Minnsights Blog

It’s been a great week. I spent much of it in Northern Minnesota meeting with chamber members and other business leaders to talk about our state’s economic direction and the political outlook heading into next year’s elections. With all constitutional offices, the full Senate, and the House on the ballot, we’re closely monitoring developments and engaging on behalf of the Chamber to ensure balance at the Legislature and a strong foundation for Minnesota’s economic future.

It’s been a busy week as I traveled to participate in the Annual Meeting of the National Association of State Chambers, where about 150 state chamber professionals from across the country gathered to discuss best practices for ensuring state chambers remain strong advocates for their members and drivers of state economic performance.

Minnesota’s manufacturing sector plays an outsized role in the state’s economy. It is the state’s second largest sector and has a disproportionate impact on other industries. When manufacturing grows, it spurs activity in construction, real estate, professional services, utilities and other industries that supply the needs of local manufacturers.

The kickoff of the Coolest Thing Made in Minnesota started, and you can nominate your favorite Minnesota product today. You can do that through August 15, so you’ve got a couple of weeks. We’ll announce the first bracket of voting of those most favorite things right here in Minnesota that you nominate.

The success of Minnesota’s economy is inextricably linked to the vitality and growth of its manufacturing sector. Manufacturing is Minnesota’s second largest sector, making up 12% of the state’s total economy. Many of Minnesota’s most recognizable companies and nationally competitive industry clusters have emerged from the state’s highly diverse manufacturing sector.