Minnesota’s economic news, w/e 3/23/17
State finances
St Cloud Times: Top state employee salaries of 2017: St. Cloud, Mankato hockey coaches earn $300,000
Wahepton Daily News: ‘Education Governor’ calls for more investment in students
Echo Press: Editorial: Make LGA a priority this session
Marshall Independent: Lower taxes a high priority for Minnesota business advocates
See our commentary on this here and here.
Enbridge 3
Bemidji Pioneer: Letter to the Editor: Enbridge seeks opportunities to work with tribes
Daily Reporter: Regulators OK environmental review for disputed oil pipeline
Superior Telegram: PUC approves Line 3 environmental study: Final decision on project expected in June
See our commentary on this here.
Minimum wages
Twinkie Town: St. Paul Saints, Minor-League salaries, and the Senate
Star Tribune: St. Paul Saints push for state minimum-wage exemption
WCCO: Restaurant Workers Talk $15 Minimum Wage, Tip Credit In St. Paul
City Pages: St. Paul Saints vs. the minimum wage: A quandary for parasitic capitalism
See our commentary on this here.
Mining
Duluth News Tribune: Rousing support in St. Paul for PolyMet
See our commentary on this here.
Economic growth
St Cloud Times: QBR: Future closure of Electrolux clouds local outlook
See our commentary on this here.
Amazon HQ
Pioneer Press: Amazon HQ2 behind the scenes: ‘Hyperloops,’ the universal health care incentive, and was it worth it?
Pioneer Press: Bloomington’s monorail and Forest Lake’s ‘red carpet’: Here are the 18 communities that pitched Amazon HQ2
Pioneer Press: Why go for it? Met Council study found Amazon HQ2 would bring 130,800 jobs and $130B to Minnesota
Economic development
Credit Union Journal: Minnesota CUs contribute $2.6 billion to state’s economy: Report
Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal: Ditech laying off 116 more; hints it may close St. Paul office
Bemidji Pioneer: City gets behind Delta Dental; approves 2 resolutions in support of company opening Bemidji facility
WDIO: Northeast Minnesota Celebrates Increase In Small Businesses
Rochester Post Bulletin: DMC sees $131.1M in private investment
See our commentary on this here.
Agriculture
Austin Daily Herald: The importance of agriculture in Minnesota classrooms
Employment
Watchdog: Minnesota job growth lags; tax reform seen as one solution
Mankato Free Press: Local job gains in February far outpace rest of state
KEYC: Jobs-A-Plenty: Mankato Area Seeing Economic Boom
Star Tribune: Minnesota sees dip of 1,300 jobs in February
Pioneer Press: Minnesota lost 1,300 jobs in February, unemployment rate still drops to 3.2 percent
Albert Lea Tribune: Minnesota’s unemployment rate dips to 3.2 percent
KUDZ/KARP: State unemployment rate slightly down in February
See our commentary on this here.
Trade
Star Tribune: Commercial shipping season begins at Duluth-Superior Port
Hometown Focus: Shipping season opener is a reminder of Minnesota iron’s impact on region
See our commentary on this here.
John Phelan is an economist at Center of the American Experiment.