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Democracy At Risk

2/28/2022

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On February 17, your Chamber executed on a fabulously successful Annual Meeting. It was so wonderful to see so many of you in person, and the energy throughout the evening was palpable.  As you know, our keynote speaker was General Paul Nakasone, the Director of the NSA and Commander of US CYBERCOM.  Looking back, the timing – and our speakers’ much bigger responsibilities – gives me pause.  Up until the very day of the event, we were preparing for the potential of a virtual appearance from the General. Now we know why, don’t we? Despite the international crisis that subsequently ensued, General Nakasone still chose to take the trip to Minnesota to talk to you. I find that extraordinary. His message: business is vulnerable to cyber intrusions, take steps to protect your business.
 
And today? All eyes are focused - with horror – on the Russian invasion of Ukraine. No one more so than our Minnesotans with Ukrainian ties. The juxtaposition, one week to the next, grips me.
 
To add to my ruminations, last week I read a commentary by The New York Times communist German Lopez, Putin vs Democracy. Lopez speaks to the “global retreat” of democracy worldwide for the past 15+ years. The invasion of Ukraine — the largest war in Europe since World War II — is a significant escalation even among the world’s increasingly ruthless authoritarian leaders. The country’s fall would mark a violent end to one of the world’s democracies. “Maneuvers like Putin’s, as well as insufficient pushback from other governments, have fostered this global democratic decline, experts say. Just one in five people now live in countries designated as “free,” down from nearly one in two in 2005, a new report from Freedom House found.” 
 
Freedom House is the oldest U.S. organization devoted to the support and defense of democracy around the world. It originally was established in New York in 1941 to promote American involvement in World War II to fight against fascism. Its current president, Michael Abramowitz, said to The New York Times in that same article, that the invasion of Ukraine is “a taste of what a world without checks on antidemocratic behavior would look like.”  
 
Note that President Biden will deliver his first State of the Union address on Tuesday at 9 p.m. I will be watching to learn more about the U.S. and world response.
 
See you in the trenches.
B
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  • Mask mandates lifted in St. Paul and Minneapolis. Remain in effect for city buildings. Here’s what’s next in the COVID-recovery plans.  Dakota county requirement is being lifted March 1 for county buildings, and February 28 in Washington county.
  • CDC eases masking recommendations for 70% of the country, including inside schools.  
  • New omicron COVID subvariant BA.2 detected in the Twin Cities wastewater.
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  • ​Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller lays out the case for a half-point March interest rate increase - provided the economic data calls for action, adding that inflation "is far too high and needs to come down" and that the central bank "must demonstrate the will" to use its tools to combat rising consumer prices. Meanwhile, in the February Consumer Spending Report: inflation over the past year has spared few sectors of the economy, with growing shares of household expenditures going toward staples such as groceries and housing. 
  • On Wednesday, St. Paul and Minneapolis teachers filed their intent to Strike, starting March 8. ​
  • The Met Council has released the 2022 Regional Solicitation on February 22 and will accept applications for federal transportation funding until April 14 at 4 p.m. The Transportation Advisory Board will select projects for funding in late 2022. About $180 million in federal transportation funds will be available for allocation in 2026 and 2027. Eligible applicants include the seven metro area counties, cities and townships, state agencies, tribal governments, transit providers, and other organizations in partnership with government agencies. Learn more and apply online for the regional solicitation.
  • Today, the Office of Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) released the state’s February budget forecast, which projects the state budget to have a $9.253 billion surplus for the biennium, which began on July 1, 2021 and runs through June 30, 2023. This is a $1.507 billion improvement from the state's November budget forecast.
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​Public Safety:
  • St. Paul Area Chamber public safety listening sessions: register for a session in your ward.  We need your input!
  • Governor Walz hosted public safety roundtable in Brooklyn Park.  He spoke to his $300M grant package to fund a variety of public safety initiatives.
 
Federal:
  • The St. Paul Area Chamber has signed on to a letter authored by the National Association of Manufacturers, urging action to protect manufacturers’ ability to immediately deduct research and development expenses from their taxes. Starting this year, these expenses must be amortized over a period of years, which will negatively impact manufacturers’ ability to innovate, grow, and create high-paying jobs.
 
State:
  • Total State ARPA money:  $73 billion came to Minnesota from three big federal laws: the CARES Act of March 2020; the Coronavirus Response and Relief Act of December 2020; and the American Rescue Plan Act of March 2021. 
  • A showdown is brewing over temporary vs permanent tax cuts. Minnesota Senate Republicans rolled out a proposal Thursday to reduce the first-tier income tax rate from 5.35% to 2.8% and eliminate the state tax on Social Security benefits.
 
Regional
  • Last week Mayor Carter gave his annual State of the City address. He outlined ongoing priorities around public safety and called for changes to the rent stabilization ordinance including exemption for new construction.  
  • Last week St. Paul’s City Council shared that $4.5 million of Federal ARP dollars awarded to the City would be used to fund grants for tourism geared toward bringing visitors back to Saint Paul.  In Scott County: After two intensive works sessions, the Scott County Board provided direction on how ARPA funds should be invested in programs. See page 22 of this report.  
  • Transit ridership began to recover in 2021. Met Council staff presented the full ridership report (PDF) at the February 14 Transportation Committee meeting.
 
Read more updates in our weekly Chamber Advocacy Update.
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  • March is Women’s History Month. Join us on March 9 for Lunch with Leaders, featuring mavericks:  Kenya McKnight-Ahad, Founder/President of Black Women’s Wealth Alliance; Major General Johanna Clyborne, Assistant Adjutant General; and Lara Juras, Executive Vice President of the Minnesota Vikings. Register here!
  • 2022 Equity Leadership Series, presented by Bremer Bank,  kicks off on March 16. Facilitated again this year by Anika Ward of Sankofa Leadership Network. Register here!
  • It's that time again: Minnesota Manufacturing Awards, hosted by the MSPBJ. Also, if you could promote the nominations in your network, that would be wonderful.​
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  • The retention mistake companies continue to make in the COVID-19 era.
  • Many women remain out of the workforce. How can employers get them back?
  • This was a very interesting read, new concept for me.  Best-selling author Patrick Lencioni has an exercise for you: the next time you meet with your executive leadership team, ask each of them, “What's more important: my team that you're a member of or the team that you're the leader of?” If the answer is their team, it may be time for a conversation. In this two-minute excerpt from his exclusive event with the Vistage community, Lencioni explains why putting the executive team first will help build cohesion across an organization.​​
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  • The federal jury last Friday found Kueng, Thao and Lane guilty of violating George Floyd’s civil rights. 
  • I sit on the Board of USA Expo 2027, in support of Minnesota’s bid to host the 2027 World Fair in Bloomington MN. This would mark the first time the U.S. has hosted the Expo in over 40 years. Four other countries are competing – Serbia, Spain, Argentina, and Thailand. We will be working towards a Spring 2023 presentation, with a decision to be announced in June of 2023.
  • Minneapolis and St. Paul have launched a network of 100% renewably powered on-street electric vehicle (EV) charging stations called the EV Spot Network.They can be used by private EVs as well the new Evie Carshare fleet operated by HOURCAR, a non-profit carsharing service. The EV Spot Network is the first in the country powered entirely by renewable energy. Five electric vehicle charging spots opened for public this month and the other 65 will be installed by fall 2022. Check here to learn more about EV Spot Network.  Partners include: HOURCAR, East Metro Strong, and Xcel Energy.  
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  • On Sunday, the U.S. Economic Development Administration announced the list of the 509 applications submitted for the $500 million Good Jobs Challenge.  To find a list of applicants and to read Assistant Secretary Alejandra Y. Castillo’s letter to them, please click here.
  • Industrial sector on the rise: a “record-breaking” year, according to a report released by JLL last week. In the Twin Cities, demand for industrial space was “unprecedented” in the fourth quarter of last year, with nearly 1.8 million square feet of construction delivered and about 80% of that preleased.
  • Metro-area homebuilding permits tank in February. Builders pulled permits for 432 new single-family houses during the month, down 17% from February 2021, according to a month-end report released Thursday by the Keystone Report, which tracks homebuilding permits in the 13-county metro area. After a solid January, single-family permits are now underwater for 2022. So far this year, the metro area has seen permits for 1,038 new single-family dwellings, down 2% from 2021, according to Keystone.
  • Scannell Properties, owner of the former Deluxe Corp. HQ site in Shoreview, is considering redevelopment plans that could bring several in new office buildings, or a mixed-use project.
  • Developers are forging ahead on office projects despite uncertainty over remote work: 48.5M SF of new office space in 2022, nearing pre-COVID-19 levels. ​
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Faster, Higher, Stronger - Together

2/21/2022

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This past week I’ve been full of random thoughts. It was a big week on several fronts.
 
First off, Happy Presidents Day. Many of you have the day off; if you do, warm wishes for a relaxing day as the snow falls.
 
Last Thursday evening was the Chamber’s 154th Annual Meeting. We had the great honor of welcoming as our keynote speaker General Paul Nakasone, the Director of the NSA and Commander of US CYBERCOM.  The evening was a great success, and the energy in the room was palpable. The event extended far beyond the formal program; people really enjoyed coming together!  Some of the memorable moments I’ll take with me:
  • The evening was anchored in the themes and priorities that thread through my conversations with you – RE: resilience, readiness, reconnecting, reimagining. You are demonstrating both the ability and the desire for all. And we celebrate you!  See our Community Report here, and our introspective video here. 
  • Realization that, as of last Thursday, we’ve been in “COVID mode” for 706 days. You heard me. And we paused to acknowledge all that we have lost these past 2 years.
  • Quote from Duchesne Drew, MPR, and our 2021 Board Chair: “As business and community leaders we have an obligation and an opportunity to change that reality. [Or] we’re not going to have the workers we need, we’re not going to have peace in our streets. We have to be committed and aligned. And that requires building relationships and understanding. This is the Chamber’s work.”
  • Priority conveyed by Marcia Droege, Land O’ Lakes, and our 2022 Board Chair: we are establishing a Small Business Committee, to prioritize issues central to small business success.
My own assertion that, large or small, we are in community - a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common interests and goals.
  • Quote from our keynote speaker on the priority of cyber security: “You’ve seen the cyber-headlines that have dominated the news… By the time I finish reading this sentence, a business will have fallen victim to a ransom ware attack.  About 43% of small businesses were targeted last year…. These incidents threaten not only our economic well-being, but also our national security.”  
  • The After Party at the St. Paul Grill that lasted, well, a long time. It feels like we’ve turned a corner in terms of coming together again!
 
Sunday also marked the Closing Ceremonies of the 2022 Olympics.  What to say about this one? Some of the finest athletes ever to compete, yet the Games were shadowed by politics and COVID – and illegal drug accusations. Norway broke the record for the most gold medals at a single Olympic Winter Games at 37! Team USA finished in the top 5 in the medal mix, and we saw outstanding performances from so many, including: Nathan Chen winning his first career gold; Afton native Jessie Diggins bringing in the final medal (of 2 she won this year); the historic recognition of Elana Meyers Taylor as she earned her 5th Olympic medal in bobsledding, making her the most decorated African American Winter Olympian; Erin Jackson becoming the first Black gold medalist in individual speed skating; Team USA’s Mixed Team Aerials, the underdogs, bringing home the Gold. And so many others.
 
The Olympic motto is, “Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together.”  Let that inspire us as we continue our work together.
 
See you in the trenches.
B
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  • Minnesota’s COVID-19 positivity rate falls below 10%. For the first time since late December.
  • U.S. Chamber upcoming event: Wednesday, February 23rd – The Role of Employers: Endemic COVID - Join us on Wednesday, February 23rd at 2:00 pm CDT for a timely discussion on what to expect as we transition to living with COVID long-term. You can submit your questions on the registration page and share with anyone looking for answers about the pandemic. Click here to register. 
  • More virus rules fall as CDC hints at better times ahead.
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  • Last Thursday President Biden did sign the legislation to fund the government through March 11. 
  • Weekly US jobless claims are up, but remain near historically low levels – reflecting relatively few layoffs across the economy. ​
  • The Fed sizes up the long-term cost of inflation. Damage primarily occurs with persistent inflation over many years, rather than inevitable fluctuations like the COVID period.
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Public Safety:
  • In order to inform our public safety advocacy, we are inviting all businesses with a physical presence in St. Paul to participate in listening sessions to share their experiences, concerns, and ideas. These meetings will be held via Zoom, starting in March and running through the end of June. These meetings are business/employer focused. (In this case, business/employer = for-profit, non-profit, company, LLC, etc.). To participate, fill out this form and a calendar invitation with the Zoom link will be sent from publicaffairs@stpaulchamber.com.  
  • The federal jury trial for 3 Minneapolis police officers involved in George Floyd’s murder proceeds with defense testimony in downtown St. Paul. Saint Paul Police continue to provide information through a blog on the police department website which can be found at https://www.stpaul.gov/news. 
 
State:
  • Redistricting: On Tuesday, February 15, new congressional and legislative district boundaries were released effective for the 2022 election through the 2030 election.
    • Congressional Districts not altered in a fundamental way. That said, according to FiveThirtyEight, redistricting reportedly has created 11 more Democratic-leaning seats nationally, 3 fewer Republican-leaning seats, and 8 fewer highly competitive seats.
    • In Minnesota, according to MPR, new political district maps will shake up Minnesota politics. And here is Minnpost’s take on redistricting.
    • Senate: 67 seats redrawn; 8 senators now find themselves paired in the same district as one of their colleagues, based on home addresses.
    • House: 134 seats redrawn; 38 representatives now paired in the same district.
  • Governor’s emergency powers could change after COVID-19 crisis. As the pandemic moves toward a more-hopeful phase, the Legislature is contemplating changes to the emergency powers laws that gave Walz tremendous leeway to impose restrictions, spend money and mostly guide the health response on his own.  
 
Regional​:
  • The Mayor’s office has established a 41-member rent control stakeholder group to advise the city on the roll-out of this ballot measure. 
  • Tis the season for State of the City addresses: 
    • St. Paul - Mayor Carter will live-stream from the city's facebook page tomorrow (Tuesday) at 10:30am. 
    • Roseville - Mayor Roe will present to the Roseville Business Council on Wednesday the 23rd at 7:30am. RSVP here for the zoom link.
    • Woodbury Mayor Anne Burt will present at the amphitheater inside Central Park, on Thursday, March 3 at 6:30 pm.
    • Maplewood event was presented by Mayor Abrams on February 15. See the replay here.
 
Read more updates in our weekly Chamber Advocacy Update.
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  • Let’s welcome the Minnesota Vikings next coach: Rams’ Offensive Coordinator Kevin O’Connell.
  • Come meet some new people at our Young Professionals Virtual Speed Networking event! Tues, Feb 22, 8-9am. Register here.
  • Leadership St. Paul’s 2022 class (best class ever?) kicks off in March.  If you looking to participate in this phenomenal leadership program and build a cohort of relationships to stay with you for the rest of your career, check it out! Applications can be submitted through the end of the month.  
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  • Simon Sinek’s The Infinite Game was first published in 2019. If you haven’t read it yet, do so. Want to know how to lead in the 21st Century? The goal, according to Simek, isn’t to beat your competition; it’s to outlast them. And there are 5 practices leaders can enact to transform organizations.
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  • Monthly newsletter update from St. Paul’s Full Stack Committee. Sign up to receive it here.
  • The Washington Post has great analysis showing where investors bought homes in 40 major metro areas, targeting southern cities and Black neighborhoods.
  • Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a $14.2 billion federal government program that extends and modifies the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) program and continues to aim to help low-income households connect and stay connected to the Internet. Qualified households can receive a monthly credit of $30/month towards their Internet service.  Last week, the White House and FCC announced that over 10 million households are now enrolled.​ Comcast is a partner.  Visit Xfinity.com/acp  to learn more about ACP and apply. ​
  •  Federal Reserve report: Occupational segregation left workers of color especially vulnerable to COVID-19 job losess.
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7. Building Capacity
  • Federal Funding Hub
    • Apply ASAP: Due to the high volume of applications, EDA strongly recommends that applicants contact their local representative to discuss their region’s availability of funds.  While the Notices of Funding Opportunity for the Economic Adjustment Assistance and Indigenous Communities programs advise to submit applications no later than March 31, 2022, EDA strongly recommends applicants to submit proposals as soon as possible for these programs. 
    • For more information on ARPA/federal funding opportunities, check out the Federal Funding Hub!  
  • The latest on the former Ecolab University Center tower: was slated to become a 17-story apt bldg. over retail space, but the developer and project - are in trouble. The project now is in receivership.
  • Hillcrest: City and Port Authority working towards making this a carbon-free housing and jobs provider. First is city approval of the Hillcrest master plan, hopefully as soon as April.
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Regular People, Extraordinary Outcomes

2/14/2022

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Happy Valentines Day! And congrats to L.A. Rams.  A great game – that last drive was epic.
 
Most of you know our annual meeting is this Thursday. We are thrilled to welcome our keynote speaker, General Paul Nakasone – Commander of the U.S. Cyber Command, Director of the National Security Agency (NSA), and Chief of the Central Security Service.  
 
There’s a story there…  
40 years ago I was 18 years old, preparing to graduate from Woodbury High School and head off for an upcoming freshman year at the College of St. Benedict. No clue about a life plan. Four years later as I approached graduation,  I was the co-cadet commander of my ROTC battalion, the Fighting Saints. I shared that rank with our keynote speaker and friend, Paul Nakasone (a graduate of White Bear Area High School). A rather serious, focused, smart young man, Paul always seemed to be certain about his path forward.
 
That intimidated me because I had no clue about my own life’s plan. I was a late starter. My progress largely was defined by: “in the absence of clarity, just do the next right thing.” As I did that, time and again the path forward would become clear.
 
Along the way and from a distance I’ve watched Paul’s professional career. In his journey is something for all of us to take away: regular, knowable people can do extraordinary things. Like Paul. Like you. 
 
Speaking of extraordinary people, I’d like to introduce you to Kalyn Hove of Comcast. Listen to her interview on B’s Table Talk – and find out what 5 words she uses to describe her 2021. Hint: one of them is “Resilience”!
 
See you in the trenches.
B
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  • COVID-19 guidelines: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is considering updating its guidelines on the metrics that states and localities use to impose coronavirus-related public health measures such as mask mandates as new cases of the omicron variant fall and governors take their own steps to return to normal. 
  • Vaccine mandate for federal workers blocked by 2nd court.
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  • January inflation is highest in 40 years, with no letup in sight. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that CPI, a broad measure of consumer prices, rose an astounding 7.5% on an annual basis in January. It as 7.1% in December and 6.7% in November.  At the same time, other figures could suggest that the price increases have begun to slow.
  • How inflation and tangled supply lines are gripping the economy.
  • Surging inflation heightens Fed debate over how fast to raise rates.
  • State tax collections higher than forecast in January. 25% higher than anticipated, largely from corporate franchise tax collections.
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​Public Safety:
  • SPPD Chief Axtell writes to Mayor Carter they are down 100 officers from sworn strength of 619… and are losing officers to better paying jobs at other agencies.

​Federal
  • Government funding: To avoid a shutdown on Friday, the Senate will need to pass — and Biden will need to sign — the House-passed legislation to fund the government through March 11. What we're watching: There's no expectation the stopgap measure will fail, but there are a couple themes to keep your eye on looking ahead. First, a number of public works projects authorized by the bipartisan infrastructure law were not covered by the continuing resolution, putting their start dates on hold as lawmakers draft an omnibus spending package for the current fiscal year. Second, while lawmakers have announced agreement on a top-line figure for the omnibus legislation, it hasn't been written yet, setting up potential haggling in the coming weeks.
 
State:
  • A bipartisan effort to refill the Unemployment Insurance trust fund took a big step forward this week, as SF2677 was passed out of Finance committee on an unanimous 10-0 vote. The bill could be taken up on the Senate floor as early as this week. 
  • What you need to know about Minnesota redistricting. See how proposed plans would affect you.
 
Regional
  • Minneapolis, St. Paul end vaccination-or-test order for bars, eateries. Masks are still required in indoor public spaces.  Mayor Carter discusses his decision.
  • Details on Rent Control are still illusive in St. Paul.
 
Read more updates in our weekly Chamber Advocacy Update.
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  • Our biggest event of every year is our Annual Meeting. More crucial than ever today is cyber security, and we’ll be hearing about that this year from this country’s preeminent voice: Join us on February 17 at RiverCentre to hear from the Director of the NSA/Cyber Command, General Paul Nakasone. ​
  • Leadership Saint Paul’s 2022 class (best class ever?) kicks off in March.  If you looking to participate in this phenomenal leadership program and build a cohort of relationships to stay with you for the rest of your career, check it out! Applications can be submitted through the end of the month.  ​
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  • Interested in who has been selected for the 2022 Minneapolis-Saint Paul cohorts for the Young American Leaders program? Included are Chamber staff and partners. Read on and congratulate them!
  • 2022 Minnesota YALP - MSP Cohort (May 18-20, 2022)
    • Joseph Adamji, Science Museum of Minnesota
    • Kari Collins, Ramsey County
    • Katharine Tripp Fleury, Target Corporation
    • Safia Khan, Minnesota Department of Corrections
    • Amanda Koonjbeharry, Tunheim
    • Cheniqua Johnson, Saint Paul & Minnesota Community Foundation
    • Andrea Larson, Cargill Corporation
    • Kelly McNamara, Mortenson
    • Sakhaudiin Ahmed Mohamud, WellShare International
    • Nelima Sitati Munene, African Career Education & Resource, Inc
    • Meghan Curry O'Connell, CDC Foundation
    • Shannon Watson, St. Paul Area Chamber, Majority in the Middle
    • Wendy Underwood, Catholic Charities of Saint Paul & Minneapolis
    • Mary Uran, Girls on the Run Minnesota
    • Jennifer White, City of Minneapolis Office of Violence Prevention
    • Yao Yaj, Minnesota Hmong Chamber of Commerce
  • 2022 National YALP - MSP Cohort (June 21-24, 2022)
    • Jake Blumberg, GiveMN
    • Prince Corbett, Ramsey County
    • Jason George, International Union of Operating Engineers Local 49
    • Emilia Gonzalez Avalos, Unidos MN
    • Ethelind Kaba, Ann Bancroft Foundation
    • Abdirahman Kahin, Afro Deli
    • Tina May, Land O’Lakes, Inc.
    • Adine S. Momoh, Stinson LLP
    • Chris Schmitter, Office of Governor Tim Walz
    • Irma Marquez Trapero, LatinoLEAD
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  • Timberwolves, Lynx partner with Deluxe to launch digital series, highlighting Black business owners in the Twin Cities.
  • Latino businesses “hanging in there” despite pandemic and unrest. Researchers say too many business owners didn’t receive federal funds designed to help them weather the pandemic.
  • Forge North wants to guide Minnesota startups to corporate partners.
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  • Federal Funding Hub
    • Bonus: Ramsey County  will give $500 to $1000 pandemic bonuses to union staff members including public health nurses, parks workers, social workers, financial-assistance workers and nursing home staff, using some of the $108 million in federal aid as part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to cover the bonuses. 
    • Join Route Fifty on February 15th for Follow the Money. Financial leaders and budget officers will discuss how they're managing the influx of federal funds and developing processes and structures to ensure these funds can create generational change.
    • For more information on ARPA/federal funding opportunities, check out the Federal Funding Hub!  
  • Gold Line gets Washington County’s OK. Housing alongside rapid-bus route announced.  
  • St. Paul reveals early plans for 1.5 mile River Balcony promenade.
  • 10 real estate developments reshaping the Twin Cities in 2022.
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Are You a Servant Leader?

2/7/2022

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It’s that time again - annual performance reviews. Who doesn’t feel just a little anxious with these? In our reviews, I’m talking with my team members about the year we survived, the culture we are continuing to nurture, the isolation that, if unaddressed, can eat away at our health. And I’m learning more about me than them…. not always comfortable.
 
You know who creates the most stress in our jobs? Our bosses. Me. When I started this job a wise person cautioned me: “beware the flight to the familiar.”  I’ve kept that mantra with me, though I recognize that I’m not always successful. And it hurts my team. My familiar is “unrelenting productivity.” When I don’t know what to do, when I’m uncertain or stressed, I just work harder. And, though I try to protect my team from my own process, they can’t help but be splashed by the mud. I can be impatient with pauses for quality of life, skim over family moments, “just do more.” You know what I’m talking about…
 
The real challenge? Sometimes, instead of speeding up, I need to slow down. Yep. Sit on that one for a minute.  I have a poem called “The Difference,” by Alan Grant, framed on a wall at home. It starts with, “I got up early one morning and rushed right into the day. had so much to accomplish that I didn’t have time to pray.”  The poem takes the reader through learning about the need to ask for help and slow down, such that it ends with, “I woke up early this morning and paused before entering the day. I had so much to accomplish that I had to take time to pray.”
 
A couple of weeks ago I wrote about the call for all of us to be kind.  Today, what comes to me, is the need to slow down and be compassionate. Our people are struggling, we are struggling. We can’t always fix it, but we can stop. We can listen. We can flex based on the unique needs of our teams. If we’ve not done this before, now definitely is the time to change it up. Never before have we needed it more.  And I’m going to start with being compassionate with myself.
 
See you in the trenches.
B
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  • Omicron continues its retreat in Minnesota: though cases in January set a new record, “it appears that we have peaked” – and break-through cases generally are mild. Case counts are still very high, at an average of 4,100/day last week. That against the daily average in mid-January of 13K cases/day.
 
  • KSTP/SurveyUSA poll: vaccine and testing mandates implemented by St. Paul and Minneapolis are clearly unpopular with most bar and restaurant owners. Apparently they aren’t very popular among many Minnesotans. Shocking to no one. That said, no clear majority can be found on this or any issue related to the pandemic: 48% disagree with the mandates, 46% agree with them.​
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  • Morning Consult’s February 2022 U.S. Economic Outlook: Omicron takes it toll. The variant took its toll on consumer confidence in January. Couple that with rapidly rising prices, we saw declines in sentiment, with fewer consumers viewing now as a good time to make a major purchase. On the positive side, omicron’s impact on confidence has been less severe than that of past COVID-19 waves, and it appears that the current case surge likely has peaked at the national level. Regarding employment, indicators show that the employment situation stabilized or even improved by late January. Taken together, the data argues that the worst of the employment impact of omicron is behind us. That said, in personal finances, financial vulnerability soared in January, with 29% of American adults unable to pay their bills for a full month using just their savings. Without government support, households will struggle to rebuild savings even after COVID-19 cases stabilize at lower levels.
 
  • Manufacturing: in Minnesota, Mpls Fed/DEED survey finds manufacturers expect a strong year ahead – provided they can find enough employees. I consider this sector an informal “6-month leading indicator” of what’s ahead, so this was good to read.  Enterprise Minnesota’s 2021 survey release will be April 5.  And the January Manufacturing PMI is at 57.60 for January – still indicating expansion, but a continuing gentle decline from 64.70 in March 2021.
 
  • Minneapolis Fed’s Kashkari: Inflation is a focus, but not a worry. The Fed walks a fine line as it tries to reduce inflation without starting a recession, Kashkari says.
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Public Safety:
  • Carjackings used to be so rare that police didn’t track them uniquely. That’s changed. Cities across the U.S. have reported carjacking spikes. In St. Paul, there were 55 carjackings reported in 2019, 73 in 2020, and 101 in 2021. Minneapolis numbers actually doubled in 2021. Meanwhile, 2,635 vehicles were reported stolen in St. Paul in 2021, and 2,774 in 2020. Most people involved are teens, and it’s not unusual for them to be too young to even have a driver’s license. Ramsey County is trying a new, “focused deterrence” approach.
  • In response to the officer involved shooting of Amir Locke on Feb 2, protesters marched, and Governor Walz has issued Executive Order 22-02 authorizing the Minnesota National Guard to provide public safety assistance during the ongoing federal civil rights trial. NG members will not assume posts at this time; instead, the MNNG will be able to deploy resources as necessary – intended to shorten the response time.​
  • St. Paul federal trial is continuing without incident. Saint Paul Police continues to provide information through a blog on the police department website which can be found at https://www.stpaul.gov/news.
 
Federal
  • Government funding: Lawmakers face a Feb. 18 deadline - one week from Friday - to pass legislation to avoid a government shutdown.  What we're watching: It's looking increasingly likely that appropriators will move forward with a short-term stopgap measure to keep the government open as talks on a broader deal continue. On top of government funding, the brinkmanship over a full-year measure has also delayed discussions of the Biden administration's planned request for another COVID-19 relief bill. 
  • Senate is deadlocked on the Build Back Better bill, the core of President Biden’s legislative agenda.
 
State:
  • Unemployment Trust Fund: Both the Senate (SF 2677) and House  (HF 2728) have introduced bills related to replenishing the unemployment trust fund, freezing the unemployment tax rate, assessment, and taxable wage bases; employer ratings; and appropriating money. Both houses have hearings scheduled on Feb 7 to review the respective bills. The legislature has until April to act before the new rates are applied to business owners.
  • Workers Comp: both the Senate and the House have passed legislation (HF 1203, SF1203) to extend workers comp protections for employees who contract COVID while on the job, the “COVID-19 presumption statute.” The Governor signed it into law on Friday.

Regional
  • St. Paul business owners learned last week that, effective today, Feb 7, a series of city fees are on the way up - during the mandate period. ​
 
Read more updates in our weekly Chamber Advocacy Update.​
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  • Fortune names Most Admired Companies in 2022: Target, 3M, Xcel Energy, Medtronic, Best Buy, Fastenal, General Mills, C.H. Robinson are tops among Minnesota companies. Ecolab, U.S. Bank, and UnitedHealth lead in their categories. Well deserved for all recognized companies. Read here for the full list.
 
  • Our biggest event of every year is our Annual Meeting. More crucial than ever today is cyber security, and we’ll be hearing about that this year from this country’s preeminent voice: Join us on February 17 at RiverCentre to hear from the Director of the NSA/Cyber Command, General Paul Nakasone.
 
  • Leadership Saint Paul’s 2022 class (best class ever?) kicks off in March.  If you looking to participate in this phenomenal leadership program and build a cohort of relationships to stay with you for the rest of your career, check it out! Applications can be submitted through the end of the month.  ​ ​
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  • Can we slow the Great Resignation? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the overall turnover rate for 2021 was 57.3%, with 25% being voluntary turnover. Across the U.S., over 4.4M people quit their jobs in September of 2021 alone. And employers are feeling the heat.  What are 3 tech considerations for creating a strong remote employee culture?
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  •  CEI is awarded $5M by JPMorgan to help firms owned by Black and Latina women grow their businesses. CEI hopes to help 60 businesses by 2025, including the establishment of an investment fund.
 
  • Emergency Broadband program transitions to the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) as of March 1, 2022.  ACP is an FCC benefit program intended to ensure that households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare, and more. For eligibility and enrollment, go to the FCC Consumer Information page (Link).
 
  • Twin Cities’ only Black-owned bank, First Independence, has opening date: Feb 22, at 3430 University Ave SE, in Minneapolis.
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  • MSP region’s Build Back Better application:  now that we are in Phase 2, GreaterMSP, consultants, and partners are building the application and further developing plans/funding for the 8 proposed projects. The goal is to ensure that proposals are both eligible for funding and compliant with federal rules. For more information on this project and and other ARPA/federal funding opportunities, check out the Federal Funding Hub!  
 
  • Michael Thao and Kou Vang of JB Vang partner on The Parkway, a 60-unit affordable apartment building on E 7th St in St. Paul.
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What’s ahead for Session?

2/1/2022

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The Minnesota Chamber's annual Session Priorities event was hosted on Monday night, and your Chamber public affairs team was happy to be back in person for this annual event. Special thanks go out to Board Chair Marcia Droege and Representative Keith Franke for joining our table. 

The program included a panel discussion with the four legislative leaders: House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt, Speaker Melissa Hortman, Senate Minority Leader Melisa Lopez Franzen, and Senate Majority Leader Jeremy Miller. The four leaders have some major and minor differences over policy (paid family leave, recreational marijuana, size of the bonding bill) but also seemed to agree on quite a few topics, including two that are top priorities for our Chamber: public safety and the need to refill the Unemployment Trust Fund without putting a tax increase on our member businesses. All four agreed that the UI issue should be fixed "soon." 

Governor Walz was interviewed by KSTP's Tom Hauser on a laundry list of topics. I found the Governor's remarks to be candid. When asked about looking back on the decisions he made in the first year of the pandemic, he defended the decisions, but also expressed regret for things that could have been done to support businesses.  “In retrospect, if we were asking businesses to close in the name of public health, we absolutely had the responsibility to make sure we try to offset some of that revenue loss. And we didn’t. That said, in Minnesota, we struck a pretty decent balance. Across the 50 states, MN ranked among the top 5 states in terms of mortality rates, hospital capacity, days in the classroom, and economic activity. We made our decisions based on the best knowledge we had at the time.”

All in all, I thought the discussion was positive, and there seem to be places for the legislature to work together. We'll see if that goodwill gets extended into the session. With every member of the legislature and the Governor on the ballot this year, the stakes are bound to be a lot higher. Your Chamber team will be engaged throughout the session, so if you have a question on an issue, feel free to reach out to me, Shannon or JP. 
​  
See you in the trenches.
B
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  • The CDC has begun to publish data on COVID outcomes among people who have received booster shots, and the numbers are striking. Vaccination without a booster provides a lot of protection. But a booster takes somebody to a different level. The data underscores both the power of COVID vaccines and their biggest weakness – namely, their gradual fading of effectiveness over time.
  • As the Omicron wave grew, Minnesotans adjusted quickly, kept going out. Businesses haven’t seen as much of a drop as in previous COVID-19 waves.
  • Earlier this month, the Supreme Court voted 6-3 to block the vaccine requirement, such that the Biden Administration scraps COVID vaccine mandate for large employers.
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  • Interesting Q&A with Tony Weick of Bell Bank on what 2022 might bring for interest rates, housing inventory, home construction, and more.
  • Morning Consult’s January Consumer Spending Report: household spending increased as incomes rose and financial situations improved.  
  • This week’s update from the Federal Funding Hub. Lots of city and county ARPA updates and resources in the past week. 
  • With 5.7% growth in 2021, the U.S. economy expanded at its fastest full-year rate since 1985, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Growth happened more rapidly at the end of the year, increasing at a 6.9% annual rate from Oct – Dec.
  • On Thursday, DEED launched the 2d round of Main Street Economic Revitalization Program funding. Request for proposals (RFPs) are being accepted; proposals are due by 4 p.m. on February 28, 2022.
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Public Safety:
  • Hennepin County judge released a defendant from custody who subsequently disappeared. Questions are being asked….
  • Three ex-cops’ trial in Floyd killing enters second week. Road closures continue and, thus far, two organized demonstrations. The prosecution appears to be slightly over halfway through its witness list. At this point, the anticipated timeline of 3-4 weeks of testimony is on track.
  • Here is where carjackings happened in St. Paul in 2021 – there were roughly 100 carjacking incidents in the capital city last year.
 
State:
  • Today is the start of the 2022 legislative session. Another year as the only divided state legislature in the country. Key this year will be big surplus and big stakes for the projected $7.7B budget surplus. To my way of thinking, of particular interest will be consideration of inflation – not reflected in the budget forecast. Inflation alone is expected to increase the cost of existing state programs by $1.1B over the next biennium.
  • For this session: what’s at stake, issue by issue.
 
Regional
  • Candidates line up for St. Paul legislative races in advance of precinct caucuses.
 
 Read more updates in our weekly Chamber Advocacy Update.​
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  • Our biggest event of every year is our Annual Meeting. More crucial than ever today is cyber security, and we’ll be hearing about that this year from this country’s preeminent voice: Join us on February 17 at RiverCentre to hear from the Director of the NSA/Cyber Command, General Paul Nakasone.
  • Leadership Saint Paul’s 2022 class (best class ever?) kicks off in March.  If you looking to participate in this phenomenal leadership program and build a cohort of relationships to stay with you for the rest of your career, check it out! Applications can be submitted through the end of the month.  ​
  • Delta is ranked #1 U.S. airline by Wall Street Journal. This during a year when the MSP airport served almost 70% more passengers in 2021 than 2020.
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  • What leadership qualities should you avoid – and questions to consider to maintain to help you think through each.
  • Looking for suggestions on pay, perks, and remote work in today’s red-hot labor market? KPMG’s US CEO has thoughts.
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  • New affordable apartments by Hmong developer, JB Vang, to open on St. Paul’s East Side. The Parkway Apartments at 1428 – 7th St E will include 60 units of deeply affordable and Section 8 eligible housing.
  • Just one example of how subcontractors have taken a hit during the pandemic – further amplifying the need to invest in our commitment to small and disadvantaged businesses.
  • Minnesota Housing has announced that its emergency rental assistance program is ending, as the state has nearly depleted the $518M received through 2 federal COVID-19 relief packages. Housing is a Foundation, not a commodity. The Twin Cities has the worst housing shortage in the country. Minnesota Housing Commissioner Jennifer Ho continues to advocate for more funding from the state legislature and federal government. There is not enough funding to keep up with the demand. “Speak up for housing developments proposed in your community. The private market is successful in creating market-rate and luxury apartments, but does not finance more affordable homes well because the deals do not [make sense financially]," says Ho.
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  • Post-COVID real estate strategies: demand continues as demonstrated by the University Crossing medical office and industrial bldg. in St. Paul’s Midway selling for $14.8M, about 18% more than the property traded for in 2019. This is a new high water mark for industrial tech assets. Ryan Co’s also is doubling down on industrial.
  • St. Paul commercial-industrial permits were up in 2021, thanks in large part to a flurry of construction in early 2021. In December of 2021, the month finished about 25% down from December of 2020.
  • Kaeding Development Group restarts construction on the downtown St. Paul 120-room hotel project destroyed by arson.
  • Met Council approves use of contingency funds and next steps to advance Metro Green Line Extension.
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