Progress Will Require More

Gearing up for the State Fair this week? Me too - Sweet Martha’s remains a non-negotiable stop.  
 
Last week we held our inaugural Compete event, together with Greater MSP and the Minneapolis Regional Chamber. It was a full house and a powerful reminder of where we stand – and where we need to go. As the Star Tribune summarized, the latest MSP Regional Indicators Dashboard shows our region lagging our peers in job and economic growth. In the words of event speaker Shawntera Hardy: “This is our moment. The economy isn’t only something that matters to business. It matters to everyone.”

Look at the Dashboard – it’s both a wake-up call and a rallying point. MSP Regional Indicators Dashboard. Keep the conversation going—join a free, virtual deep dive into the data on Tuesday, August 26 at noon. Register here for The MSP Regional Indicators Dashboard over 10 years: Insights on our region's economy.
 
So, the question becomes: How do we think and lead differently? Progress will require more partners, more optimism — and real urgency. Growth is uncomfortable. It should be. That’s how we know we’re moving.
 
Quick Updates
➡ Saint Paul Mayor Carter has postponed his 2026 budget proposal to sometime in September.
➡ Minneapolis Mayor Frey’s 2026 Budget Proposal

• $2B proposed budget
• 7.8% levy increase
• Priorities: core services, housing, public safety, workforce, climate/public health, inclusive growth, and downtown vitality.
  
  ➡ Consumer Spending Trends (Morning Consult)
• Confidence is slipping, and inflation is reshaping behavior.
• Consumers are abandoning “brand insistence” in:
  • Groceries/restaurants (43%)
  • Clothing/accessories (39%)
  • Personal care (31%)
  • Electronics/wellness/home improvement (20%)
    
    ➡ City of Saint Paul Cyber Update
• National Guard Cyber Protection Team has completed its 17-day mission.
• City now shifting from crisis response to restoration and recovery.
• Services will begin reactivating in in the days and weeks ahead. Be patient!
   

See you in the trenches,
B

Chamber Check-in 8/19/25