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Grow Minnesota!

Grow Minnesota! is Minnesota's first purely private sector, statewide business retention and expansion program. Its primary goal is to strengthen and grow Minnesota's economy. Initiated by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce in September 2003, Grow Minnesota! is carried out in partnership with local chambers of commerce from across the state. Almost forty local chambers were selected as our partners for 2006-2007, the fourth year of the program.

The Minnesota Chamber firmly believes the private sector must take the lead on retention visits giving economic development more "eyes and ears" statewide.

Mission

Under the leadership of the Minnesota Chamber and local chamber partners, Grow Minnesota! will promote statewide collaboration on growing Minnesota's economy.

Grow Minnesota! will improve the economic vitality of Minnesota by 1) Encouraging companies to remain and expand in Minnesota, 2) Establishing stronger ties between private sector companies and their business advocates, and 3) Recommending community and public-sector responses to the trends affecting the development of the state's economy.

Over time, Grow Minnesota! will assume the responsibility of marketing Minnesota to the nation and world.

Solving Company Specific Problems

Community: Faribault
Company: Moventas, a Finnish company that manufacturers gearboxes for wind turbines.
Issue: The company was considering locating an assembly and distribution facility in Faribault.
Assistance: The Faribault Area Chamber was engaged in the community’s business recruitment process and, as a Grow Minnesota! partner, asked the Minnesota Chamber to lend additional assistance. The chambers, along with Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development representatives, a local developer and public-sector officials worked to promote Minnesota and Faribault’s assets and business opportunities.
Result: Moventas announced in September 2008 its decision to build its first North American assembly plant in the Faribault area. The plant will provide 90 jobs in the initial phase with hundreds more in the anticipated growth phases. The construction of the multimillion dollar facility and long-term impact of the added jobs and tax base are a tremendous boost to the local economy. The company noted widespread cooperation and support by state and local economic development organizations as key to locating in Faribault.
Kymn Anderson, president, Faribault Area Chamber of Commerce:
"This economic win for the region, in an industry with immense potential, was secured through the cooperation of many entities. Thanks to our connections to Grow Minnesota!, we were able to bring key leaders to the table to demonstrate the cooperation and level of state and private-sector support for this kind of development in Minnesota." 

Download 2007-2008 Annual Report

RSM McGladrey Manufacturing and Wholesale Distribution National Survey

According to the third annual RSM McGladrey Manufacturing and Wholesale Distribution National Survey (MWD), companies reporting their business conditions as "thriving and growing" declined by nearly 10 percent in the past year. However, business remains good for more than a third of survey participants within the following industry segments: food and allied products, medical devices, industrial equipment, metal fabrication and electronics.

More than 960 industry executives - representing 911 companies - responded to questions on current business conditions, growth strategies, innovation, cost management, technology initiatives, operations and globalization. Learn more about the 2008 Manufacturing and Wholesale Distribution Survey.

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