News & Events

35th Annual Corporate Survey: Effects of Global Pandemic Reflected in Executives’ Site and Facility Plans

Wednesday, April 14, 2021

The challenges faced in 2020 were unlike any other confronted in our lifetime. The global pandemic wreaked havoc on our personal and professional lives and the U.S. and global economies. The Commerce Department reports that U.S. GDP declined 3.5 percent in 2020, with the economy falling into recession in February 2020 — a month before the World Health Organization declared Covid-19 a pandemic. The 3.5 percent decline is the worst year for the U.S. economy since at least the end of World War II, as reported by CNBC. As the novel coronavirus caused businesses to shut down, the U.S. unemployment rate rose from ...

Child Care Roundtable: What Minnesota Is Doing to Increase Availability of High-Quality, Affordable Child Care

Wednesday, April 07, 2021

St. Paul – Department of Employment and Economic Development Commissioner Steve Grove and Department of Human Services Commissioner Jodi Harpstead were joined by staff of the Minnesota Children’s Cabinet and child care advocates and providers at a roundtable to discuss challenges providers have faced during the pandemic and the importance of high-quality, affordable child care in Minnesota’s economic recovery. 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. “We are about 80,000 slots short in the state of Minnesota fo...

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...

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...

COVID-19 Vaccine Resources For Businesses

Friday, March 26, 2021

As of March 30, all Minnesotans 16 years of age and older will be eligible to receive a vaccine. Minnesota has directed providers to prioritize vaccine appointments for people most at risk of getting COVID-19, or those who could develop severe illness if infected. This includes older Minnesotans, those with underlying health conditions, and those in essential jobs. How to help employees receive a vaccine: Help employees find where to get vaccinated: They can receive them through the health care provider, at a pharmacy and others. The state offers a vaccine locator map to help employers and employees. Host an on-site vaccination: Just like hosting an on-site fl...

Jackpot Junction Casino Hotel: Excellent Amenities and Gaming Fun in Morton

Thursday, March 25, 2021

The Redwood area is home to many exciting entertainment and recreational opportunities, including endless gaming action at the Jackpot Junction Casino Hotel in Morton, only seven miles east of Redwood Falls. Casino play, live entertainment, a renowned golf experience and abundant dining options are only a few of the excellent amenities awaiting guests at this lively Minnesota establishment. Space to Play Jackpot Junction is Minnesota’s first and friendliest casino with 440,000 square feet and two floors of gaming and gambling space! The casino offers 1,250 of the latest video slot machines, with a variety of themes ranging in denomination from one cen...

Learn These 10 Essential Growth Skills (Facebook, Google SEO, Amazon FBA) to Help Propel Your Business

Thursday, March 25, 2021

One of the most important keys to entrepreneurial success is continuous learning. The world is constantly changing around you and your business, and if you're not constantly learning and staying up to speed with what's happening in the business world, you risk falling behind. We've rounded up resources to learn some of today's most important skills, all of which are an extra 50% off when you use code LEARNIT at checkout. 1. Google Analytics Google Analytics is one of the world's leading web analytics tools and an absolute must-know for anybody operating a website. With GA, you can analyze your site's traffic to better understan...

Roundtable on Youth Jobs and Development Highlights Importance of Engaging Young People in Employment Opportunities

Wednesday, March 24, 2021

St. Paul – Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Commissioner Steve Grove and Deputy Commissioner Hamse Warfa held a virtual roundtable on Friday, March 19 focused on the impact of the pandemic on youth jobs. The discussion was attended by employers across the state and is part of a push to place more young people into great jobs this coming summer. The roundtable is 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. “We want to help employers enable a surg...

Recruiting and Retaining Today’s Manufacturing Workforce

Tuesday, March 23, 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...

Front Line: Job Creation Through Reshoring

Monday, March 22, 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...

Trends in Office and Industrial Parks

Monday, March 22, 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...

What You Need To Start Doing Now To Attract Remote Workers

Monday, March 22, 2021

You want to dip into the remote workforce honey pot, so here's what you need to start doing to attract remote workers today! Remote workers balance out the economic climate for communities, bring in new skillsets to the local workforce, grow the tax base, and reduce the carbon footprint by eliminating a long commute. An abundance of remote workers are looking to relocate to communities that check all the boxes on their want/need list. Tap into this opportunity now with these simple steps. CREATE A REMOTE WORKFORCE ATTRACTION STRATEGY Economic developers should start by building a step-by-step remote workforce attraction strategy. Preparing thes...

Servicing the Wind

Friday, March 19, 2021

Solar and wind farms impress with the stupendous scale of their towers, blades and panels, stretching all the way to the horizon to capture every last drop of sun and breeze. Much of the economic opportunity related to them, however, takes place on smaller scale, in the form of services rendered to those massive displays of power from clusters of manufacturing, maintenance and services firms. It can take the form of individual companies such as Cross Country Infrastructure Services, an Aurora, Colorado–based equipment and construction contractor supplier that announced in November it’s moving into growing wind and solar markets by increasin...

The Future of the Workforce Is a “Better Normal”

Friday, March 19, 2021

The world as we all knew it changed earlier this year with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Seemingly overnight, everything that we used to think was normal had changed, and things that once were deemed impossible for the workplace became the “new normal.” Now, seven months later, most of us have gotten used to this “new normal” — embracing the work-from-home lifestyle, using new technology, wearing masks, social distancing, and connecting virtually. But what comes next? Eventually this pandemic will end, a vaccine will be readily available, and we will attempt to return back to our “normal” lives. Bu...

How to Use Automation (and Avoid the Pitfalls) as an Entrepreneur

Thursday, March 18, 2021

All over the world, entrepreneurs are turning to a powerful tool to improve their efficiency and raw output: automation. Often hailed as the ultimate weapon for increasing productivity, automation certainly has a lot of advantages. But it’s not guaranteed to be effective. In fact, when used incorrectly, automation can end up working against you. To use automation effectively, you need to understand its strengths and weaknesses and build a strategy around them. Why automation is useful These days, you can automate a variety of work functions and activities. If you’re producing a physical good, you can likely automate production with the right machinery. If you’r...

Small Businesses Share How Minnesota’s Small Business Development Centers Helped them Weather the Pandemic

Thursday, March 18, 2021

St. Paul – March 17th was national Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Day and Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Commissioner Steve Grove and SBDC State Director Bruce Strong engaged in a lively, productive discussion with several small business owners and SBDC advisory board members from across the state. Business owners related stories about the challenges they’ve faced starting and running businesses both before and during the pandemic. Participants talked about the value of Minnesota’s network of Small Business Development Centers which assisted more than 5,835 Minnesota entrepreneurs and businesses in 2020, providing over 32,900 professional consulting hours at no cos...

4 Basic Business Tools New Entrepreneurs Need To Succeed

Wednesday, March 17, 2021

This year, many eager new entrepreneurs are ready to hit the ground running with their startups and hopefully experience a year less challenging than the previous one. When launching a new business, it’s important to consider what business tools and core essentials small businesses need in order to thrive in today’s "new normal." I help entrepreneurs incorporate and form limited liability companies, so I generally tend to share advice on legal must-haves for small businesses, like business formations, trademarks, and tax IDs. However, I’m not going to do that this time around. Let’s assume you have obtained these items already. What other tools are necessar...

Essential and Emerging Skills Sought by Minnesota Employers Now

Monday, March 15, 2021

As business needs continue to evolve in response to the pandemic, many employers are putting new emphasis on finding candidates with essential workplace skills. According to RealTime Talent, while many job postings include post-secondary or technical training as a requirement, there are also many jobs for which employers are specifically seeking essential soft skills, such as time management, written communication, building collaborative relationships, self-confidence, and being a forward-thinker. This article takes a closer look at what skills are most sought by Minnesota employers now and what skills are emerging as the new foundational skills career seekers should try to develo...

EcoWater Systems by Johanneck Water – Providing Reliable and Superior Water Conditioning in Redwood County and the World

Thursday, March 11, 2021

Redwood County is proud to be home to Johanneck Water Conditioning, more commonly referred to as EcoWater Systems of Redwood Falls, part of the oldest water conditioning company in the world! EcoWater Systems originated in 1925, when Lynn Lindsay obtained the first patent for automatic water conditioners and began what was then called the Lindsay Company. The company has grown exponentially since then. As the largest manufacturer of residential water conditioning equipment in the world, they produce superior water treatment equipment in addition to providing top-tier service and support through a global network of dealers, one of which is Johanneck Water. Jay Johanneck...

7 Brilliant Ways To Grow Your Remote Workforce

Monday, March 08, 2021

These 7 brilliant ways to grow your remote workforce will help you reap the benefits of the work from home movement! The advantages of a remote workforce for workers, employers, and the towns and states they reside in are many. TAP INTO THE WORK FROM HOME MOVEMENT 70% of the American workforce is likely to work remotely at least five days every month by 2025. A large number of remote workers will spend much more time than that at home. The remote workforce experiences a better work-life balance, higher productivity, and more flexibility while contributing a large number of benefits to the loca...

Local manufacturer successfully adapted to unique working conditions during pandemic

Saturday, February 27, 2021

This is the fifth in a series of articles about how the pandemic has affected Redwood area businesses and organizations. This week we circle back and hear from another manufacturing business—Altimate Medical and Active Aid. The Gazette is working with Anne Johnson, Executive Director, Redwood Area Chamber & Tourism, to present this information. “The Redwood Area is a great place to build your career and raise a family,” said Johnson. “A popular tagline in recent years is: ‘Live, Work, and Play in the Redwood Area,’ because the community has many amenities that attract people to an area, including good jobs. “One industr...

Providing Relief For Businesses Helps The Community, Quality Of Life

Thursday, February 25, 2021

Businesses throughout Minnesota continue to struggle their way through the COVID-19 pandemic. With tax filing season upon us, it’s time to help employers who have sacrificed, yet still maintained paychecks for their employees. Lawmakers in Minnesota can ease some of this uncertainty, support struggling small businesses and propel the state toward economic recovery by preventing taxes on Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. PPP was a major component of federal COVID-19 relief legislation, providing forgivable loans small businesses need to pay employees and cover expenses throughout the pandemic. Congress didn’t intend to tax the forgiven PPP loans, and businesses are allowed to deduc...

Empowering an inclusive economic recovery by setting goals

Tuesday, February 23, 2021

One of the most important aspects of how we manage the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) is the way we set goals and measure results. In 2019, we shared a new system we’ve put into place at the agency to set aspirational goals for every team, and measure progress every quarter. The system, called Objectives and Key Results (OKRs), is used by organizations around the world to build momentum toward a clear vision. As we begin the road to an inclusive economic recovery from COVID-19 in Minnesota, setting goals and measuring results are more important than ever before. Today, we ar...

Minnesota Valley Regional Rail Authority: Steadfastly Serving Redwood Area Businesses

Monday, February 22, 2021

The Minnesota Valley Regional Rail Authority (MVRRA) faithfully serves the businesses of Redwood County. 2020 was a tough year for many businesses, but MVRRA stayed busy, completing projects and shipping goods and commodities. MVRRA Administrator, Julie Rath, shares what the team at MVRRA has been up to and what their plans for 2021 will look like. “The TC&W, in the form of its Minnesota Prairie Line, Inc. subsidiary (MPLI), operates and maintains the rail line that MVRRA owns,” says Rath. The tracks were originally built in 1880 and were acquired by the MVRRA in 1982. The Minnesota Prairie Line runs 94 mile...

DEED’s New Data Tool Demonstrates the COVID-19 Pandemic Recession Remains Unique from Past Recessions

Thursday, February 18, 2021

The art and science of economics consistently uses models to predict the future. In downturns, we look to past recessions to try to guess what might happen next. Yet the economic fallout from COVID-19 has been unlike anything we’ve seen before. The uniquely targeted effect of the virus has led to unique economic conditions as well. Past recoveries don’t offer the same kind of models for the future. And models are, after all, only models. To illustrate just how different today’s economic crisis is from the past, our Labor Market Information team built a new Comparing Recessions data tool for the Minnesota Department of Employmen...

Minnesota Manufacturers Expect Lingering Pandemic Conditions for 2021

Wednesday, February 17, 2021

St. Paul – Respondents to an annual Manufacturing Business Conditions Survey conducted by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) and the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis say they expect mostly unchanged or improved conditions in 2021. In looking back on 2020, Minnesota manufacturers described contracting conditions. Sixty percent of respondents indicated a decline in number of orders and 57% experienced a drop in profits. While they expect lingering pandemic conditions in 2021, more than half of respondents indicated they expect to go back to normal operations in more than six months. At the same time, almost 13% expect their businesse...

How To Prepare A Business Plan That Is Useful In Practice

Saturday, February 13, 2021

Have you ever seen one of those 50-page business plans that go into detail about every conceivable aspect of a still purely theoretical business? You probably have, since those business plans have been the industry standard for decades. Yet, in a world where words like lean and agile are becoming the new norm for startups, 50-page business plans look a bit out of place, and with a good reason. It’s a fact that creating a plan is very helpful for a new business. A study of more than 10 thousand businesses shows that ventures grow 30% faster on average if they create business plans. However, another study indicates that innovative startup...

10 Biggest Challenges Small Business Owners Face Right Now

Wednesday, February 10, 2021

There is not a day that goes by where we don’t talk about the COVID pandemic. It is on the news, in our social feeds and it has infiltrated both our personal and professional worlds. Many businesses have shifted employees to a work-from-home routine; changing everything about how the business day works. We’ve moved from in-person to video. We’ve adapted to multiple family members attempting to be productive, in the same space, at the same time and we’ve shifted from brick-and-mortar to a heavier online presence. In the midst of it all, there have been many success stories. Yet, the challenges are ever apparent...

Strategies for Accelerating Project Execution

Wednesday, February 10, 2021

More than 75 percent of the companies responding to a recent survey from the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) expect the COVID-19 pandemic will have a financial impact on their business, with more than 50 percent anticipating changes to their operations. Prior to the pandemic many manufacturing companies had design and construction projects, either in progress or in the pipeline, with aggressive schedules. To slow the spread of the disease, many manufacturing operations and construction sites were shut down while new safety precautions were developed and implemented. Furthermore, uncertainty in the market caused many companies to delay committing large capital investments int...

Lower Sioux Indian Community To Get Ancestral Land Back From Minnesota, MN Historical Society

Thursday, February 04, 2021

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Lower Sioux Indian Community tribal leaders say that land with historical significance will be returned to the Community from the State of Minnesota and the Minnesota Historical Society. According to Community Council President Robert Larsen, plans are being finalized for the land acquisition, with the closing date of the transfer expected on Feb. 12. The land includes MHS parcels at the site where the U.S. Dakota War of 1862 started, which eventually led to the the “largest single day, mass execution in U.S. History.” “This transfer is of great historical significance,” the tribe said in a release. “The United State...

How To Reduce High Employee Turnover: The Ultimate Guide

Wednesday, February 03, 2021

Employee Retention Strategies Attracting top talent to your company and then keeping that talent once you've got it, is crucial to your business's growth and reputation. Employee retention and motivation are interdependent and directly correlated. This means a good employee retention rate will reduce operational costs, allow you to outperform your direct competitors, build morale, and improve your customer service levels. Hiring and firing is expensive. Very expensive. If someone leaves your company, you need to consider the opportunity cost and the impact of not having someone in that role for an extended period. It could wipe out a particular client. It coul...

Shipping as a Small-Business Growth Strategy - Here’s What You Need to Know

Tuesday, February 02, 2021

Small businesses have faced many challenges and hurdles since the pandemic began, but e-commerce continues to thrive. The rise in online shopping is likely to continue, making it more important than ever to offer shipping for your products. Join this session where Jamie Mason, FedEx Sales Director, will share expert advice on getting started with shipping, how to save time and money, and insight on how small businesses can make the most of this opportunity for growth. Read full article.

5 Ways COVID-19 Changed Site Selection

Friday, January 29, 2021

COVID-19 didn’t just upset the established model of corporate site selection in 2020; the global pandemic obliterated it. Site Selection Magazine’s annual survey of site selection consultants, conducted in late November, revealed five ways in which the global outbreak of coronavirus significantly altered how companies choose their business facility locations: Instead of people chasing jobs, jobs are now chasing people. Remember the good old days when everyone checked into the central office each workday and reported for duty? Yeah, neither do we. When the pandemic hit America in early March, worksites around the country began shutting down and the shift to remote wor...

Redwood area organizations bring life to community, adjust to serving during pandemic

Tuesday, January 26, 2021

This is the second in a series of articles about how the pandemic has affected Redwood area businesses and organizations. The Gazette is working with Anne Johnson, Executive Director, Redwood Area Chamber & Tourism, to present this information. This article features four local non-profit organizations which were asked by Johnson to provide comments and “news” about how their activities and future plans have been impacted by COVID-19. “The Redwood Area is a great place to build your career and raise a family,” said Johnson. “One of the many attributes that supports that is our active network of community organizations and non-profits. COVID-1...

Why Would My Community Want To Attract A Remote Workforce

Monday, January 25, 2021

Why would my community want to attract a REMOTE WORKFORCE? -- To grow your economy, of course! The coronavirus pandemic has affected U.S. workplaces in many ways, including transitioning many employees to remote work. As some businesses begin to welcome employees back to the office, many remote workers, about two-thirds to be exact, are opting to continue working remotely, according to a GALLUP POLL. Attracting remote workers should now be a priority for all economic developers. WHY WOULD MY COMMUNITY WANT TO ATTRACT A REMOTE WORKFORCE? Remote workers can bring many benefits to the communities they choose to live in. Just like any othe...

Why Would My Community Want To Attract A Remote Workforce

Monday, January 25, 2021

Launch Minnesota Receives National Award as a Small Business Administration “Super Connector”

Friday, January 22, 2021

St. Paul – Launch Minnesota – an initiative of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) designed to accelerate the growth of startups and amplify Minnesota as a national leader in innovation – has received a national award as a “Super Connector” in the new Lab-to-Market (L2M) Competition sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) in partnership with the National Science and Technology. The competition drew over 160 submissions from across the country and awarded $330,000 in prizes. Launch Minnesota was one of four recipients in the Super Connector category which recognizes “current efforts to successfully attract and/or support networks of underrepresented communitie...

Health Care Apprenticeships and On-the-Job Training Opportunities Available to Employers and Job Seekers

Thursday, January 21, 2021

During the third week of Health Care Month, we are focusing on apprenticeship and training programs that are available to both employers and job seekers. As Governor Walz noted in his proclamation of January as Health Care Month, health care in Minnesota pays an average annual wage of $53,659, which is 4% higher than the nation’s average wage of $51,792 for the same sector. Wages go up with additional training, certification, and experience. DEED’s Labor Market Information office indicates there is projected long-term demand, as well as high current demand for health care workers. In fact, four of the top 10 job...

Economic Dashboard For Minnesota's Recovery

Wednesday, January 20, 2021

Economic and business activity helps gauge the pace of Minnesota’s economic recovery from the shock of COVID-19. This dashboard, brought to you by the Minnesota Chamber Foundation, tracks activity data statewide and nationally. The data are dynamic, so check back often. Read analysis here. Read full article.

Education and Training Opportunities in Health Care

Thursday, January 14, 2021

So you’ve heard time and time again about how an entry level position in health care can be a springboard to a new and fulfilling career, and that is true. Health care is one of the few occupations where you are limited only by your own personal goals in life. So I wanted to take this opportunity to share information about the education and training opportunities that exist to help you begin your journey as a health care professional. Health care for youth and young adults Not sure if health care is the occupation for you? There are many opportunities to tak...

How to Protect Your Small Business Against Fraud

Thursday, January 14, 2021

As a small business owner, you have many responsibilities to uphold to keep your company running efficiently. One of them is ensuring you have sufficient security measures in place to protect organizational and employee data from fraudulent scams. Unfortunately, online scams are becoming increasingly pervasive: as of 2018, 82% of businesses reported experiencing a form of fraud. While these findings indicated that large enterprises were at a particularly high risk, small businesses were not exempt from these attacks, which is why it’s more important than ever to protect your small business against fraud. Here are three steps you can follow to boost your security and keep scammers a...

5 Reasons Why Good Leaders Must Be Great Followers

Wednesday, January 13, 2021

“He who cannot be a good follower, cannot be a good leader.” Aristotle's old adage has never seemed more prescient. Consider the current Covid crisis: It has taken a pandemic to prove that distant, aloof and larger-than-life leaders are no longer effective. Now more than ever it has become advisable for the modern manager to empathize with, and lend an ear to, those he manages. A study conducted by Kim Peters & S. Alexander Haslam on these two identities has proven that individuals who appear to be ideal followers are often a more popular choice for any leadership position among their peers. Here are 5 reasons why an individual’s personality as a player helps them to be a proficien...

Entrepreneurs, Here's Why 2021 Is The Right Time To Start Your New Business

Wednesday, January 13, 2021

The year 2020 came with its own share of problems. If there is one thing to learn from living through pandemics and lockdowns, it’s that a lot can change in a year. Many entrepreneurs started last January with high hopes and expectations for their businesses. However, many of those expectations went downhill as the year progressed. As with human nature, life moves on no matter what, so even though we were stuck at home for most of 2020, many businesses found ways to stay afloat. As we move forward in this new year, entrepreneurs are looking to strategize and many ar...

Site Selectors Make Five Predictions for 2021

Wednesday, January 13, 2021

Renewed site selection activity, cautious optimism on foreign direct investment (FDI), continued skilled labor shortages and a shakeup of the global supply chain are among key findings of a 2021 outlook survey on corporate location trends. The findings were released today by the Site Selectors Guild, the only association of the world’s foremost professional site selection consultants. Conducted the week of December 7, 2020, the online survey of Guild members aimed to shed light on shifts and challenges in corporate location strategy moving into 2021. The COVID-19 impact survey of Guild members is the third of its kind, following surveys i...

Five Essential Elements Of A Marketing Plan For A Small Business

Tuesday, January 12, 2021

If you are planning to open your own small business, the first step is to develop a business plan. The next step is to develop a marketing plan, as all business plans should be paired with a strategy for marketing your products or services. Marketing strategies vary in format, but they all have the common goal of attracting and building relationships with customers. The style is up to you, but it should include the following elements. 1. Marketing Goals and Objectives You will need to develop realistic and measurable marketing goals that cover a full calendar year and are aligned with you...

Another Look at Rural Economies

Monday, January 11, 2021

As someone who lives in a city (albeit not a large one), I am perhaps not the most qualified to discuss the topic of rural economies. On the other hand, both my parents were raised on wheat farms in eastern Washington. Consequently, one of the most pressing issues in rural America is currently impacting my family directly: family farm succession planning. Additionally, each year the labor market analytics firm I work for produces a Talent Attraction Scorecard to rank how large, small, and micro counties are faring in building their talent pools. As a result, I’ve spent many hours combin...

Developing and Executing a Site Selection Game Plan

Monday, January 11, 2021

Before setting sail on your site selection voyage across the country or the globe in search of your project’s perfect location, it is imperative to first take an internal assessment of the current operations, needs, and industry trends influencing the project. Taking the time to perform a thorough internal assessment of the project and company will lead to new discoveries that will ultimately guide the site selection game plan to success. Challenging and rethinking some of the institutional wisdom will allow new and innovative ideas to surface, enabling the company to consider sites or regions they had initially thought wer...

Paycheck Protection Program

Monday, January 11, 2021

SBA, in consultation with the U.S. Treasury Department, will open the Paycheck Protection Program loan portal on Monday, January 11, 2021 at 9 am ET. When the PPP loan portal system opens, it will initially accept First Draw PPP loan applications from participating CFIs, which include Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs), Certified Development Companies (CDCs), and Microloan Intermediaries. Click here to read full article from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Recruiting and Retaining Today’s Manufacturing Workforce

Monday, January 11, 2021

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, employees had to adapt. Their work behind the scenes has helped to ensure that others working on the frontline...

Supply Chain Execs Respond as Pandemic Creates E-Commerce Surge

Monday, January 11, 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically changed our lives, and each one of us likely has a personal story to tell that underscores that fact. But there are also stories to be told of sweeping changes that virtually all of us have felt. One of those is the altered state of the global supply chain. The supply chain is, after all, an element of daily life that has an impact, either directly or indirectly, on just about everyone on the planet. The pandemic put a spotlight on the critical nature of this industry. Truck drivers and warehouse employees became everyday heroes o...

The Future of the Workforce Is a “Better Normal”

Monday, January 11, 2021

4 Ways Your Company Can Have Great Success In 2021

Sunday, January 10, 2021

2020 was a tough year for businesses of all sorts. Covid-19 decimated labor markets, stressed supply lines and, in some unlucky sectors, ground production to a halt. 2021 is a chance to forget last year’s trials and to start fresh. Chances must be capitalized on to create change. You need to put your nose to the grindstone, both personally and as a business leader, if you want to make it a red-letter year. If 2021 is going to be your company’s year, you have to make it so. Here’s how to do it: 1. Tailor Your Expressions of Appreciation This past year has been jus...

DEED Update on Unemployment Insurance Federal Stimulus Package

Friday, January 08, 2021

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) shared an update on the implementation of the federal stimulus legislation. The federal stimulus package, signed into law December 27, extends a number of unemployment insurance provisions from the 2020 CARES Act, including: 11 more weeks of benefits under the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) program 11 more weeks of benefits under the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program A $300 per week supplemental payment to anyone receiving unemployment benefits from any program Click here to read full article.

How To Include Remote Workers In Your Workforce Attraction Strategy

Wednesday, January 06, 2021

As we enter a new year, you may be wondering HOW TO INCLUDE REMOTE WORKERS IN YOUR WORKFORCE ATTRACTION STRATEGY. Government regulations and efforts to slow the pandemic have forced workplaces to embrace remote work options. 88% OF BUSINESSES all over the world authorized their employees to work from home due to COVID-19. It is vital to focus on effectively targeting remote workers but how does this translate to benefitting the local economy? WHY IT'S WORTH IT TO ATTRACT REMOTE WORKERS IT GROWS AND DIVERSIFIES THE LOCAL ECONOMY More people working from home equals more money spent locally. More money remains in the community, and the community prospers. Read ful...

Health Care Month Highlights Employment Opportunities at a Critical Time

Monday, January 04, 2021

Health care employs 478,485 people in Minnesota, the largest workforce by sector in the state, accounting for $25.7 billion in wages in 2019. The key role of the health care industry in Minnesota’s economy has been highlighted in the COVID-19 pandemic, during which dedicated health care workers saved thousands of lives. The importance of the industry in the state is why Governor Walz has proclaimed January as Health Care Month. "Health Care Month is an opportunity to highlight the economic impacts of the health care industry in our state. Health care jobs offer a career path to family-sustaining wages and economic security,"...

Get Creative to Uncover Top Talent When You're Hiring

Saturday, January 02, 2021

“She looked so good on paper.” Sound familiar? In your haste to fill an open position to keep your company running smoothly, you make a hiring decision that turns out to be a big mistake. If this is the case, you are certainly not alone, and the problem isn’t a lack of judgment. A US Chamber of Commerce Foundation study released earlier this year confirms what many of us on the front lines of recruiting candidates already know: There is a skills gap in the current labor market. The study found 48% of respondents lamenting that candidates lack the skills to fill the jobs at hand. Click her...

Always Running Out of Time? Here Are 10 Tools That Can Help Save the Day.

Friday, January 01, 2021

Life is hectic for an entrepreneur. When you're in charge, you have to juggle so many things, it's easy to lose track of time or have to reassess your priorities on a daily basis. Perhaps you just need a little help from technology. We've rounded up some of the top time-saving and productivity tools on the market, all of which are on sale now. Stop running out of time and start becoming master of it. Click here to read full article.

A Small Business Owner's Guide to Funding Options Without a New PPP

Monday, December 28, 2020

Though the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) ended August 8, 2020—with a lack of clarity as to when it might be revived—businesses are still in need of capital. Though more than 5 million PPP loans have been approved, accounting for $525 billion, according to data from the Small Business Administration (SBA), it’s still not enough. Click here to read full article.

Front Line: Vocational Training Alliances in Tough Times

Monday, December 21, 2020

As if manufacturers are not challenged enough by COVID-19, many face shortages of appropriately skilled workers to keep their tech-savvy factories competitive. A 2018 report by Deloitte and the Manufacturing Instituteestimated the manufacturing industry would have as many as 2.4 million jobs to fill by 2028. Last year, the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) reported in 3rd Quarter 2019 that the top concern among manufacturers was the inability to attract and retain a quality workforce. Stephen Gold, president/CEO of the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation (MAPI), recently wrote in IndustryWeek that the skills gap today isn’t so much about a lack of STE...

Recruiting and Retaining Today’s Manufacturing Workforce

Friday, December 18, 2020

Combating Loneliness & Building Resilience For Tomorrow's Workplace

Wednesday, December 16, 2020

In this era of social distancing, safer-at-home orders and telecommuting, the American workforce is more dependent on technology for connection and has less separation between home and work ever. Add to that the emotional turmoil resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic, an uncertain economic climate and increased recognition of systemic racial injustice, and the state of mental health in America needs attention. Click here to read full article.

Carris Health-Redwood to open new health campus February 20

Friday, December 04, 2020

Carris Health–Redwood has announced the opening date for the new state-of-the-art medical campus: Feb. 20, 2021. The transition will take place with the turn of the clock with the new emergency department accepting patients at 12:01 a.m. The hospital and clinic have a team of leaders working together to plan the move to the new facility along with the experience of CentraCare, who has built two new hospitals in recent years. Staff will be working with a simulation team from CentraCare to train on new equipment and new processes in the building to be ready for the opening. Read full article.

#GetTakeoutMN: Share Your Support for Minnesota Restaurants

Wednesday, November 25, 2020

St. Paul - As Minnesota takes necessary steps to battle COVID-19, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) is encouraging Minnesotans to shop and eat local this holiday season. In particular, helping your favorite local restaurants and eateries by ordering takeout is a simple way to support vital, beloved local businesses while enjoying a delicious meal in your own home. It’s a great way to help these businesses weather the impacts of the pandemic. “The best way to help your local restaurants weather this time is by ordering takeout whenever you can,” said DEED Commissioner Steve Grove. “They need our support no...

4 Things to Understand When Buying a Business

Wednesday, November 25, 2020

Have you been at a job for a few years, but think you want to be your own boss? One way to achieve this is by owning a business. You might not have the stamina to start a company from scratch. However, you can buy a business that already has credibility and make it your own. Before you look for companies to buy, there are some key things to understand. For most, this will be a large investment, so you want to make the best choice. Here's what you need to know when buying a company. Seek out businesses that align with your passion When you decide to own a business, it need...

Veterans Virtual Career Fair Resources Offer Valuable Job Search Information

Wednesday, November 25, 2020

The Minnesota Veterans Virtual Career Fair is over, but the resources offered and connections made through the online event are continuing to benefit current and former military members and their spouses, as well as Minnesota employers. Here's what we've heard from two participating employers, 3M and Andersen Windows and Doors, both gold sponsors of the event. “As a fellow veteran, and 3M hiring manager, it is wonderful to be part of a local event that encourages companies to highlight opportunities for veterans,” said Jennifer Loveland, Enterprise Operations Black Belt and member of 3M’s employee resource group. “At the same time, it creates a central place for veteran...

How To Poise Your Business For Success (And Survival) In The Covid Economy

Monday, November 23, 2020

Business life in the era of Covid has elements of both crisis management and an endurance trial. How can your business join the ranks of those that are succeeding in this environment? LJ Suzuki, founder and fractional CFO at CFOshare and I recently dissected this question together, with an eye toward the actionable steps you should be taking now–and the potholes you need to avoid. Micah Solomon, Senior Contributor, Forbes; Customer Service Turnaround Expert and Consultant: It’s been several quarters since Covid began to make inroads into the economy; how are small businesses faring? LJ Suzuki, Founder and Fractional CFO at CFOshare: The small businesses within my purview have see...

Jobs in Demand: Assemblers and Fabricators

Monday, November 23, 2020

With over 320,000 jobs, Manufacturing is Minnesota’s 2nd largest-employing industry sector. One of the top-employing occupations in this industry happens to be assemblers and fabricators. In fact, according to DEED’s Occupational Employment Statistics data, there are over 31,700 assemblers and fabricators employed in the state. Such workers are employed in a wide variety of areas, including everything from transportation equipment manufacturing to computer and electronic product manufacturing to medical equipment and supplies manufacturing. Simply put, assemblers and fabricators assemble finished products and the parts that go into them. More specific tasks may include reading and interpreting schematics and blueprints, positioning or alignin...

Startups Key to Minnesota Post-Virus Economic Recovery

Monday, November 23, 2020

First, I’d just note that we gathered state leaders, partners and startups from across the state last week for a virtual event to celebrate the one-year anniversary of Launch Minnesota, a program designed to accelerate startups. You can find out more in Launch Minnesota’s First-Year Progress Report. I’d like to share a message I wrote – which appeared in the Star Tribune on Sunday – about the importance of our startup community to Minnesota’s economic recovery. To say that 2020 has been a challenging year for the Minnesota economy would be an understatement. In the first three months of the COVID-19 pandemic, we lost a stunning 385,000 jobs. We'v...

Minnesotans donate in record numbers to Give to the Max

Friday, November 20, 2020

Minnesotans donated a record $30.4 million to nonprofits and schools during the annual Give to the Max campaign, surpassing the previous record of nearly $22 million set in 2019. GiveMN Executive Director Jake Blumberg said donors gave money to more than 6,100 organizations, which is also a record. "What we were hoping donors would do and what we directly asked over and over again for donors to do was to expand their generosity this year," he said. Second Harvest Heartland Food Bank received more than $900,000 in donations. That was the most money given to a single organization this year. Read full article.

6 Ways to Keep Your Employees Learning At Work

Thursday, November 12, 2020

No company can reach its business goals without a qualified and dedicated workforce. As new technologies emerge, on-job training programs have become increasingly useful to enhance both employees’ soft and practical skills. But learning at work can go beyond formal training. Businesses should get creative so that employees are constantly developing their skills. The Benefits of Ongoing Training While most companies invest in costly recruitment processes to attract the right candidates, their efforts on employee engagement and education often fall short. Without any type of incentives or supportive programs, it's easy for employees to feel overlooked and unappreciated after a while — and for companies’ growth to lag in turn. Read full article.

Farmers Union Industries Remains a Pillar of the Manufacturing Industry During the Pandemic

Tuesday, November 10, 2020

Manufacturers are vital to the economic prosperity of Redwood County. Our manufacturing plants provide jobs and income to our population, and they serve as important suppliers to many companies nationwide. As manufacturing month ends, we’d like to send our thanks to Farmers Union Industries, LLC of Redwood Falls: one of the area’s most prominent manufacturers with a long history in Redwood County. “Farmers Union Industries has a rich history that dates all the way back to 1929. That history is deeply rooted in the agricultural industry with its ultimate goal being to improve life for the family farmer,” says Dan Hildebrandt...

How Site Selection Can Help Meet Corporate Social Responsibility Commitments

Monday, November 09, 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...

4 Ways to Tell If Customers Will Actually Want Your Product

Friday, November 06, 2020

In the early stages of company-building, product-market fit, the most critical question you have to answer is: Are there enough customers who want your product? That's not always an easy question to answer. Because the market for your product is always evolving, product-market fit isn't a box to check off. It's a constant conversation to be had whenever the economy ebbs and flows, or when customers' wants and needs change. Take, for example, restaurants who had to pivot from in-person dining experiences to take-home meal kits during Covid-19. To keep you ahead of the curve, I want to share some of the bes...

4 Key Benefits of Video Content

Saturday, October 31, 2020

In the digital age, getting attention is anything but a given. An abundance of publishers, gadgets and apps are competing for mind share, and data overload causes audiences to block distractions and instead focus on what’s urgent. Five years back, a Microsoft study found that humans now have a shorter attention span than a goldfish, which lasts about eight seconds — only two decades ago, we were at 12 seconds. That's proof positive why content must be compelling, truly entertaining and/or informative; otherwise it’s just mindless noise. When marketing online, it also helps to have the right format. Entrepreneurs, startups and small- to medium-sized businesses can all use videos to hook audience...

5 Tips for Entrepreneurs to Better Serve Their Potential Customers

Saturday, October 31, 2020

If McKinsey & Company insights from July are any indication, consumers have rediscovered their power in the pandemic. Due to a combination of product shortages, economic and job concerns, along with a general willingness to change their purchasing behaviors, 75 percent of shoppers say they’ve behaved differently since coronavirus began spreading. In many cases, their new purchasing habits have led to exposure to unfamiliar brands. This is a huge boon, especially for entrepreneurs trying to disrupt a market or industry. Under ordinary circumstances, getting consumers to move away from their favorite companies’ products and services can be challenging. However, with so much general uncertainty i...

DEED Examines: Where are the Job Seekers?

Friday, October 30, 2020

St. Paul - This week, 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 th...

Redwood Area Development Corporation Celebrates Kenwood Design During Women in Small Business Month

Wednesday, October 28, 2020

The Redwood area is home to a wide variety of businesses, including several highly successful women-owned small businesses. The area’s sought-after interior design studio, Kenwood Design, is owned by Abby Gronli, a thriving entrepreneur with a passion for making a house into a home. Kenwood Design is based out of Wanda, but the team brings interior design to you. “Our design studio is passionate about helping people love where they live. We offer interior design services, ranging from single room refreshes to entire home renovations,” says Gronli. The Kenwood Design goal is to uncover the aesthetic potential each home has to offer whil...

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

Tuesday, October 27, 2020

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...

Infrastructure Investment as an Economic Stimulus Tool

Tuesday, October 27, 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. Brian Raff, director of Communications and Public Affairs for the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), cites a 2015 study by the Duke Center on Globalization, Governance, and Competitiveness to demonstrate infrastructure investment’...

7 Ways to Make Your Non-Essential Business Recession-Proof

Monday, October 26, 2020

There are many unpleasant scenarios entrepreneurs plan for in advance, in an effort to stay afloat if and when trouble hits. These scenarios include losing major clients, lawsuits, and the aftermath of natural disasters. Recessions, however, are a league of their own. They are difficult to plan for in advance, and damage control efforts are akin to fighting an uphill battle. In the post-pandemic world, staying afloat has proven to be a greater challenge for businesses in non-essential industries such retail, automotives, and hospitality- which in too many cases ended up putting down the shutters. But is there a way for entrepreneurs behin...

Adding “COVID-19 Community Response” to the Site Selection Checklist

Monday, October 26, 2020

Much has been written about the disruptions of COVID-19 on every line of business. In the realm of economic development, this has included a recommitment to retention and expansion programs, touting quality of life to capture the influx of remote workers, a rush to virtual site tours, and many other endeavors. All of these adjustments will play a part in a community’s success in the years to come. But it seems that when all of them are stacked up, they point to the foundation of a community — or to use a construction expression, they reveal whether a community ha...

Data-Driven Operational Strategies in the Pandemic Era

Monday, October 26, 2020

As state economies struggle between surging cases of COVID-19 and intense pressure to reopen — albeit with varying degrees of restrictions — companies that reduced or halted operations in response to stay-at-home orders are torn between the urgent needs to both restore revenue streams and to ensure the safety of their employees and customers. Since every location has a different dynamic and risk profile, creating a return-to-work strategy is complicated, whether a company operates in five locations or 500. The solution to developing a sound, portfolio-wide strategy includes having ready access to data, analytics, and insights, including regional and community-specifi...

Pizza Ranch Adapts During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Monday, October 26, 2020

Pizza Ranch is a family-friendly buffet-style pizza and chicken restaurant that calls Redwood Falls home. As the general manager of a buffet-style restaurant, Doug Lawrenz has had to make significant adaptations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lawrenz has been running Pizza Ranch for 15 years and he has led the business through many challenges. In spite of these challenges, the restaurant is thriving. As the pandemic spread across the country, restaurants of every category were required to make changes in order to stay in business. Pizza Ranch, too, had to rearrange some operations. “COVID-19 has affected our business quite a bit! We wer...

How Site Selection Can Help Meet Corporate Social Responsibility Commitments

Friday, October 23, 2020

The New Normal in the Automotive Supply Chain

Friday, October 23, 2020

For immediate evidence of disruptions in the automotive supply chain, you need to look no further than your local dealer. Many lots are nearly empty of new vehicles, with average dealer inventories across the U.S. far below the normal 50–60 days’ supply. How did this happen? Of course, the COVID-19 pandemic is a major part of the problem. When automotive production was abruptly halted in March, there were not any new vehicles being produced until early May. Even then, production has been proceeding in fits and starts. At the same time, consumers have continued to purchase vehicles, keeping auto demand surprisingl...

DEED Launches #GoodJobsNow, New Campaign Connecting Minnesota Job Seekers with Employers

Thursday, October 22, 2020

St. Paul – Today, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Commissioner Steve Grove announced the #GoodJobsNow campaign with Rick Trontvet from Marvin Windows in Warroad and Traci Tapani from Wyoming Machine in Stacy. Many Minnesota businesses have open jobs but are reporting having a hard time finding the employees they need. At the same time, Minnesota's unemployment rate remains elevated with workers continuing to seek job opportunities. That's why DEED is launching #GoodJobsNow, an interactive set of resources connecting Minnesota employers hiring right now with job seekers looking for work. "Today, I'm proud to launch the #GoodJobsNow campaign, a new tool to hel...

How Technology Is Making Data Collection for Incentives Programs Applications Easier

Thursday, October 22, 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

Thursday, October 22, 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...

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

Wednesday, October 21, 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...

Having computer access at home makes a big difference - especially during a pandemic

Tuesday, October 20, 2020

Without a personal computer, Rachel lacked access to training and job applications, especially during the pandemic. But she was determined to gain skills to reach her career goals, despite the technical barriers she faced. Rachel used the computer at her local library to meet virtually with her employment counselors at Hired, a CareerForce partner. She used her phone to listen to online Medical Call Center classes. Halfway through the program, Rachel’s employment counselors surprised her with a laptop, thanks to funding through MicroGrants and Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. Read full article.

5 Creative Approaches To Gain The Attention Of Businesses

Monday, October 19, 2020

So your community didn’t get on the finalist list of Amazon HQ2. Now what? The site selection process is changing and adapting with the trends in business. While it may still be important for you to look for potentially large company relocations, many good business expansions can occur with small to mid-sized companies. But gaining the attention of their businesses requires some creative approaches. #1 TALENT > INCENTIVES Workforce, workforce, workforce. The ability of a community to attract and retain a workforce is ranking at the top of the incentive list. Business owners may still be interested in traditional incentives, but th...

Governor and Lt. Governor, Commissioner Grove Host Manufacturing Discussion

Friday, October 16, 2020

St. Paul - Governor Tim Walz, Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan and Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Commissioner Steve Grove engaged Wednesday in a virtual roundtable discussion with ten leaders from around Minnesota about how the manufacturing industry is doing during the pandemic and key issues it’s facing in the future. Manufacturing, which has long played a key role in the state’s economy, is even more important now as Minnesota focuses on economic recovery from the COVID-19 recession. As the state’s second-largest industry, manufacturing contributed $52.7 billion to Minnesota’s economy last year and employed 324,000 people, with a tota...

Jobs in Demand: Medical Assistants

Friday, October 16, 2020

There is no doubt that the medical field has taken on heightened importance in Minnesota during the COVID-19 pandemic. Regardless of the path of the coronavirus, due to the state’s population growth and aging demographic profile, the need for healthcare support staff will continue to grow. In fact, according to DEED’s Employment Outlook data, healthcare practitioners and technical occupations are projected to rise by 12.4% while healthcare support occupations are slated to increase 14% from 2018 to 2028 in Minnesota. Likewise, Medical Assistants are projected to see 21% job growth, equaling over 2,100 new jobs during this time frame, as well as see almos...

DEED Examines: Where are the Job Seekers?

Wednesday, September 30, 2020