Inclusiveness isn’t just a feel-good notion; it’s an economic imperative
In researching my recent report for Michigan Future about how metropolitan Minneapolis became one of the wealthiest and most livable regions of the country, one issue was repeatedly cited to me by business and community leaders: the need to become more inclusive. That’s not something you hear much about from metro Detroit’s business leaders, who […]
Talent and placemaking go hand in hand in the Twin Cities
When Bart Carrigan moved from East Lansing to Minneapolis to manage his Michigan-based employer’s newly opened restaurant, he was struck by the city’s many amenities. “I love the environment, and there are a ton of outdoor activities all year round,” he said about a metro area that celebrates its cold winters. “The city is really […]
Education and infrastructure investments drive Twin Cities’ economy
Metro Minneapolis has built a diverse economy that is one of the wealthiest of any large metropolitan area in the country and has withstood deep national recessions. Median household income in the Twin Cities of $73,231 was the seventh highest among the 53 metro areas with a population of 1 million or more in 2016, […]
Metro Minneapolis business leaders promote an economy that works for everyone
Most, if not all, major metropolitan areas have business organizations that promote the economic well being of their regions. But the Itasca Project serving Minnesota’s Twin Cities is different from just about any such organization in the country. This group of more than 60 corporate chief executive officers and community leaders spend little time on […]
In Minneapolis, strong regional collaboration is key to success
Regional government is an elusive goal in many metropolitan areas. Look no further than metro Detroit, where several local suburban leaders are trying to kill a Regional Transit Authority that took decades to create. But regional collaboration is on steroids in Minnesota’s Twin Cities, where a unique entity called the Metropolitan Council provides key services, […]
A Tale of Two States: Guest Blogger Rick Haglund’s Final Post
Many states have cut benefits to the poor and unemployed in the belief that these payments dissuade people from looking for paid work. Minnesota takes a different view. It has created one of the strongest safety nets in the country, spending generously on benefits to help those who have lost jobs or been stricken by […]
A Tale of Two States: Welcome Everyone
Many states have “welcome” signs at their borders. Minnesota means it. It’s a state that embraces immigrants, sees same-sex marriage as a civil right and an economic benefit, and recently enacted groundbreaking legislation designed to improve conditions for women in the workplace. Contrast those policies with Michigan, which is fighting to prevent the legalization of […]
A Tale of Two States: The Road To Prosperity
Michigan residents are clamoring for the Legislature to better fund the state’s crumbling roads, bridges and mass transit. But lawmakers have repeatedly failed to boost taxes that would raise the $1.2 billion more a year that Gov. Rick Snyder has said is necessary to fix the roads. Minnesota years ago developed a comprehensive transportation funding […]
A Tale of Two States: Education & More from #StatePoliciesMatter Author, Rick Haglund
Art Rolnick, the former director of research at the Minneapolis Federal Reserve Bank and an expert on economic development, says the secret to Minnesota’s decades of prosperity is found in its commitment to developing human capital. “The key to the success of Minnesota’s economy over the past 50 years is the quality of its work […]
A Tale Of Two States: From the Author of Michigan Future’s Latest Report
Metro Minneapolis-St. Paul has long been one of the nation’s most prosperous metropolitan areas with a rich mix of businesses and one of the best-educated work forces in the country. In 2012, metro Minneapolis had per capita income of $50,260, the 27th highest of all metro areas in the United States, according to the Bureau of […]