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Phoji Puts a Fresh Face on Phone App
Minneapolis Star Tribune-2/7/16
A few years ago, Jon Christensen and Jay Coatta began experimenting with building a phone feature that had customizable emojis. The result was a new company called Phoji — a blended word of “photo” and “emoji." The free phone application officially launched last month and has been downloaded by 5,000 users so far. Phoji is one of about 60 startups to be granted eligibility as a 2016 Minnesota Angel Tax Credit company by DEED.
DEED Funds Job-Training Program
Pine Journal-2/6/16
It’s no secret that aging baby boomers are retiring in large numbers and, in some cases, taking years of experience with them. With the help of a $350,000 grant from DEED's Minnesota Job Skills Partnership, Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College and Sappi Fine Paper are working together to solve the problem of that disappearing knowledge base at the paper mill in Cloquet. They are developing an in-house training system for Sappi employees and then teaching them how to use it.
The Twin Cities is the fifth-best metro
region in the country for young entrepreneurs, according to NerdWallet, citing
the area's low level of unemployment and high rate of SBA loans. Madison, Wis.,
was seventh and Fargo, N.D., was 10th in the study.
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Group Wants $200 Million for Broadband
The Governor’s Task Force on Broadband released its annual report last week, recommending $200 million for the Border-to-Border Broadband Development Grant Program. "The goal of the task force is that every home and business, border-to-border, should have access to high-speed broadband,” said Margaret Anderson Kelliher, who chairs the task force. The full report can be found here.
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Construction is a major industry in Minnesota, accounting for more than 125,000 jobs. Learn more about this important sector at the 2016 Minnesota Construction Industry Conference on Thursday, Feb. 18. Sign up here. |
The latest issue of Trends focuses on racial and economic disparities in Minnesota. While the state economy has made a strong comeback from the recession – and by many measures now ranks among the best in the country – not all racial and ethnic groups in Minnesota have shared in the recovery. Articles by DEED analysts document the disparities, while guest columnists offer potential solutions. Go here to read the issue online or ask for a free print copy at the front desk.
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