Minnsights Blog

It was an exciting moment to announce this year’s winner of the Coolest Thing Made in Minnesota contest during our 2025 Manufacturers’ Summit. From aerospace innovation to rugged defense vehicles, this year’s finalists showcased the best of Minnesota’s manufacturing talent and creativity. After tens of thousands of votes poured in from across the state, I was proud to crown Polaris and their MRZR Alpha as this year’s winner – a product built in Roseau that helps protect and serve allied forces around the world.

The Minnesota Chamber continues to cement itself as the premier association for manufacturers with the Minnesota Manufacturers Summit and the Coolest Thing Made in Minnesota award this week.

The Minnesota Chamber Foundation Business Education Network (BEN) partners, led by local chambers of commerce across the state, are well positioned to lead local efforts. BEN partners are the intermediary between local employers, local schools and students and are active across Minnesota, providing statewide reach. This powerful partnership between the Minnesota Chamber Foundation and local chambers of commerce seeks to bridge the gap between public education and employment systems, ensuring that all Minnesota students have access to wealth-building and purpose-driven careers.

This week on the Minnesota Business Podcast, I sat down with Senator Nick Frentz of North Mankato to talk about the new Paid Family and Medical Leave law taking effect January 1, 2026. As both a legislator and small business owner, Senator Frentz brings a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities this mandate creates. We discussed why he pushed for changes to the law, what employers should be doing now to prepare, and how bipartisanship will be essential as we look toward the next legislative session.