Greater Minnesota Counties Lead Economic Recovery

For Immediate Release
January 15, 2015

Contact: Madeline Koch, 651-259-7236
Madeline.Koch@state.mn.us

Greater Minnesota Counties Lead Economic Recovery
~NACO report identifies 9 Minnesota counties that have recovered from recession~

ST. PAUL – Minnesota ranks 3^rd in the nation in the number of counties that have recovered from the recession, according to a report from the National Association of Counties (NACO). 

Nine Minnesota counties, all located in Greater Minnesota, have met or surpassed prerecession levels according to the study. The report measures recovery based on four categories; jobs, unemployment rate, economic output, and home prices.  

Only sixty-five of 3,069 counties nationwide (2.1 percent) have met or passed their prerecession levels in the four categories.  Oil boom states Texas (24 counties) and North Dakota (16) top the list, followed by Minnesota (9), Kansas (8), and Montana (3).  Iowa and Alaska have two counties, South Dakota and South Carolina each have one county that has recovered prerecession levels. 

Minnesota counties: 

• Clay, Marshall, Pennington and Polk counties in northwest Minnesota;
• Pope, Stevens and Wilkin counties in west central Minnesota; and
• Jackson and Murray counties in southwest Minnesota. 

“The National Association of Counties study shows counties in Greater Minnesota are on the front end of the economic recovery,” said DEED Commissioner Katie Clark Sieben. “While Minnesota ranks 3^rd nationally for the number of recovered counties, we must continue to focus on growing jobs and increasing economic opportunity for all of Minnesota.” 

The full report is available at: http://explorer.naco.org/ 

DEED is the state’s principal economic development agency, promoting business recruitment, expansion and retention, workforce development, international trade and community development. For more details about the agency and our services, visit us at http://mn.gov/deed/ . Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/mndeed . 

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Upon request, the information in this news release can be made available in alternative
formats for people with disabilities by contacting the DEED Communications Office at 651-259-7161.

Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
Communications Office
Phone 651-398-9459 or 1-800-657-3858 ∙ TTY 1-800-657-3973
www.mn.gov/deed
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