DEED Roundup - Oct. 21, 2013

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          DEED Roundup - Oct. 21, 2013

Mankato Free Press: Why Manufacturing Matters

DEED in the News

St. Paul Scores With DEED Grants
Minneapolis Star Tribune-10/18/13
A $483,840 grant for the last phase of the Beacon Bluff Business Center was one of seven announced by DEED last week for projects statewide. Two projects in St. Paul received the bulk of the $2.7 million awarded in the latest round: the Beacon Bluff project and $1 million for public infrastructure at the Lowertown Saints ballpark site.

Reaching out to Workers
St. Peter Herald-10/14/13
Studies show the demand for skilled workers is growing throughout Minnesota, but stiff competition for employees could short-circuit the manufacturing industry's ability to grow. In response, manufacturers are developing strategies to attract more workers.

Is the Twin Cities the New Silicon Lakes?
Investor's Business Daily-10/11/13
To hear Don Ball tell it, Minneapolis is amid a tech startup boom. At least 87 Minnesota tech startups raised some $145 million in 2012, up from 63 ventures that drummed up $126 million the year before and 42 that raised about $60 million in 2010.

Did You Know?

Man with child on his back

Waconia was recently named the best city in Minnesota for young families, followed by North Mankato and eight other cities. See the full list here.

Recent Press Releases

Construction equipment

DEED Awards Redevelopment Grants
DEED announced redevelopment grants last week for seven projects that are expected to create 244 jobs and retain another 800 jobs. The $2.7 million in grants were awarded under the agency’s Redevelopment Grant Program for projects in Chatfield, Duluth, Fridley, Minneapolis, St. Cloud and St. Paul.

Recent Blog Posts

Matching Jobs With Training
Workforce development programs generally link their training to fields that need workers. After all, it doesn’t make sense to train people for occupations that don’t have any openings. A story in the latest issue of Trends magazine looks at one training program, DEED’s Dislocated Worker Program, to find out whether it succeeds at placing people in jobs related to their training.

The Long Climb Back
Personal income in Minnesota plunged during the Great Recession, driven by a combination of job losses, reduced work hours, delayed raises, wage cuts and other factors. Many of those factors have reversed direction since then, helping to boost real per capita income over the last three years. A story by Dave Senf in the latest issue of Trends magazine says personal per capita income in Minnesota is nearly back to its pre-recession level, reaching $46,227 in 2012.