Swift County RDA News

First Person: Understanding and Investing in Current and Future Talent

Friday, January 22, 2021

AD: Can you define people analytics for our readers? Williams: People analytics is described as the method of analytics which can support leaders as they make decisions about their employees and workforce. This method applies statistics, technology, and expertise to large sets of HR data, which should result in better business and management decisions by an organization. Another way of looking at this is how to get the best return on investment from their people — in an analytical, data-driven way. AD: How can the use of data help industrial companies satisfy their workforce requirements? Williams: Data can prove instrumental to inform industrial companies on the bes...

Onshoring Opportunities are Abundant in Swift County

Friday, January 22, 2021

Businesses nationwide have suffered as a result of COVID-19. Supply chain disruptions and product delivery delays are only the beginning of the complications. COVID-19 has left a lasting impact. Due to the damage experienced by many, a large number of business executives have decided it is time to onshore part or all of their business operations. Companies in the United States have offshored manufacturing operations overseas for four decades in order to save costs, but now many think it is time to bring operations closer to home. Swift County is an ideal location to affordably onshore manufacturing operations. As a result o...

Recruiting and Retaining Today’s Manufacturing Workforce

Thursday, January 21, 2021

AD: How has COVID-19 changed the employee experience in manufacturing, and what facets of this should organizations retain going forward? Zenk: Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, employees have been experiencing a drastically different work environment. Thousands of manufacturers across the U.S. and around the world were deemed essential during the pandemic, and their production lines haven’t stopped. They’ve continued to produce essential goods that the global community relies on — from the food we eat to the clothes we wear and cleaning supplies we use in our homes. As some manufacturers increased output and others reconfigured operations to satisfy urgent demands...

Trends in Office and Industrial Parks

Wednesday, January 20, 2021

Of course, the big factor impacting office and industrial parks going into 2021 is COVID-19. The pandemic has reduced business production and workforce (through illness, social distancing, and remote working), disrupted the supply chain and cash flow, and brought about significant investments in technology. Across the nation, the demand for suburban office parks is rising as more skilled workers move back to suburbs, due to concerns about housing costs and quality of education — they also feel safer from COVID-19 and the civil unrest that is happening in some larger cities. “The most notable shift is toward lower-intensity spaces, where getting int...

The Future of the Workforce Is a “Better Normal”

Tuesday, January 19, 2021

The world as we all knew it changed earlier this year with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Seemingly overnight, everything that we used to think was normal had changed, and things that once were deemed impossible for the workplace became the “new normal.” Now, seven months later, most of us have gotten used to this “new normal” — embracing the work-from-home lifestyle, using new technology, wearing masks, social distancing, and connecting virtually. But what comes next? Eventually this pandemic will end, a vaccine will be readily available, and we will attempt to return back to our “normal” lives. Bu...

E-Commerce Growth Surge Sparks a Logistics Free-For-All

Monday, January 18, 2021

E-commerce has exploded in recent years, but as COVID-19 emerged the sector has seen unprecedented growth. While many industries battled disruptions, e-commerce provides opportunity. E-commerce and logistics companies are accelerating planned innovation and restructuring initiatives to stay ahead of the curve — if that’s even possible — spurring the implementation of three to five years of advancements in a span of just five months to keep up. It’s akin to upgrading the jet while traveling at Mach speed. This significant growth in online sales shows no signs of slowing, with Deloitte forecasting e-commerce sales to increase by 25–35 percent year-over-year during this upcomin...

Sustaining Industrial Labor Needs During and After the Pandemic

Friday, January 15, 2021

While the COVID-19 pandemic continues to accelerate consumer and workplace trends that were, in many cases, already under way pre-pandemic, challenges and opportunities in finding, training, and retaining an efficient industrial workforce remain constants for distributors and manufacturers. Effective site selection decisions hinge on a complex cost/quality balance of labor, logistics, and location. It is critical that occupiers remain vigilant in fostering a workplace and workforce that delivers on performance objectives while meeting current and future pandemic-driven challenges. With labor costs making up as much as 70 percent of warehouse operating expenses, the focus on workforce potential in existing an...

Supply Chain Execs Respond as Pandemic Creates E-Commerce Surge

Thursday, January 14, 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically changed our lives, and each one of us likely has a personal story to tell that underscores that fact. But there are also stories to be told of sweeping changes that virtually all of us have felt. One of those is the altered state of the global supply chain. The supply chain is, after all, an element of daily life that has an impact, either directly or indirectly, on just about everyone on the planet. The pandemic put a spotlight on the critical nature of this industry. Truck drivers and warehouse employees became everyday heroes o...

Certainty and Predictability Are the Winning States’ Hallmarks

Wednesday, January 13, 2021

State business climates are exceedingly competitive in 2020, if Site Selection’s latest Business Climate Ranking is any indication. For the first time ever, two states claim the top spot — Georgia, which now has an eight-year run in first place, and North Carolina, which missed tying Georgia last year by just two points. What’s more, there are two additional sets of tied states in the Top 10, Texas and South Carolina in fourth place and Alabama and Arizona in seventh. Half the ranking is based on a survey of corporate executives and site selectors (asked to identify the states they believ...

SEO For The Savvy Economic Developer

Tuesday, January 12, 2021

Authors don’t write books for librarians, they write books for readers. So why are economic developers creating websites just for search engines? The sole focus on search engine rankings has moved economic development website marketing away from the true intended purpose - connecting communities to business owners and expanding economic growth opportunities. Economic development professionals desire more traffic. But that goal is getting in the way of making sure the users actually find the information they are seeking. We confuse the search engine rankings and analysis with success when the primary goal is still to deliver relevant content from the user. Th...

Five Predictions For The Manufacturing Industry In 2021

Monday, January 11, 2021

There's no shortage of articles that will opine about how tumultuous 2020 was for the economy, jobs, and industry as the world grappled with the impact of COVID-19 on business and daily life. However, there's reason to be optimistic, especially in manufacturing. Despite 60% of manufacturers feeling the impact of COVID on operations, a recent survey of senior leaders of manufacturing and distribution companies noted significant or modest growth in company revenue during the pandemic. Demand for products is surging, requiring new and innovative production methods, and many manufacturers have stepped up to the plate. As we close out the year, we'll better understand jus...

The Home Office Vs. the home office

Friday, January 08, 2021

In Washington, like everywhere else, a major reevaluation of workspace and quality of life is unfolding. Imagine building an expansive new corporate campus, then deciding since the onset of COVID-19 to sell it and disperse HQ functions. That’s what REI is doing with its newly completed campus in Bellevue, Washington. The company is instead following a distributed work model for its HQ functions. Four days after Facebook launched a new college-only online space for students called Facebook Campus, the company completed the purchase of a real one, buying REI’s just-completed campus in the Spring District neighborhood for $390 million. It’s one of several investment...

Talent Accelerator Program is a Welcome Mat for Foreign Investors

Thursday, January 07, 2021

In February 2020, Navien, Inc., a leader in condensing technology for water heaters and boilers, announced it would invest $77.5 million to establish its first U.S. manufacturing and assembly operation in the former Lumber Liquidators facility in James City County, which will create 180 new jobs. The company is tripling the footprint of the existing building, bringing it to nearly 900,000 sq. ft. Virginia successfully competed with Illinois, Maryland, and Pennsylvania for the project. Navien, Inc., a U.S. subsidiary of Seoul-based KD Navien, is one of the fastest growing companies in the home comfort sector in North America. Why Virginia? “The clos...

Where Aerospace Manufacturers Are Gravitating in 2020

Wednesday, January 06, 2021

PwC’s Aerospace & Defense practice has issued the seventh edition of its Aerospace Manufacturing Attractiveness Rankings. It does so at “a precarious moment in the industry’s history,” according to the report’s introduction. “By April 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic had plunged commercial aviation into crisis mode, with global revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs) nosediving by 94% compared to the same month a year earlier. International flights ground to a near-complete halt. By June, RPKs were down 87% against the year-ago period. Meanwhile, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) forecasts that 2019 levels will not be restored until 2024.” Aircraft and their many component...

County provides extra funds for healthcare

Thursday, December 31, 2020

Health providers at the front lines of the COVID-19 fight in Swift County received a financial boost from the county board of commissioners at the Nov. 17 meeting. Commissioners allocated $75,000 each to Appleton Area Health and Swift County-Benson Health Services. It also allocated another $15,000 to Countryside Public Health. Read full article.

Minnesotans donate in record numbers to Give to the Max

Wednesday, December 30, 2020

Minnesotans donated a record $30.4 million to nonprofits and schools during the annual Give to the Max campaign, surpassing the previous record of nearly $22 million set in 2019. GiveMN Executive Director Jake Blumberg said donors gave money to more than 6,100 organizations, which is also a record. "What we were hoping donors would do and what we directly asked over and over again for donors to do was to expand their generosity this year," he said. Read full article.

3M Partnership Deal Focuses On Cleaner Aircraft Interiors

Tuesday, December 29, 2020

In the wake of the pandemic’s effects on air travel, Maplewood-based 3M Co. has teamed up with California-based Safran Cabin to design and create safer and cleaner aircraft interiors. Safran Cabin produces jet cabin interiors with components including overhead bins, lavatories, galleys, and more. The company has 25 sites across the globe, operates in 10 countries and has more than 9,500 employees. 3M’s aerospace division already produces a range of adhesives, films, and sealants used in aircraft design. The company’s Transportation and Electronics business segment accounted for $9.6 billion in sales in 2019; that translated to 29.9 percent of the company’s tota...

Hello Iron Range! attracting workforce to Northeast Minnesota

Monday, December 28, 2020

Being a Workforce Strategy Consultant is all about making connections and developing solutions to help employers find the employees they need to grow and thrive in Minnesota. One of the most exciting projects that I have been working on is Hello Iron Range! a talent attraction website designed to promote the Iron Range and help businesses recruit and retain talent to the region. My partner in this project has been Beth Pierce, Executive Director from Iron Range Tourism. The project was funded with support from the Blandin Broadband Initiative and the Iron Range Tourism Bureau. The purpose of the site is t...

Jobs in Demand: Assemblers and Fabricators

Wednesday, December 23, 2020

With over 320,000 jobs, Manufacturing is Minnesota’s 2nd largest-employing industry sector. One of the top-employing occupations in this industry happens to be assemblers and fabricators. In fact, according to DEED’s Occupational Employment Statistics data, there are over 31,700 assemblers and fabricators employed in the state. Such workers are employed in a wide variety of areas, including everything from transportation equipment manufacturing to computer and electronic product manufacturing to medical equipment and supplies manufacturing. Simply put, assemblers and fabricators assemble finished products and the parts that go into them. More specific tasks may include reading and interpreting schematics and blueprints, positioning or alignin...

Celebrating the Holidays in Swift County Safely During COVID-19

Tuesday, December 22, 2020

The holiday season has kicked off in Swift County and now is an excellent time to join family and friends, virtually or from a safe distance, as we gather to celebrate and create new memories. Our vibrant community events are one of the many reasons community members enjoy living and working here. Though celebrating the holidays looks a little different this year due to COVID-19, our Swift County businesses and residents have joined together to spread a little holiday cheer while keeping social distancing protocol intact. The City of Murdock put together a Santa Truck 2020 “COVID-Style” event so local childre...

Veterans Virtual Career Fair Resources Offer Valuable Job Search Information

Tuesday, December 22, 2020

The Minnesota Veterans Virtual Career Fair is over, but the resources offered and connections made through the online event are continuing to benefit current and former military members and their spouses, as well as Minnesota employers. Here's what we've heard from two participating employers, 3M and Andersen Windows and Doors, both gold sponsors of the event. “As a fellow veteran, and 3M hiring manager, it is wonderful to be part of a local event that encourages companies to highlight opportunities for veterans,” said Jennifer Loveland, Enterprise Operations Black Belt and member of 3M’s employee resource group. “At the same time, it creates a central place for veteran...

Startups Key to Minnesota Post-Virus Economic Recovery

Monday, December 21, 2020

First, I’d just note that we gathered state leaders, partners and startups from across the state last week for a virtual event to celebrate the one-year anniversary of Launch Minnesota, a program designed to accelerate startups. You can find out more in Launch Minnesota’s First-Year Progress Report. I’d like to share a message I wrote – which appeared in the Star Tribune on Sunday – about the importance of our startup community to Minnesota’s economic recovery. To say that 2020 has been a challenging year for the Minnesota economy would be an understatement. In the first three months of the COVID-19 pandemic, we lost a stunning 385,000 jobs. We'v...

DEED, State Leaders Celebrate Minnesota’s Startup Community

Friday, December 18, 2020

St. Paul – The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) hosted a virtual event to celebrate Minnesota’s startup community and Launch Minnesota’s first anniversary. Participants included two state legislators, six startups and seven partners from across the state who are part of the Launch Minnesota Network. Launch Minnesota is a statewide collaborative effort to accelerate the growth of startups and amplify Minnesota as a national leader in innovation. It began last year with bipartisan approval and funding from the Minnesota Legislature and Governor Tim Walz. “This investment in our innovation ecosystem helps our state’s economy both now and into the future,” said Governor Tim Walz...

#GetTakeoutMN: Share Your Support for Minnesota Restaurants

Thursday, December 17, 2020

St. Paul - As Minnesota takes necessary steps to battle COVID-19, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) is encouraging Minnesotans to shop and eat local this holiday season. In particular, helping your favorite local restaurants and eateries by ordering takeout is a simple way to support vital, beloved local businesses while enjoying a delicious meal in your own home. It’s a great way to help these businesses weather the impacts of the pandemic. “The best way to help your local restaurants weather this time is by ordering takeout whenever you can,” said DEED Commissioner Steve Grove. “They need our support no...

6 Ways to Keep Your Employees Learning At Work

Wednesday, December 16, 2020

No company can reach its business goals without a qualified and dedicated workforce. As new technologies emerge, on-job training programs have become increasingly useful to enhance both employees’ soft and practical skills. But learning at work can go beyond formal training. Businesses should get creative so that employees are constantly developing their skills. The Benefits of Ongoing Training While most companies invest in costly recruitment processes to attract the right candidates, their efforts on employee engagement and education often fall short. Without any type of incentives or supportive programs, it's easy for employees to feel overlooked and unappreciated after a while — and for companies’ growth to lag in turn. Read full article.

These are the Skills and Mindsets of the Leader of the Future

Tuesday, December 15, 2020

When we hear the word water, an image immediately comes to mind, we know what we are talking about. The same does not happen with the term leadership or when we want to refer to the leader. However, this character plays a fundamental role in cultures and organizations. Jacob Morgan, a futurist who explores leadership, the future of work and the experience of employees, participated in INCmty where he pointed out the nine skills and mindsets that the leader of the future must have, whom he referred to as "the leader of today" . Also founder of FutureOfWorkUniversity.com , an online education and training platform tha...

How To Poise Your Business For Success (And Survival) In The Covid Economy

Monday, December 14, 2020

Business life in the era of Covid has elements of both crisis management and an endurance trial. How can your business join the ranks of those that are succeeding in this environment? LJ Suzuki, founder and fractional CFO at CFOshare and I recently dissected this question together, with an eye toward the actionable steps you should be taking now–and the potholes you need to avoid. Micah Solomon, Senior Contributor, Forbes; Customer Service Turnaround Expert and Consultant: It’s been several quarters since Covid began to make inroads into the economy; how are small businesses faring? LJ Suzuki, Founder and Fractional CFO at CFOshare: The small businesses within my purview have see...

Cold Storage Is Hotter Than Ever

Friday, December 11, 2020

Our attitudes about food and beverage influence the brands we purchase, how we socialize, where we shop — and sometimes even where we live. Our expectations are high when it comes to product mix and availability. When our wants and needs are not met quickly, as was the case at the start of the pandemic, we are highly dissatisfied. While food transport has been occurring for centuries, modes of delivery, advances in food safety, and time-sensitive supply chains have evolved to meet the changing desires of consumers across increasingly broad geographies. Often, new trends become ingrained habits that can alter consume...

In Focus: The Evolving Role of Outdoor Spaces

Thursday, December 10, 2020

This year has been hallmarked by re-evaluation. On all levels, people have taken a second look at their habits, spaces, and lifestyles and have had to adjust greatly to meet the new needs of today. With safety as a priority, people entered their homes in March, and most have not returned to a “normal” lifestyle. On a macro-level, spaces must be reimagined in order for people to return safely and once again participate in day-to-day activities without fear of getting sick or infecting others. One solution is moving traditionally indoor spaces outdoors. The office is a great example of how outdoo...

How to Navigate the Reshoring of Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

Wednesday, December 09, 2020

In recent years, geopolitical and economic trends have been encouraging pharmaceutical drug manufacturers to shift their active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) sourcing and physical manufacturing plants onto domestic soil or near-shore locations. This has been a gradually turning tide that accelerated this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and, in its wake, a presidential Executive Order requiring all essential medicines to be manufactured within the United States. While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not yet disclosed the list of essential medications, it has become apparent that having a strategy for the reshoring of pharmaceutical manufacturing is crucial. There ar...

E-Commerce Growth Surge Sparks a Logistics Free-For-All

Tuesday, December 08, 2020

Front Line: Vocational Training Alliances in Tough Times

Monday, December 07, 2020

As if manufacturers are not challenged enough by COVID-19, many face shortages of appropriately skilled workers to keep their tech-savvy factories competitive. A 2018 report by Deloitte and the Manufacturing Instituteestimated the manufacturing industry would have as many as 2.4 million jobs to fill by 2028. Last year, the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) reported in 3rd Quarter 2019 that the top concern among manufacturers was the inability to attract and retain a quality workforce. Stephen Gold, president/CEO of the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation (MAPI), recently wrote in IndustryWeek that the skills gap today isn’t so much about a lack of STE...

Recruiting and Retaining Today’s Manufacturing Workforce

Friday, December 04, 2020

Attaining a Big-Picture Perspective With a Facility Master Plan

Thursday, December 03, 2020

Leading a successful site and facility master plan challenges even the most seasoned leaders. After all, how often have you undertaken a master-planning process, only to be disappointed in the outcome, or worse yet, end up with a building that doesn’t align with your business goals? Based on over 30 years of working with manufacturing organizations, we have identified several master-planning process “must haves” that are vital to achieving successful, actionable and, most importantly, implementable site and facility master plans. With construction cost trending upward at a rate of 3 to 5 percent annually — and an industry focused on continuou...

Opportunity for All?

Wednesday, December 02, 2020

They’re cities of dreams. They’re the nation’s glamor capitals. But they’re attracting the lion’s share of Opportunity Zone funds meant to spark the economies of neighborhoods struck more by poverty than by fame. Analysis published in September 2020 by tax break experts Novogradac found that investment in more than 800 Qualified Opportunity Funds (QOFs) tracked by the organization exceeded $12 billion, though the total amount in all QOFs was “undoubtedly more.” The White House Council of Economic Advisers put the total around $75 billion. But where are those funds targeted for action? “QOFs can focus on a national, regional, state or cit...

How the Video Game Industry Drives DC Location Decisions

Tuesday, December 01, 2020

It’s natural to expect more data center capacity is needed to handle the boom in e-commerce, streamed programming and virtual meetings since the pandemic arrived. But there’s another subset of screen-based transactions that requires that expansion too. Statista reports there are an estimated 2.7 billion video gamers around the world in 2020. The largest proportion of these gamers, some 55% or 1.5 billion players, live in the Asia Pacific Region. North America, with 8%, claims just over 200 million gamers. Total prize money in 2018 for e-sports was $1.5 billion, with the 2018 League of Legends World Championship Finals reaching 99....

Shop Swift on Small Business Saturday

Tuesday, November 24, 2020

Small Business Saturday is coming up on November 28, 2020. This special shopping holiday urges consumers to shop at small and independent businesses in the community rather than giving their business to online retailers or big box stores. Supporting small businesses on Small Business Saturday has become an important holiday tradition, and we encourage Swift County community members to shop local on November 28th and beyond. Small Business Saturday Origin The first Small Business Saturday was actually started by American Express in 2010. The initial goal was to counter the negative effects the recession had on small businesses and local economies. Th...

In Focus: Increased Data Center Growth Driven by the COVID-19 Pandemic

Wednesday, October 14, 2020

The stratospheric rise of the cloud over the past few years caught many off guard and created an arms race among the cloud providers, with data center development underpinning the effort. These cloud providers were anticipating ever-increasing demand for the cloud by globally creating a robust and redundant network of massive data centers tethered together through a network of smaller data centers and fiber connection locations. Data centers that service other segments of the market (wholesale colocation, “edge,” and retail) were also riding the wave of increased demand. Little did we know a global pandemic would make data centers and th...

Infrastructure Investment as an Economic Stimulus Tool

Wednesday, October 14, 2020

In times of economic struggle — such as the recession that abruptly arrived with the COVID-19 pandemic — analysts and advocates promote an array of options as effective tools for stimulating the economy. One of the most frequently suggested options is infrastructure spending. Proponents of infrastructure spending during dire economic times view it as a productive job creator and essential foundation for a long-term recovery and return to sustained prosperity. Brian Raff, director of Communications and Public Affairs for the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), cites a 2015 study by the Duke Center on Globalization, Governance, and Competitiveness to demonstrate infrastructure investment’...

Adding “COVID-19 Community Response” to the Site Selection Checklist

Tuesday, October 13, 2020

Much has been written about the disruptions of COVID-19 on every line of business. In the realm of economic development, this has included a recommitment to retention and expansion programs, touting quality of life to capture the influx of remote workers, a rush to virtual site tours, and many other endeavors. All of these adjustments will play a part in a community’s success in the years to come. But it seems that when all of them are stacked up, they point to the foundation of a community — or to use a construction expression, they reveal whether a community ha...

In Focus: An Evolving Last Mile

Tuesday, October 13, 2020

Apart from the tragic global health implications, the economic fallout from the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic has been highly disruptive. The longer-term impact from the profound behavioral shift on the part of consumers who have — by necessity — been introduced to online shopping will persist long after the current recessionary cycle ends. While some new online shoppers will go back to their pre-COVID habits once the pandemic is behind us, many will be “sticky,” finding the convenience of online shopping too alluring. One recent survey finds that 46 percent of shoppers currently plan to continue buying online. From curbside and in-store pickup t...

A Guide to Aerospace Investment Decisions

Monday, October 12, 2020

The aerospace and defense (A&D) industry had a record year in 2019. Revenue passenger miles set a record, up 4.2 percent from 2018, and have been growing at roughly double GDP for the past two decades. Airbus’ and Boeing’s order backlogs ended 2019 at around 13,000 aircraft. The industry reported a record $780 billion in revenue — 5 percent over 2018. But in March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic plunged the industry into crisis, literally overnight, with air traffic decreasing about 90 percent as society shut down and stayed at home. Hopes for a quick recovery have been dashed by the persistence of transmissions, and many believ...

Data-Driven Operational Strategies in the Pandemic Era

Monday, October 12, 2020

As state economies struggle between surging cases of COVID-19 and intense pressure to reopen — albeit with varying degrees of restrictions — companies that reduced or halted operations in response to stay-at-home orders are torn between the urgent needs to both restore revenue streams and to ensure the safety of their employees and customers. Since every location has a different dynamic and risk profile, creating a return-to-work strategy is complicated, whether a company operates in five locations or 500. The solution to developing a sound, portfolio-wide strategy includes having ready access to data, analytics, and insights, including regional and community-specifi...

How Site Selection Can Help Meet Corporate Social Responsibility Commitments

Friday, October 09, 2020

The increased role of corporate social responsibility in site selection Corporate social responsibility is playing a major factor today in company's decisions on where they're locating their business. That's happening for a few reasons. I think companies are realizing that they need to be more conscious as to what's going on in the environment today, and they need to react to that. But primarily that's being driven by their consumers (for any company that is selling a product to the consumer base). Consumers want to know that the company is delivering on certain sustainability goals. They want to feel like they'r...

The New Normal in the Automotive Supply Chain

Friday, October 09, 2020

For immediate evidence of disruptions in the automotive supply chain, you need to look no further than your local dealer. Many lots are nearly empty of new vehicles, with average dealer inventories across the U.S. far below the normal 50–60 days’ supply. How did this happen? Of course, the COVID-19 pandemic is a major part of the problem. When automotive production was abruptly halted in March, there were not any new vehicles being produced until early May. Even then, production has been proceeding in fits and starts. At the same time, consumers have continued to purchase vehicles, keeping auto demand surprisingl...

How Technology Is Making Data Collection for Incentives Programs Applications Easier

Thursday, October 08, 2020

The Importance of Software in Incentives Analysis Software is becoming a bigger part of incentives analysis as clients increasingly want to use this tool. Many clients are building the internal capabilities to perform initial credits and incentives and site location analyses. They want to do some of that research on their own with their internal team prior to pulling in an advisor, or maybe they have an internal team that can handle the project from start to finish. Unless they have the ability to go to all the various jurisdictions under consideration and understand all their programs, the team’s software, dependin...

Why are Foreign Trade Zones Making a Comeback?

Wednesday, October 07, 2020

FTZs Are Making a Comeback There was a double-digit growth in foreign trade zone use [in 2018], according to the federal government's report for that year. When the 2019 report comes out, that double double-digit growth will have increased even more. The reason is that these tariffs are a whole new way to save money, compared to before, when the most important things were speed to market, using direct delivery and weekly entry, cutting your supply chain time and lowering your cost of operations. Now it's cut your supply chain time, lower costs and mitigate the tariffs. The number one thing w...

Businesses Doing Good

Tuesday, October 06, 2020

Minnesota pulls together in times of need. Here are companies we've found doing extraordinary things during this time. Red Wing Shoes Launches #LaborDayOn Hope Breakfast Bar in St. Paul gives out thousands of free meals; is holding a free "prom drive-through" Ranier distillery donates sanitizer to front-line workers on both sides of the border Read full article.

The Next Recovery: Regional Leaders & Laggards

Tuesday, October 06, 2020

To call the road that most metro areas have traveled this year rocky would be akin to labeling Mount Everest a speed bump. But the most turbulent period of our lifetimes will eventually give way to a sustained recovery. And when it does, certain types of metro areas are in far better shape to take advantage. In the short run, places that suffered the steepest job and income losses will struggle most, which bodes especially ill for the Northeast and tourism-dependent Hawaii and Nevada. But what happens after that? Much depends on the course of the virus, such as whether outbreak...

COVID-19 Reshuffles The Cold Chain & Logistics Deck

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

No sector now is more active than logistics, and there is no busier niche within it than cold chain for grocery and medical needs. The busiest companies within that niche, before and since COVID-19, are automated logistics pioneers and the grocers they serve. Digital Commerce 360’s 2020 Online Food Report, released in August, analyzes the top 1,000 food-dedicated retailers, as well as mass merchants with growing sales in the category — Walmart and Amazon represent more than 60% of the online grocery market, with Walmart having the biggest market share of online food in 2019 at 31%. Read full article.

Five Common Ways To Fund A Small Business Beyond Personal Savings

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

One of the most cliched statements in starting a small business is that “it takes money to make money”... but it is often true. Many businesses need an infusion of cash to buy essential components of their operations. For a pizzeria, that could be an industrial oven, and for a yard care business, that could be a commercial lawn mower. A common funding practice many new business owners take is to use personal savings and start small by reinvesting profits into the business. This approach, known as bootstrapping, seems rooted in common sense, but can be restrictive to your business’ growt...

Have Years of Darwinism in Rural America Paid Off During COVID-19?

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

As cities reel from a public health crisis and civic unrest, rural and small town community leaders are the unspoken heroes during the COVID-19 pandemic. They have historically learned how to thrive through fostering creative connections between limited resources and community needs. Years of practice navigating threats and finding solutions keeps rural America surviving, even amidst a pandemic. Progressive rural community leaders developed a task force in March. They used frequent and clear communication on the local plan. Rural America applied well-practiced skills listening to citizens, health care professionals, business owners and educators to make decisions right for their own communities...

Beat Zoom Fatigue With These 6 Tips

Tuesday, September 29, 2020

Do you audibly sigh every time you have to log on to what feels like your thousandth Zoom meeting of the day? You’re not alone. While we’re all more or less used to video calls and meetings being the norm now, the newly coined effect of Zoom fatigue hasn’t gone away. Since working from home is here to stay, video calls are here for the long run too. This makes it incredibly important to find a way to prevent Zoom fatigue from taking over your workday. Here are a few ways you can mitigate its effects. Read full article.

How To Keep Women In The Workforce During The Pandemic

Monday, September 28, 2020

We may be losing some of our best leaders to caregiving duties, and the pandemic is sending us backwards when it comes to gender equality. Women’s careers often take a backseat when caregiving duties rise, and women are more vulnerable to job loss during an economic downturn. The research shows that pandemic is hitting women hard on both fronts. Women are more than twice as likely as men to say they handle more than 50% of the caregiving and education responsibilities and 34% of working families are still without childcare coverage, according to Cleo’s State of Working Parents Study. A recent FlexJobs survey reports that 80% of workin...

Minnesota Business Services Firms Expect Mostly Contracting Conditions in the Next Year

Monday, September 21, 2020

ST. PAUL – Minnesota business service firms expect mostly contracting conditions during the next four quarters due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with slightly more than half (52%) anticipating a decline in consumer spending and corporate profits, according to a joint survey released today by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) and the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Business services firms – such as engineers, accountants and architects – have a mixed outlook on their own profit projections over the next four quarters, with 49% expecting to see a drop, 34% expecting no change, and 17% anticipating an increase in profits. Read ful...

Leveraging Data for Workforce Development

Thursday, September 17, 2020

During these unprecedented times, it is more important than ever to make sure we are using all the tools we have to serve Minnesotans looking for work. Data is a hugely important tool in the Workforce Development toolbox. In order to help people know which jobs are in demand now, and are likely to be in demand for the foreseeable future, DEED's Labor Market Information (LMI) Office does weekly analysis of jobs posted in Minnesota. LMI does this by analyzing new listings in the state on the National Labor Exchange (NLx). We share this information in a public way on the Jobs in Deman...

Redefining Leadership 2020: Leading Through Uncertainty

Thursday, September 17, 2020

The past few months have been marked by uncertainty and unrest. Elected officials have done what they can to lead through a summer of civil unrest and continued pandemic fallout. But, more often than not, the burden of leadership has fallen on the business community. During these uncertain times, “employees are looking to businesses to lead,” noted Paul Marvin, CEO of The Marvin Cos., the Warroad-based maker of windows and doors. In a TCB Talks virtual panel discussion on Wednesday, Marvin joined Delta Dental of Minnesota CEO Rodney Young and Pentair Executive VP and Chief Human Resources Officer Kelly Baker to discuss ho...

Hidden Bias: Sustaining an Inclusive Workplace

Wednesday, September 16, 2020

Workplace bias takes many forms, but the result is always the same – exclusion of members of the workforce from experiences and opportunities for which they are qualified. We all have hidden biases, and they can prevent businesses from leveraging the talents and perspectives of all members of their workforce. Throughout this series, we’ve given examples of how and where bias often shows up in the workplace, why it is important to examine and how to minimize it. But how do we know if what we’re doing is enough? Hopefully by examining bias, we are learning more about ourselves, but d...

Jobs in Demand: Computer Systems Analyst

Friday, September 11, 2020

We live in a day and age of technology with devices that can do an immense range of tasks, allowing us to do things like work smarter and quicker as well as stay connected and communicate across physical boundaries or barriers. Using a broad range of knowledge and skills in data processing and network administration, Computer Systems Analysts contribute to technological advances by implementing new or improving existing computer systems in science, engineering and business. Computer Systems Analysts are one of the highest in-demand occupations in the state, with hiring activity picking up in recent months. Demand for this occupation was also shown in recent Jo...

Swift County’s Kennedy Research July Launch MN Recipient

Friday, September 11, 2020

Swift County’s Kennedy Research was awarded a Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development Launch Minnesota Innovation Grant in July. Kennedy Research LLC, a rural Minnesota ag startup, is working to develop a low cost and carbon free generator of liquid nitrogen, a crop fertilizer for farmers. The grant will provide the company with the $35,000 needed to continue the research and development of this vital and efficient liquid nitrogen fertilizer generator. The tech startup was formed by Pete Kennedy and is located in Murdock, MN. Kennedy hopes to license and commercialize catalytic Non-Thermal Plasma (cNTP), a patented University of Minnesot...

Newly Named Executive Director of Broadband Development Spotlights Access

Thursday, September 10, 2020

As Angie Dickison formally steps into her role as Executive Director of DEED's Office of Broadband Development, she is traveling across the state to boost awareness of initiatives designed to help Minnesota achieve its goal of border-to-border high-speed internet access. Angie was appointed to this position last month by Governor Tim Walz, but has been filling this role in an interim capacity while serving as broadband development manager since July 2019. Read full article.

Catalina Valencia Named Director of Business Development at DEED

Wednesday, September 09, 2020

The Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) is excited to announce Catalina Valencia as our new director of Business Development. Catalina, who has 20 years of professional business development experience in a broad range of settings, joins DEED on September 9 and will lead a team of six business development managers and other support staff who work with companies of all sizes to help them locate and expand in communities across Minnesota. Catalina comes to DEED from Greenville, South Carolina where she ran her own site selection and economic development consulting firm. Prior to that, she worked for five year...

Finding New Ways to Connect with Job Seekers

Tuesday, September 08, 2020

As the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) continues to highlight Workforce Development Month and celebrate our staff and partners who are committed to helping career seekers find employment, we want to take a moment to recognize just how much our job seeker services have changed in the past six months. Prior to COVID-19, most of DEED's work with job seekers was done face-to-face in our CareerForce locations across the state. The pandemic required us to make changes in how we provide services to protect the health and safety of customers and staff and slow the spread of the virus. Rea...

Looking for an entry-level position that can turn into a rewarding and family-sustaining career?

Thursday, September 03, 2020

There are many entry-level jobs in demand now that put Minnesotans on a career path to family-sustaining employment. This week in our Jobs in Demand series, the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) is focusing on entry-level health care and social assistance jobs that, with additional training and certification, can help people move down a career path toward greater responsibilities with higher wages. In many cases, employers provide or pay for training leading to career advancement for dedicated employees. Read full article.

Hidden Bias in the Workplace: Retention Strategies

Wednesday, September 02, 2020

So you, as an employer, have successfully implemented a recruiting strategy focused on increasing diversity and inclusion in your workforce. Your employee base is different from five years ago. It now includes more individuals of color, women, people with disabilities, people who identify as LGBTQ, and workers of all ages and body types. It is the hope of management that – along with a more diverse workforce – employee longevity is one of the benefits. Retention is as important for employers as developing a strong recruiting strategy that attracts applicants with the right skills in the first place. What is equit...

Workforce Development Efforts Will Help Rebuild a More Equitable Minnesota

Tuesday, September 01, 2020

September is Workforce Development Month – and never in recent memory have investments in our state's workforce been more important. The pandemic has had a dramatic impact on jobs and employment in Minnesota. Our state's unemployment rate as of July is at 7.7%, down more than two percentage points from May, but still more than twice what it was in July 2019, when it was 3.2%. The Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), and our workforce development partners throughout the state, are working to connect unemployed or underemployed Minnesotans during the pandemic with in-demand jobs at employers hiring now. Thi...

In Focus: Sale-Leasebacks Help Companies Leverage Capital

Thursday, August 06, 2020

As the U.S. economy begins to dig itself out of a deep hole caused by the COVID-19 crisis, many businesses now face the stark reality of a substantially reduced pool of working capital along with credit lines that will likely not thaw out anytime soon. Yet despite those challenges, retailers, logistics firms, and other industrial real estate users are now finding new opportunities in the sale-leaseback arena that are enabling companies to quickly unlock capital and increase cash flow. Read full article.

Proactive Management of Incentives Deals

Thursday, August 06, 2020

If you or your clients have incentives contracts, now is the time to examine your incentive agreements to understand the potential risks if your company is unable to perform key obligations. The first step in any crisis is to determine exactly what the problem is. Review your incentive agreements to confirm with specificity your obligations. Second, closely review the language of your agreements to determine if any of your obligations can be delayed due to a “force majeure” provision, a “market conditions” provision, or a similar provision. Third, as soon as the crisis begins to abate, and perhaps sooner in certai...

A Heightened Focus on Reshoring

Tuesday, August 04, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the risks inherent in the global supply chain, particularly the worldwide reliance on China for medical supplies. The supply chain turbulence experienced during the pandemic undoubtedly will impact future business decisions, extending beyond medicine to other industries, including electronics, aerospace, automobiles, defense, consumer products, and technology. Incentivizing Reshoring Manufacturing companies accelerated moving production to low-cost manufacturing countries (known as offshoring) in the early 1990s. In the rush to globalize, key manufacturing sectors were abandoned in the United States. But now that the vulnerabilities of doing so have been exposed, there is talk of “de-globalization,” or reshoring. Read full article.

Hyperscale or Hyper Scale-Back?

Tuesday, August 04, 2020

What’s still moving forward and what’s not in the pandemic era? You’d think data center growth would be stronger than ever, if only to support the stay-at-home shopping and Zoom calls alone. Facebook in late June committed to invest $800 million in a new data center campus in DeKalb, Illinois. The 907,000-sq.-ft. (84,260-sq.-m.) facility, Facebook’s 12th U.S. data center, will be supported by 100% renewable energy, and will support 100 operations jobs and 1,200 construction jobs at peak construction. Read full article.

Swift County Creates Business Relief Grant Program

Sunday, August 02, 2020

Swift County Commissioners allocate $250,000 for creation of Business & Non-profit Relief Grant Program. The grants will be administered through the Swift County Rural Development Authority (RDA) who currently administers the application process for the county’s Business Revolving Loan Fund (Swift County RLF). Executive Director, Jennifer Frost is developing an application process and will work with RDA Board members: commissioner appointed community members from across the county; to provide a recommendation for awards to the commissioners. The maximum grant awards will be capped at $5,000 per business/non-profit. “In order to serve as many applicants as possible we decided we should cap th...

Coursera as a Training Resource for Employers

Wednesday, July 29, 2020

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) has announced a new partnership with Coursera, to provide Minnesotans FREE career-based, online learning resources. Coursera offers 3,800 courses and training modules from over 200 top businesses and universities, including more than 60 courses from the University of Minnesota. These learning opportunities are aimed at both preparing people for in-demand jobs and upskilling employees at businesses. Read full article

Consider This Before Hiring a Business Coach

Tuesday, July 28, 2020

Congratulations on your decision to go into business for yourself! Now that you've taken the risk, there are a few things you want to pay attention to. For many entrepreneurs, the concept of being your own boss is simple, but how to do that not so much. It's natural to want to seek help and for some entrepreneur that comes in the form of a business coach. The internet has no shortage of misconceptions about what makes up running a successful business. The dreams of ‘set it and forget it’ seem to ignore some brick and mortar world's tried-and-true business practices. Before yo...

How to Become a Successful Entrepreneur During the Pandemic

Tuesday, July 28, 2020

Other than operating a business directly in a warzone, these are some of the most challenging times to be an entrepreneur. The pandemic has brought a range of obstacles to the frontline of the entrepreneurial spirit and is pushing all of the boundaries of business owners. Coronavirus (Covid-19), protests, destructive riots causing damage to stores, floods, and many other events that have occurred in a short block of time sending shockwaves globally. Read full article.

Meet America's Best Employers For Women 2020

Tuesday, July 28, 2020

Companies have made considerable progress in their quest for gender parity over the years, enacting strong hiring and retention practices that directly benefit female employees and offering family-friendly policies that place women at the center of these efforts. Despite this forward momentum, advancing gender equity isn’t hardwired into every company. In fact, some businesses have far surpassed their competitors in creating an inclusive workplace for women. Read full article.

Ready for an Uplevel? Here Are 4 Steps You Should Take to Finish the Year Strong

Tuesday, July 28, 2020

It has not been an easy year, and yet the very best entrepreneurs continue to rise to the challenge in their businesses and personal lives. As important as New Years Resolutions are, setting new goals year-round is how the growth really happens. Now that the year is just over halfway through, it’s a reflection point; where did you want to end up this year? And all things considered (since we've all faced the most unseen of circumstances), how are you measuring up to that initial resolution? For many of us, these resolutions may have entirely pivoted. Priorities have shifted. Businesses have gone under, and others have been created...

Rethinking Business And Revenue During The Pandemic

Tuesday, July 28, 2020

The year 2020 has undoubtedly been one of the most difficult in recent memory. As the world navigates the coronavirus pandemic, businesses are struggling to find their way in an uncertain environment. In fact, a June survey of 330 U.S. finance leaders by PwC found that many senior managers feel challenged by the need to creatively manage their businesses during the pandemic. The survey discovered that about half (47%) of finance leaders expect their company’s revenues to decline more than 10% in 2020. We can even see this in large, seemingly recession-proof companies. According to CNBC, Google will see a drop of more tha...

DEED Announces Names of Businesses That Received Small Business Emergency Loans

Friday, July 24, 2020

St. Paul – The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) announced that 1,020 small businesses throughout Minnesota received a Small Business Emergency Loan, which is different than the more recently announced Small Business Relief Grants. More than $27 million in loans were made from $30 million in special revenue funds allocated to the emergency loan program. The remaining $2.8 million was distributed to lenders to assist with loan administration and technical assistance expenses. DEED worked with lenders throughout Minnesota to implement the emergency loan program, which opened for applications in late March. Loans were issued to qualified businesses beginnin...

Study: Your dollar goes further in rural Minnesota, if you can find a place to live

Friday, July 24, 2020

Nowhere in Minnesota can a person afford the cost of living on the state minimum wage of $9.86 an hour. In fact, most regions require well over $15 an hour to afford to live. However, rural Minnesotans can often afford a similar or higher quality of life than their metro area counterparts, despite overall lower wages, according to a new study from the Center for Rural Policy and Development. Read full article.

Swift County may soon have another tool to encourage the expansion of affordable workforce housing options in Swift County.

Tuesday, June 30, 2020

Swift County may soon have another tool to encourage the expansion of affordable workforce housing options in Swift County. HRA and RDA Executive Directors are proposing an ordinance to the Swift County Board that will establish a county-wide housing trust fund; a permanent and continuously renewable source of funding to help meet the housing needs of moderate, low income and very low income households. The trust fund is expected to provide loans and grants to individual property owners, homeowners, for-profit and nonprofit housing developers and governmental units. “It’s something we hear all the time – when people are considering a jo...

COVID-19 Resources for Your Business

Monday, March 23, 2020

Federal and state government entities and nonprofits are working together to control the spread of the coronavirus and to support the businesses and individuals impacted by the virus and/or the protective measures being taken. We've rounded up the resources to help your business navigate these tumultuous times. To download, click here. COVID-19 RESOURCES Federal and state government entities and nonprofits are working together to control the spread of the coronavirus and to support the businesses and individuals impacted by the virus and/or the protective measures being taken. STATE COVID-19 RESOURCES Information for Workers Answers to common questions for workers. This includes new information regarding worker...