Friends and Neighbors,
Good Luck, Osseo!
Tonight represents a HUGE moment for our area. As you know, the Osseo football team is playing in the 6A State Championship game! The Orioles have put together an amazing season and could end the year as state champs! Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. at TCF Bank Stadium against East Ridge. I hope you’ll be there to cheer on our team as they battle for the title!
Also, congratulations to the Maple Grove football team for making it to the state semi-finals last week. Way to go, Crimson!
Around Town
Recently, I joined the Enrollment and Capacity Task Force of Osseo School District 279 to discuss issues in our local schools. Our community continues to grow which creates challenges for the schools and their enrollment. It was a great experience to see how the district works through the population change we are experiencing in Osseo and Maple Grove.
I had the pleasure of touring the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s office in Minneapolis. This is a unique facility where Hennepin County works alongside Dakota and Scott Counties in the same office. I was struck by the efficiency of these three counties consolidating into one office to cut some of the bureaucratic mess that ensues with too many governmental organizations. This is an example of why I wanted to run for public office: we need to work to make government more streamlined. Rather than growing government every chance we get, it’s important to look for increased efficiency. I will continue to look for ways to help our government become more effective and efficient to better assist our citizens.
Workforce Gap
Today, I attended the Twin West Chamber of Commerce meeting to discuss a variety of business-related issues in our area. One of the main topics of discussion revolved around businesses facing a shortage of skilled workers for many available jobs. Around our state, especially in Greater Minnesota, companies have open positions, but have a difficult time filling them because there aren’t enough workers with the needed skills or experience. A four-year college degree isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer for many students after high school. I believe that we need to offer education programs for our high school students who wish to learn a skill or trade in order to train them for good-paying, stable jobs after graduation.
If you are a business owner, tradesman, or young person who recently graduated from high school or college, I’d appreciate hearing your suggestions or ideas on ways we can help close this workforce gap in our state. Good-paying jobs are available; we just need to empower folks with the skills necessary to perform skilled labor.
If you have a suggestion about this or any other issue, please do not hesitate to contact my office via email at Rep.Dennis.Smith@house.mn, by phone at (651) 296-5502 or US mail at 13570 Grove Drive, #370, Maple Grove, MN, 55311.
Again, good luck to the Orioles tonight against East Ridge; bring home a state title!
Have a fantastic weekend and go Osseo!
Dennis