We should choose to build

By Doug Loon
President and CEO
Minnesota Chamber of Commerce

What a week it has been here in Minnesota. From northern wildfires and smoke spreading across the region, to a relatively unexpected endorsement from President Trump in the state's GOP primary for governor creating unnecessary confusion, to the opinion piece that ran this week in the Pioneer Press on the importance of major economic development projects here in Minnesota, there has certainly been no shortage of hot topics to discuss on this week's podcast.

First and foremost, if you missed it, our commentary ran earlier this week in the Pioneer Press, where we joined Minnesota State Building and Construction Trades President Tom Dicklich to discuss the importance of data center development in Minnesota.

These are once in a generation investments that we should not miss. Data center development in Minnesota is not about any single project or community. It is about whether Minnesota will continue to compete for the infrastructure that powers the modern economy or whether those investments will simply go elsewhere.

Of course, there are legitimate questions that come with any development as communities seek to better understand energy use, water consumption and local impacts. These concerns deserve to be addressed directly.

At the same time, it is important to recognize that Minnesota passed legislation, signed into law in 2025, establishing some of the strongest standards in the country for data centers. These include requirements for sustainable design, clear accountability for energy use, protections for water resources, prevailing wage requirements and mechanisms to ensure costs are not shifted to ratepayers.

So, let's take a thoughtful, honest look at these projects and work together to ensure they meet our high standards. If they do, they should have the opportunity to move forward here in Minnesota.

Internally at the Chamber, we also had an exciting week as we welcomed our newly elected Board members, who will help guide the organization and our work on behalf of Minnesota's business community well into the future.

We will formally introduce this outstanding group of business leaders at our Economic Summit and Annual Meeting later this November, and we look forward to sharing more about them in the coming months.

Looking ahead to next week, one of our signature events returns as Women in Business Minnesota takes place on Wednesday, July 22, at Target Field.

This year's conference will feature an engaging conversation on the business of sports leadership and the growing impact of professional athletics on Minnesota's economy.

We are excited to welcome leaders from the Minnesota Twins, Minnesota Aurora FC, Major League Volleyball Minnesota and Olympic medalist Natalie Darwitz for what promises to be an insightful and inspiring discussion.

If you have not registered yet, and remember the event is not exclusive to women, there is still time, although space is limited. We would love to have you join us for a day of networking, leadership, and meaningful conversation. To learn more and register, click here.

As noted on previous podcasts, don't forget that nominations remain open through August 14 for the 2026 Coolest Thing Made in Minnesota contest.

Whether your company manufactures a consumer product, medical device, piece of equipment, food product, or another Minnesota made innovation, we encourage you to submit a nomination.

The contest is a great opportunity to recognize and showcase the products and people driving Minnesota's manufacturing success, and we look forward to seeing another outstanding field of nominees this year.

Visit coolestthingmn.com to nominate a product and help celebrate the ingenuity and innovation happening across Minnesota.

Join us again next week for more from the Minnesota Business Podcast. Have a great and safe weekend!