Pathways to Prosperity Will Open Doors St. Paul Pioneer Press-3/26/15 In an opinion piece published in the Pioneer Press last week, Commissioner Sieben said Gov. Dayton's Pathways to Prosperity Initiative will help train Minnesotans for jobs that are in high demand and are forecasted to grow even further in coming years. The program is essential, given the economic challenge the state will soon face: a labor shortage that could easily slow or stall economic growth.
Volkswagen Urged to Consider Minnesota Hibbing Daily Tribune-3/27/15 State Sen. David Tomassoni of Chisholm wrote a letter to Volkswagen officials urging them to move manufacturing operations from Chattanooga, Tenn., to Minnesota. The letter, co-signed by Commissioner Sieben and IRRRB Commissioner Mark Phillips, touted the state's strong union environment, solid business climate and logistics.
North Minneapolis Center Moving Ahead Insight News-3-25-15 Officials are progressing with plans to open the West Broadway Education and Career Center in north Minneapolis in 2016. DEED's North Minneapolis WorkForce Center will be a main anchor of the building. More details about the project will be discussed at a meeting on Tuesday at the Capri Theater, 2027 W. Broadway Ave.
ATCC, Felling Trailers Get Grant for Job Training Echo Press-3/27/2015 DEED awarded a $242,819 grant to Alexandria Technical and Community College (ATCC) and Felling Trailers, a nationally recognized manufacturer of high-quality light and heavy duty trailers and parts. ATCC and Felling Trailers will collaborate with Pine Technical and Community College, Ridgewater College and Tempus Institute to develop, customize and deliver training modules to the workforce.
Three Minnesota companies were selected to Fortune magazine's list of "100 Best Companies to Work For.” Allianz Life Insurance Co. (68th), Mayo Clinic (73rd)
and General Mills (80th)
were chosen from hundreds of companies vying for a place on the 2015 list. See the full list here. |
DEED Awards Training Grants Nearly 1,700 workers will be trained under grants awarded by the Minnesota Job Skills Partnership last week. The grants, totaling $2 million, will help train workers at 15 Minnesota businesses, including Schmidt Printing in Byron, Bayer Interior Woods in Sauk Centre and TSI Plastics in Minneapolis.
Minnesota Cup Accepting Applications The 11th annual Minnesota Cup — the largest statewide entrepreneurial competition in the United States — is accepting applications for the 2015 contest. Minnesota residents have until May 8 to submit entries to compete for a record $327,000 in prize money. DEED is one of the sponsors of the event, which has attracted more than 9,000 competitors since its inception in 2005
|
|
Manufacturing is a major part of the industry mix in northwestern Minnesota, thanks to such employers as Arctic Cat and Polaris. Not only does the industry employ 8,000 workers in that part of the state, but the jobs tend to pay well.
|
Exporting is a great way to grow revenues. The Metro Export Roundtable in Fridley next week will focus on how businesses that are just beginning to export or have never exported before can make foreign sales a part of their future growth. DEED's Sarah Walbert will join two other people on a panel discussion about exporting. Frank Baeumler of Mate Precision Tooling will be the keynote speaker. The event, sponsored by the Minnesota Trade Office, will be held Wednesday, April 8, at Crooner's Lounge, 6161 Highway 65. Go here for more details.
|