it possible that D&I initiatives would also alter the future of site location strategies? A Wake-Up Call With the social unrest and calls to action that 2020 brought...

Time to Change Your Game Plan?

Monday, May 31, 2021

by MARK AREND A year after my May 2020 Editor’s View, “On Plexiglass and the New Normal,” I’m still working at home 90% of the time. I could go to our offices — several Conway Data staff members are there regularly. But I don’t miss the commute, and after producing several issues of Site Selection remotely, we have that down pat. After a year of change, not much has changed, it seems. What has changed is a complete overhaul of our Global Best to Invest rankings, thanks to the efforts of Managing Editor Adam Bruns and Conway Data data crunchers working tirelessl...

Minnesota Tourism Industry Hopes For Rebound In Summer Months

Saturday, May 29, 2021

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Some hospitality businesses surveyed by the state’s tourism agency say they expect to rebound to pre-pandemic levels by the end of this year, which is an improvement over the outlook at the end of the last year. Explore Minnesota in a recent report found six in 10 tourism and hospitality businesses had already met pre-pandemic business levels or expected business to return to pre-pandemic levels before the end of 2021. An earlier survey found businesses were less optimistic. In December last year, one-third of respondents said they could remain solvent for more than three months under the current operating restrictions of the time. Fiv...

Demand Puts EV Battery Production In the Fast Lane

Friday, May 28, 2021

Speedbump or pothole? Either way, a global shortage of electric vehicle (EV) batteries is disrupting new and established manufacturers’ plans to deliver their product to consumers in the volumes and timeframes they first envisaged. That’s an opportunity for those looking to supply the demand, much of which is driven by local, state and national goals to reduce carbon emissions significantly in coming years. In March, for example, Volkswagen Group announced it is “pushing ahead at full speed with the development of production capacities in Europe in order to meet the increasing demand for battery cells,” according to a company release. “Togethe...

How Marketing Agencies Can Integrate Inclusivity Into Their Organization and Work

Friday, May 28, 2021

While inclusion and diversity have always been essential, they have become even more essential for marketers due to the industry's current pandemic and cultural climate. Simply put, we're dealing with two huge issues right now: a people crisis and an economic issue. By putting our efforts into inclusion, equity and diversity, we can provide a powerful solution to both problems we're facing. However, it's not as simple as changing a few policies and calling it a day. Instead, organizations need to work to expand these efforts to include the challenges of working during a pandemic. We are at a pivotal point where advertising, marketing and public relations agencie...

More than Simple Supply and Demand

Wednesday, May 26, 2021

The pandemic has upended the labor market in unprecedented ways and it will take some time for the disruption to be resolved. Our new article examines employer challenges in finding workers during pandemic recovery and offers some ideas for new steps employers can take now to find the workers they need. In our work as DEED’s Labor Market Analyst and Workforce Strategy Consultant for Northeast Minnesota, we’ve heard from many employers who aren’t receiving the same number and quality of applications they were receiving prior to the pandemic. This is happening as many employers are hoping to hire more employees t...

Target Corp. begins search for City Center sublease tenants

Tuesday, May 25, 2021

Target Corp., which in March announced plans to vacate nearly 1 million square feet of office space in City Center in downtown Minneapolis, has quietly begun the search for tenants to sublease its former 33 S. Sixth St. offices. While the City Center space is not formally listed for sublease currently, Minneapolis-based Target engaged brokers last week to market the offices to potential tenants. Target is looking for a user or users of significant size to soak up its vacant Minneapolis office space, and it is searching both within the Twin Cities market and nationally for potential tenants. “In their perfect world, it’...

Levee Park River Boat Dockage & Improvement Project Completion Brings Enhanced Commerce Activity to Red Wing

Monday, May 24, 2021

The Levee Park River Boat Dockage & Improvement Project brings with it enhanced recreation and commerce activity to Red Wing. Completed in the Spring of 2020 after flood delays, the challenging project has proven to be worth the effort and will benefit Red Wing for years to come. Dan Rogness, Red Wing Port Executive Director, tells us more about the ultimate success of the transient dock improvements. “This was a challenging project from start to finish due to high water levels, weather and barge damages. It will benefit Red Wing for years to come, including those persons involved with tourism, recreation...

Cheaper Medical Pot in Minnesota? Cannabis Companies Say It’s on the Way

Friday, May 21, 2021

Patients enrolled in Minnesota’s medical cannabis program will soon get a chance to buy the plant in dried, smokable form. That’s the result of a major change approved by Minnesota lawmakers on the final day of the 2021 legislative session. The state’s two medical cannabis manufacturers — Vireo Health and LeafLine Labs — say the change will significantly bring down the costs of the program, which has long been criticized for being pricier than other states’ programs. “Patients will be able to get the same amount of medicine for potentially half the price in flower form,” said Dr. Kyle Kingsley, an emergency medicine doctor who now serves a...

COVID-19 Business Toolkit

Friday, May 21, 2021

This toolkit will continue to be updated as new information and resources become available. Please continue to check back for updates. On May 6, Governor Walz announced new reopening measures for businesses and the lifting of other restrictions. Per MPR, the phased reopening includes the following date- or metric-specific changes: May 7: The state removes limits for outdoor dining and events. It ends the mask order outdoors except at venues with more than 500 people. Pandemic-related closing times for bars, restaurants and other gathering spaces are lifted. May 28: Any remaining outdoor limits and indoor activity restrictions will end. Read full article.

Employment Guidance

Thursday, May 20, 2021

EMPLOYMENT GUIDANCE Minnesota Department of Economic Development resources for employers – Information on staffing, hours, unemployment insurance and assistance for small businesses. Coronavirus and unemployment insurance – Specific details on mandatory or voluntary quarantines, changes in hourly work or layoffs, and COVID-19 related costs. Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry's “worker protections” – A summary of FMLA, sick leave, unemployment insurance. Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry – Frequently asked questions for employers and employees related to COVID-19 Minnesota Council – Society of Human Resource Management (MNSHRM) – Resources for HR professionals (login required). U.S. Department of Labor guide to FMLA in public health emergencies U.S. Department of Labor guidance on paid sick leav...

Minnesota Business Leaders Lay Out Solutions To Workforce Challenges

Thursday, May 20, 2021

Recently, the Minnesota Chamber held its annual Workforce Solutions Forum to talk about a fundamental challenge that faced employers for years before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and is likely to continue long after: workforce. The Minnesota Chamber Foundation’s Center for Workforce Solutions is a business-led initiative to ensure employers and employees possess the necessary tools for jobs of the future. Workforce moves far past admiration of workforce challenges. We focus on innovative solutions; to fill positions now and to change the long-term process that can develop a pipeline of workers and meaningful employment in Minnesota for generations to come. How can th...

Minnesota Has Added More Than 95,000 Jobs in 2021

Thursday, May 20, 2021

Minnesota added 11,300 new jobs in April, the fourth straight month that the state has posted job gains. Data from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) shows that the state has now added 95,700 jobs over the last four months. More than half of those jobs were added in January when DEED reported 51,600 new jobs. The latest numbers bring the state’s unemployment rate down to 4.1 percent, a small decline from the 4.2 percent rate last month. Minnesota lost 416,300 jobs from February to April 2020 when the pandemic first hit. Since then, the state has regained 235,300 jobs...

Minnesota’s Unemployment Rate Ticks Down to 4.1% in April

Thursday, May 20, 2021

St. Paul – Minnesota’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate ticked down to 4.1% in April, from 4.2% in March, according to numbers released today by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). The unemployment rate decline was due to people moving from unemployment to employment. The U.S. unemployment rate rose one-tenth to 6.1% in April. For the fourth straight month, Minnesota gained jobs. Minnesota gained 11,300 jobs in April on a seasonally adjusted basis, up 0.4%, following growth of 20,400 (adjusted) jobs in March, 12,400 jobs in February and 51,600 jobs in January. Minnesota’s private sector gained 8,100 jobs of thos...

Reemployment After COVID-19 Layoffs in Minnesota

Wednesday, May 19, 2021

St. Paul – A new study released by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) presents early findings about Minnesota workers who were laid off during March through June of 2020 and the most up-to-date information we have about their employment status. The study by DEED Labor Market Information (LMI) Office analyst Alessia Leibert will be featured in the June issue of Minnesota Economic Trends, a quarterly publication of DEED’s LMI office. Specifically, the study considers: How many and which workers were brought back to jobs at their old employer; Those who continued to work second jobs; Those who found new jobs; and Those wh...

Minnesota Exports at $5.4 Billion in First Quarter

Tuesday, May 18, 2021

St. Paul – Sales of agriculture, mining and manufacturing exports from Minnesota dipped 4% between the first quarters of 2020 and 2021, falling to $5.4 billion, according to a report released today by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). U.S. exports rose year over year by 2% during the same period. Minnesota exports grew 6% in March 2021 over March 2020, interrupting persistent monthly declines since March 2020. “It’s a positive sign to see our exports increasing in March, a trend we hope continues in the coming months as our economy recovers,” said DEED Commissioner Steve Grove. “DEED’s Minnesota Trad...

Business Education Network: Five Years Of Transforming Tomorrow's Workforce

Thursday, May 13, 2021

The Center for Workforce Solutions is the first-of-its kind in Minnesota, a business-led initiative to ensure employers and employees possess the necessary tools for jobs of the future. One of three priority areas for the Minnesota Chamber Foundation, it is complimented by our leadership programs, and the Center for Economic Research, which issued its first major report, Minnesota: 2030 in the spring of 2021. One of the major strategy recommendations of Minnesota: 2030 is leveraging Minnesotans – stressing the foundational imperatives to grow our workforce and help individuals develop the skills they need to succeed in the 21st century economy. Th...

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Thursday, April 29, 2021

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Wednesday, April 28, 2021

4 Ways to Get Your Attention Back on Track and Stay Focused

Tuesday, April 27, 2021

The following excerpt is from Dr. Nadine Greiner’s book Stress-Less Leadership. Buy it now from Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Apple Books | IndieBound or click here to buy it directly from us and SAVE 60% on this book when you use code LEAD2021 through 4/10/21. It can be hard to concentrate. Even on your best days, you're surrounded by distractions. When you struggle to concentrate, you can’t focus on what needs to be done, you waste time and you stress yourself out. It’s time to review some solutions. Lay out the work and stick to it When you embark on a task without a plan, it’s like going on a road trip without a map. You need to know where you’re headed. A ke...

3 Technologies You Can Use to Re-Skill Your Employees

Wednesday, April 21, 2021

The following excerpt is from Caroline Stokes’s book Elephants Before Unicorns. Buy it now from Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Apple Books | IndieBound or click here to buy it directly from us and SAVE 60% on this book when you use code CAREER2021 through 4/17/21. I’d like to introduce you to three technologies that will help people leaders discover talent and fuel your teams’ evolution to avoid dinosaur syndrome (falling behind in terms of the skill and functionality of your teams). Let’s walk briefly through each of them. Bias Avoidance Talent Matching The first tool is SquarePeg, a matching service for job seekers and employers that uses online assessments to measure a candidate’s aptitude, preferences and character traits, and determine whic...

The 9-Step Quick Guide to Rehabbing Your Career

Monday, April 19, 2021

The following excerpt is from Kanika Tolver’s book Career Rehab. Buy it now from Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes or click here to buy it directly from us and SAVE 60% on this book when you use code CAREER2021 through 4/17/21. One of the most important phases of your career rehab journey is creating your Rehab YOU career blueprint. Become the architect of your career by considering your desired career path, location, salary, scope, organization type, benefits and perks and mentors. You’ll start to feel more confident in your career renovations as you craft your vision of your dream career. Here’s how to get started: 1. Be a brand, not an employee Most employees don’t see themselve...

It's Time You Master Google Analytics to Help Grow Your Business

Sunday, April 11, 2021

Being inquisitive about data is essential for any web-based business. How are you going to operate a website without knowing how people are actually using it? That's why Google Analytics is so crucial for any business running a website. It will give you the insights you need to make better decisions about your content, web optimization, SEO, and more. This free tool is preferred by millions worldwide as a simple way to understand their web traffic and make improvements to their websites. If you're ready to learn GA, The Google Analytics Master Class Bundle is a great place to start. This five-course bundle comprises 12 hour...

Leadership Strategies For Making Employees Happy

Sunday, April 11, 2021

As a leader, it’s no surprise that one of your most crucial jobs is making sure employees are productive day in and day out. Many leaders have attempted to increase team productivity by introducing state-of-the-art technologies and testing the most successful workflow methods they could find. Unfortunately, they’re missing a key ingredient. The best way to spur productivity is to make your employees happy. Don’t just take my word for it. In 2019, Oxford University's Saïd Business School published research stating that workers are 13% more productive when they’re feeling happy. Not only is productivity significantly improved, but happy employees are more likely t...

Spruce Up Your Office or Workspace with These 10 Must-Have Items

Sunday, April 11, 2021

Whether you're working from home for the foreseeable future or you're about to head back to working in person, there's no time like spring to update your office. We've rounded up some of the coolest items on sale right now to spruce up your office. Plus, during our storewide Spring Savings promo, when you spend $75, you'll get $10 in-store credit to put towards even more cool stuff for the future. Check out some of today's offers. Mobile Pixels TRIO: Portable Dual Screen Laptop Monitor Need some more screen space? This innovative Indiegogo-funded multi-screen laptop accessory lets you add two additional monitors to your laptop...

Training and scholarship opportunities for economic development professionals

Friday, April 09, 2021

Committed to strengthening the knowledge, skills and diversity of Minnesota’s economic development professionals, the nonprofit Minnesota Economic Development Foundation is promoting upcoming training opportunities and offering scholarships for professional development. The Minnesota Economic Development Foundation sponsors the “Upper Midwest Basic Economic Development Course,” a 5-day course that provides comprehensive training in the basic concepts, methods, and strategies of local economic development. This course is accredited by the International Economic Development Council and fulfills a requirement for taking the Certified Economic Development exam. The Foundation will provide a $250 scholarship to all Minnesota economic development practitioners, bringing the cost of this training opportunit...

Launch Minnesota Awards over $376,000 in Innovation Grants to Startups

Thursday, April 08, 2021

St. Paul – The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) announced that it has awarded $376,075 in Launch Minnesota Innovation Grants to startup businesses. With these awards, the full $3.2 million in biennium funding for fiscal years 2020 and 2021 has now been allocated. In this latest round, DEED awarded innovation grants to 15 startups. Of those, nine are targeted businesses, which include BIPOC-owned (Black, Indigenous, People of Color), woman-owned, and businesses located in Greater Minnesota. Grants are awarded through a competitive application process to the most promising innovative and scalable technology businesses in Minnesota. Since Launch Minnesota’s creation in 2019, i...

Broadband Roundtable: Internet Access and Speed Are Key to Economic Growth, Business Vitality, Health and Education

Tuesday, April 06, 2021

St. Paul – Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Commissioner Steve Grove and DEED's Office of Broadband Development Executive Director Angie Dickison were joined by seven industry and community advocates from broadband coalitions and nonprofit groups for a discussion on March 30 about the importance of broadband access to economic growth, business vitality, health and education. This roundtable was part of a broader series of discussions the agency is hosting called "The Next Minnesota Economy," focusing on inclusive economic growth, reskilling our labor market and creating good jobs. Currently in Minnesota, about 92% of households and businesses have access to interne...

How To Be Creative As An Entrepreneur

Tuesday, April 06, 2021

You might think that creativity requires the antithesis of rules and regulation. Even the thought of being creative conjures up images of disorder. Messy rooms, paint everywhere, scraps of paper with ideas scrawled across them. The frantic creative genius works away, oblivious to the world around them. Chaos. Method in madness. Flashes of brilliance among a cluttered existence. The best entrepreneurs are creative. They need to find ways of solving old and new problems. They picture a world that doesn’t yet exist, they bring products to life using only their imagination. They think of ways to move forward, grow bigger an...

Why Economic Developers Need To Market Their Opportunity Zones Now

Tuesday, April 06, 2021

Why economic developers need to market their Opportunity Zones now is to attract investors to the underfunded areas of their communities. Opportunity Zone legislation passed in 2017 and is designed to promote growth in stagnant and underdeveloped regions of the country. There are more than 8,700 Opportunity Zones designated through the U.S. in all 50 states, Washington D.C., and five U.S. territories. Opportunity Zones identify areas where investment is needed to revitalize communities hit the hardest by socio-economic stress. Residents who live in areas designated as Opportunity Zones tend to suffer from unequal economic growth and access to capital. This ha...

Bushel Boy President on Labor Shortage and the Future of Indoor Farming

Sunday, April 04, 2021

When Chuck Tryon took over as president of Owatonna-based Bushel Boy Farms in early October 2020, the U.S. was still a couple months away from an approved Covid-19 vaccine. In late November, Minnesota would go on to experience its worst peak of Covid cases. Like virtually every business at the time, Bushel Boy faced a great deal of uncertainty. But that’s not just because of the pandemic. A more pressing concern? A shortage of workers to staff Bushel Boy’s tomato greenhouses in Greater Minnesota and Iowa. The company has two indoor farming operations: One at its homebase in Owatonna, and another in Maso...

The Secret To Business Survival In Today’s Tough Market

Sunday, April 04, 2021

As we were ringing in 2020, it’s safe to say that almost no one could have imagined the novel year that was virtually at our doorsteps. Like a monsoon, Covid-19 arrived, and with it a plethora of changes to not only how we live and work, but how business is conducted. Quarantines and lockdowns became a way of life, forcing companies to transform how they operate. Office staff, sales reps, and others who were considered non-essential workers began working from home. In-person meetings and sales calls became a thing of the past, replaced by collaboration tools to boost the efficiency o...

Minnesota Small Business Development Centers Partner with First Children’s Finance to Support Minnesota’s Child Care Industry

Friday, April 02, 2021

St. Paul – Under a partnership agreement announced today, First Children’s Finance will operate as the first statewide satellite center in the Minnesota Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) Network – providing specialized business and financial assistance to child care businesses across Minnesota at no cost to the businesses. Minnesota SBDC is part of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). “Without access to affordable child care, parents can’t earn a living, businesses can’t recruit reliable workers, and children miss out on early educational opportunities,” said DEED Commissioner Steve Grove. “This has never been more apparent than during the pandemic – an...

One Year After The First Wave Of Pandemic Jobs Losses, U.S. Adds Nearly A Million Jobs In March

Friday, April 02, 2021

A year after the devastating first wave of pandemic-related job losses came to light, the U.S. added 916,000 jobs in March, the Labor Department said Friday. It’s an encouraging sign on the anniversary of what was an especially distressing week for the workforce. Weekly jobless claims surged to a staggering 6.65 million for the week ending March 28, 2020. At the time, it was the highest level ever recorded. That month, the U.S. economy lost a total of 701,000 jobs in the first payroll decline since 2010. This March, the unemployment rate fell slightly to 6%—down from 6.2% in February. It’s a stark difference from the unemploymen...

Governor Proclaims April Technology Workforce Month in Minnesota

Thursday, April 01, 2021

St. Paul – Governor Tim Walz has proclaimed April 2021 Technology Month in Minnesota. It’s an opportunity to draw attention to our technology sector and workforce and its importance to Minnesota’s economy. While the importance of these jobs has been highlighted during the pandemic, technology workers have been in demand in Minnesota’s economy for a long time and represent some of the highest-paid, best jobs in our state. According to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Labor Market Information (LMI) Office, the state of Minnesota is home to about 110,000 people working in Information Technology occupations. That’s about 3.8% of tota...

2020 Governor's Cups

Wednesday, March 31, 2021

It’s déjà vu all over again. Only the project numbers are different where Ohio and Texas — the 2020 Governor’s Cup winning states for per capita and total projects respectively — are concerned. They’re down a bit from the previous year, but impressive nonetheless for a year all states endured a pandemic-induced economic crunch. Both states were the winner in their category last year as well. Ohio finishes the per capita facilities race with 419, down from 448 in 2019. Texas, the total projects winner for the ninth consecutive year, has 781 projects for 2020; it had 859 qualifying project...

Innovation Roundtable: Entrepreneurs Share How Launch MN and the Angel Tax Credit Helped Them Succeed

Tuesday, March 30, 2021

St. Paul – Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Commissioner Steve Grove and Launch Minnesota Executive Director Neela Mollgaard were joined by entrepreneurs and support organizations for a discussion about what startups need to be successful and how Minnesota can encourage more investment in entrepreneurship and innovation. This roundtable was part of a broader series of discussions the agency is hosting called “The Next Minnesota Economy,” focusing on inclusive economic growth, reskilling our labor market and creating good jobs. “This legislative session, the Governor’s budget includes critical investments for Launch Minnesota and the Angel Tax Credit,” said DEED Commissioner Steve Grove. “Growing ou...

Machinery Still Revs the Economy, But Logistics and Life Sciences Are Where the Growth Is

Tuesday, March 30, 2021

Judging by the number of e-commerce and health-related facility investments all around us in this pandemic year, you’d expect those categories to vault to the top of any global ranking by industry sector. They didn’t quite reach the summit, but logistics (+19.3%) and life sciences (+12%) show the biggest — and only — growth rates among the Top Industries of 2020, as judged by the number of projects tracked by NAICS code in the Conway Data Analytics Database. The database since the 1980s has tracked facility investments by corporate end users across all world geographies and all industry sectors. Life sciences rise...

2020: When Your Data Center Becomes Your Real HQ

Monday, March 29, 2021

Last year delivered plenty of wakeup calls to corporate real estate executives, but perhaps none bigger than this: Your site selection process for your company’s data center operations now carries more importance than your site selection for your corporate headquarters. In a world where remote work has become the norm for most non-industrial jobs, the headquarters facility has become a ghost town. Taking its place in critical importance is the data center, the lifeblood of your company’s entire global operation. The data center is what keeps you connected to your employees, your employees connected to each other, and your company connected t...

Recruiting and Retaining Today’s Manufacturing Workforce

Monday, March 29, 2021

AD: How has COVID-19 changed the employee experience in manufacturing, and what facets of this should organizations retain going forward? Zenk: Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, employees have been experiencing a drastically different work environment. Thousands of manufacturers across the U.S. and around the world were deemed essential during the pandemic, and their production lines haven’t stopped. They’ve continued to produce essential goods that the global community relies on — from the food we eat to the clothes we wear and cleaning supplies we use in our homes. As some manufacturers increased output and others reconfigured operations to satisfy urgent demands...

Robust Development Plan Encourages Innovation and Expertise

Monday, March 29, 2021

Destination Medical Center (DMC) is a unique 20-year, public-private partnership and economic development initiative in Rochester, Minnesota, home to Mayo Clinic. Launched in 2013, the $5.6 billion plan is the largest in Minnesota’s history and one of the largest initiatives currently under way in the U.S. The partnership combines Mayo Clinic private development with that of other developers and investors, in addition to public infrastructure investment from the City of Rochester, Olmsted County, and the state of Minnesota. The DMC initiative is guided by a robust development plan, which was adopted in 2015 to chart the course for development over ...

Front Line: Job Creation Through Reshoring

Friday, March 26, 2021

Back in the 1980s, the term “offshoring” became a business buzzword as more and more U.S. companies moved manufacturing to foreign countries, typically to save on labor costs. In recent years, “reshoring” has been added to the lexicon as companies decide to bring manufacturing back to the U.S., for various reasons. In 2020, reshoring created more U.S. jobs than foreign direct investment (FDI) for the first time in seven years, according to data collected by the Reshoring Initiative. In 2020, U.S. companies reshored nearly 69,000 manufacturing positions, while greenfield investment in the same industries created fewer than 42,000 jobs, according to the Initiative...

In Focus: Driving Economic Prosperity Through Entrepreneurism

Friday, March 26, 2021

The coronavirus pandemic plunged the world into a deep health and economic crisis. The rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine points to a “light at the end of the tunnel” for the country’s physical health, but as we collectively take stock for ways to rebuild our economy stronger and more resilient than before, we need to remember what works. Entrepreneurism has been, and will continue to be, a driver of long-term economic growth. The economic free fall brought about by the coronavirus was unexpected and unprecedented. Experts are still attempting to fully understand, quantify, and predict the full extent of the fallout...

The plain truth about virtual site visits for commercial real estate

Friday, March 26, 2021

There's a lot of talk and excitement among economic developers about using virtual tours to profile commercial real estate to potential investors and site selectors who may not be able to visit in person because of the pandemic. We get that - it IS genuinely exciting. There are so many compelling new ways to let people see a property - inside and out - from the comfort and safety of their offices. Even after the pandemic recedes, this will remain an excellent way to engage and inform businesses making location decisions. Unfortunately, there's also a lot of miscommunication and misinformation about what virtua...

Welcome Portia Robertson Migas, Greater MSP'S New Vice President Of Marketing & Communications

Friday, March 26, 2021

GREATER MSP is pleased to announce Portia Robertson Migas as the new Vice President of Marketing and Communications. In this position, Portia will serve as ‘chief executive storyteller’ and global brand strategist for the region. She will be responsible for managing and leading all aspects of the GREATER MSP Partnership’s marketing and communication strategy, campaigns, media and public relations, issues management and program initiatives. Portia will create and execute an innovative strategic marketing and communications plan in collaboration with GREATER MSP's hardworking, professional staff and a set of marketing and communications leaders from across the region. Read full article.

COVID-19 Highlights Distribution and Logistics Sector’s Importance

Thursday, March 25, 2021

While the pandemic caused massive supply chain disruptions that hindered the global distribution and logistics landscape, it also shined a spotlight on the industry’s importance, which only stands to grow in the coming years. Consider its impact on Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), located on the Kentucky side of the Ohio River in the community of Hebron. As airports across the nation grappled with plummeting passenger traffic, a boom in air cargo provided a much-needed silver lining for CVG. Cargo volume skyrocketed following the pandemic’s onset, and throughout the rest of the year, shipments reached levels typically seen only during th...

Cultivate a Second Life for Decommissioned Power Plants

Thursday, March 25, 2021

The generation landscape for utilities is in a state of constant change. The decarbonization movement is driving difficult decisions as coal-fired power plants close amid the transition to renewable generation. But there is opportunity within that disruption. Decommissioned power plant sites offer industrial developers a great deal of opportunity — specifically, decades of well-maintained assets. The majority of these facilities were built more than 50 years ago with access to everything they needed to operate — connections that would require extensive time and capital investments to put in place today. Rather than seeking greenfield locations, industrial developers should take a close...

In Focus: Increased Data Center Growth Driven by the COVID-19 Pandemic

Wednesday, March 24, 2021

The stratospheric rise of the cloud over the past few years caught many off guard and created an arms race among the cloud providers, with data center development underpinning the effort. These cloud providers were anticipating ever-increasing demand for the cloud by globally creating a robust and redundant network of massive data centers tethered together through a network of smaller data centers and fiber connection locations. Data centers that service other segments of the market (wholesale colocation, “edge,” and retail) were also riding the wave of increased demand. Little did we know a global pandemic would make data centers and th...

The Impacts of Data and Future Technologies on Data Center Site Selection

Wednesday, March 24, 2021

The Ins and Outs of Data Centers I think one of the misconceptions about the data center business is that it’s a niche space. And the reality is it's become a very large industry and investment. And one of the things that we reference in talking to our clients is the fact that the five largest publicly traded data center companies are equal to the five largest office and industrial from a market cap perspective, which I think is surprising to many people. And I think [it’s] indicative of the growth of the industry over the last several years and wha...

Pandemic Fuels Data Center Growth

Tuesday, March 23, 2021

In a year full of turmoil and strife caused by an unexpected pandemic, data centers were quickly recognized for their crucial presence in all lives, for maintaining communication and knowledge during a period of sudden change for humanity. Data center operators and major services held fast throughout the troubled, early days as they were identified as truly mission critical. Companies large and small rapidly scaled up workloads with cloud service providers so employees could access their normal applications; schools and universities moved online as students attended classes remotely; and all people looked to the Internet for entertainment as they stayed hom...

Trends in Office and Industrial Parks

Tuesday, March 23, 2021

Of course, the big factor impacting office and industrial parks going into 2021 is COVID-19. The pandemic has reduced business production and workforce (through illness, social distancing, and remote working), disrupted the supply chain and cash flow, and brought about significant investments in technology. Across the nation, the demand for suburban office parks is rising as more skilled workers move back to suburbs, due to concerns about housing costs and quality of education — they also feel safer from COVID-19 and the civil unrest that is happening in some larger cities. “The most notable shift is toward lower-intensity spaces, where getting int...

Governor Proclaims April Technology Workforce Month in Minnesota

Thursday, April 01, 2021

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