Dear Neighbors,
This weekend we celebrate Maple Grove Days! After kicking off earlier this week, this event goes through Sunday. It’s a great time to spend with family and friends to celebrate our city! A summary of the schedule can be found here.
STEM Education
A highlight for me this week was visiting Aspen Research to learn more about the Minnesota High Tech Association SciTechsperience. This innovative program matches college students majoring in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields with paid internships at local companies. The initiative receives funding from a bill I supported that was passed into law this year. It was rewarding to see a bill idea become funding to benefit students and small businesses.
It’s really a win-win as our students gain valuable experience, while our small businesses receive the assistance of talented, motivated students. Thank you to the folks at Aspen Research in Maple Grove for the tour of their facility, and for taking part in this mentorship program.
To further grow our economy, it’s important to invest in STEM education and job training. These are expanding fields of work and study, and we must continue to assist our students by providing critical experience in the workplace.
Acucraft Visit
This week I was thrilled to visit local manufacturer Acucraft Fireplace Systems, a national leader in premier fireplaces and fireplace technology. It was interesting to hear about how their innovative approaches help the company grow and expand.
It was also encouraging to see the immediate impact smart fiscal policy has on our local businesses. This year, I authored and passed legislation to ease the unemployment insurance tax burden on small businesses by $258 million. At the start of the third quarter, these businesses are beginning to see the results, helping to spur even greater growth.
Please Contact Me
While we are out of session, I’m still interested in hearing your thoughts and opinions. Please continue to contact me via email or call me – your feedback is important. It is my honor to represent our community at the Capitol. I can be reached via email at Rep.Dennis.Smith@house.mn, by phone at 651-296-5502, and US mail address: 13570 Grove Drive, #370, Maple Grove, MN, 55311.
Have a great weekend and have a great Maple Grove Days!
Dennis
P.S. Please encourage your neighbors and friends to sign up for my email updates here.