SAINT PAUL, MINN. – As Amazon announces the search for a second North American headquarters location, State Rep. Paul Thissen (DFL – Minneapolis) is calling on the State of Minnesota to immediately engage in an effort to make Minnesota that location. In particular, he requests that the legislative Jobs Committees convene soon to discuss whether Minnesota has the public policy tools it needs to prevail in securing the headquarters.
"Minnesota is extremely well positioned to compete for the new Amazon headquarters and thousands of accompanying jobs. We have the people with strong expertise in technology and other needed professional services – and with Amazon's potential acquisition of Whole Foods - people with deep knowledge from production to processing to distribution of food products," Rep. Thissen said. "And we have excellent sites for potential development including the St Paul Ford plant property or the Arden Hills armory site."
Rep. Thissen has long been involved in economic development efforts in the state. When he was Speaker of the House, Minnesota enacted a significant expansion of economic development tools to attract business and grow jobs. During that time, Minnesota grew 75,000 new jobs. He is also the Chief Author of the Minnesota Innovation Act aimed at moving Minnesota once again to the forefront of research and development and entrepreneurship in areas of technology and manufacturing.
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