What will the legislative session bring when it starts March 8? Rep. Joe Schomacker, who represents the southwest corner of the state and is a board member for CRPD, expects transportation, taxes, and bonding to be the top three issues, with battles that come down to dollars and cents. Lawmakers will have a better idea where things are going when the February forecast comes, will set the tone for the rest of the year, affecting the nature of the discussion.
Monthly Archives: February 2016
Aligning strategies for better planning, pt 2
Jacki Anderson, senior planner at the Upper Minnesota Valley Regional Development Commission, joins us again to talk more about DevelopMN, a new effort by the Minnesota Association of Development Organizations to align individual organizations’ strategic economic development efforts. All the organizations have their own plans; DevelopMN will allow them to roll those plans together into a statewide GM blueprint. At the same time, the MADO organizations will be able to customize DevelopMN to address the challenges and opportunities that communities face at the local level, all while building a better collective voice on issues that matter in Greater MN.
Aligning strategies for better planning, part 1
Minnesota is made up of many different regions, all with their own identities, strengths and issues. What if they could all work together to strengthen themselves and each other? That’s the plan behind a new initiative called DevelopMN, says Jacki Anderson, senior planner for the Upper Minnesota Valley Regional Development Commission. The members of the Minnesota Association of Development Organizations are aligning their strategic economic development plans, focusing on four key areas: human capital, economic competitiveness, community resources, and foundational assets like broadband, housing stock and utilities.
DevelopMN: Aligning strategies for better planning, part 1
Natural gas is also key to economic development
Lisa Hughes, a regional economic developer for the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, is our guest again this week to talk some more about economic development and the importance of infrastructure for high-wage companies looking to set up in Minnesota. One of the continuing hold-ups is access to natural gas, but like Internet service, it’s a private business. How do we get everything working together?
Rural Reality MN 