CEO Guide to Site Selection

Minnesota

ATTRACTING FOREIGN INTEREST

In June 2023, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo met with leaders of the region’s semiconductor industry to discuss growth opportunities in Minnesota. They noted several things making the Minneapolis-Saint Paul region valuable, including the existing ecosystem of manufacturers, toolmakers, chemical producers and packagers. Also available is $250 million of dedicated state matching funds through the Minnesota Forward Fund and an industry workforce of more than 10,000 across the state. Over the past year, the state has also several projects from foreign companies. In August 2023, South African recycling company Myplas opened its first U.S. recycling plant in Rogers. German tech company SICK is building new offices in Bloomington. Canadian solar panel manufacturing company Heliene announced in July 2023 a $145 million expansion of its operations in Mountain Iron.

“We are dedicated to making Minnesota the best state to live, work and raise a family—no matter where in the state you call home.”
Tim Walz
Governor

TAXES

0 %

top corporate income tax

# 0

on the Tax Foundation’s State Business Tax Climate Index ranking

EDUCATION

0 %

of adults 25 years of age and older graduated high school

0 %

of adults age 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or higher

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

0 %

RIGHT TO WORK STATE

No

QUALITY OF LIFE

# 0

POPULATION GROWTH

0 %

increase between 2010 and 2020

KEY INCENTIVES

Minnesota Investment Fund: Offers up to $1 million to help add new workers and retain high quality jobs, with a focus on industrial, manufacturing and technology-related industries.

Minnesota Job Creation Fund: Provides up to $1 million in financial incentives to new and expanding businesses that meet certain job creation and capital investment requirements.

Job Training Incentive Program: Offers grants of up to $200,000 to new or expanding businesses with the purpose of training workers quickly and efficiently.

Launch Minnesota: A series of grants and initiatives designed to accelerate the growth of high-technology startups and foster a statewide network of education, resources and support for innovators.

EDCs

Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development

mn.gov/deed

Minneapolis St. Paul Regional Economic Development Partnership

greatermsp.org

Rochester Area Economic Development, Inc.

raedi.com

Duluth Economic Development Authority

dulutheda.org

HIGHLIGHTED PROGRAM OR INITIATIVE

In October 2023, Gov. Tim Waltz and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development launched the Drive for 5 Workforce Initiative to prepare residents for work in the five occupations of technology trades, caring professions, manufacturing and education. The program will partner with workforce development institutions around the state and implement and expand job training programs.

BIG DEALS

  • Health Partners broke ground in September 2023 on a $50.5 million clinic in Woodbury.
  • Facebook parent company Meta announced in September 2023 a $700 million data center in Rosemount.
  • Duluth-based Cirrus Aircraft opened a $20 million innovation center in September 2023.
  • German sensor manufacturer Sick announced in September 2023 it will build its North American headquarters in Bloomington.
  • UnitedHealth Group announced in September 2023 it will consolidate its headquarters in Eden Prairie.
  • Cannabis entrepreneurs announced in October 2023 a$67 million growing operation in Grand Rapids that will employ 400 people.

BIG COMPANIES

16 Fortune 500 companies are headquartered in the state, including:

  • UnitedHealth Group 
  • Target
  • Best Buy 
  • 3M
  • CHS
  • U.S. Bancorp 
  • General Mills
  • C.H. Robinson 
  • EcoLab
  • Land O’Lakes
  • Ameriprise Financial
Roundtable

Strategic Planning Workshop

1:00 - 5:00 pm

Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process

Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:

  1. Lack of systematic approach (70%)
  2. Laundry lists without prioritization (68%)
  3. Decisions based on personalities rather than facts and information (65%)

 

Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns.  They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning.  Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process.  This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented.  If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form.  The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.

To sign up, select this option in your registration form. Additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.

New York, NY: ​​​Chief Executive's Corporate Citizenship Awards 2017

Women in Leadership Seminar and Peer Discussion

2:00 - 5:00 pm

Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations. 

Limited space available.

To sign up, select this option in your registration form. Additional fee of $495 will be added to your total.

Golf Outing

10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS

General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.

The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.

To sign up, select this option in your registration form. Additional fee of $295 will be added to your total.