St. Paul, MN—State Representative Rep. Kristin Robbins, R-Maple Grove, hosted Steve Grove, the Commissioner of the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) in Rogers this morning as part of Workforce Development Month in Minnesota. The Commissioner made two stops in the district to learn more about the economic challenges and opportunities in our area.
During a meeting at Graco with business leaders and city officials from Rogers, Dayton and Maple Grove, Commissioner Grove participated in a round-table discussion about how the worker shortage is impacting businesses' ability to meet demand and grow. Commissioner Grove also asked about factors that influence business leaders' decisions to expand or start new ventures in Minnesota.
"It was an honor to host Commissioner Grove in our district this morning," stated Rep. Robbins. "The Commissioner came our community to learn about the opportunities and challenges facing employers and employees in our area. Business leaders and city officials had a robust discussion with Commissioner Grove about how the labor shortage, affordable housing, transportation challenges and taxes impact their ability to grow."
The Commissioner also highlighted two initiatives he is working on, including CareerForce and Launch MN, a new program which begins on October 1st to encourage entrepreneurship and technology start-ups throughout the state.
The second stop was at The Social, a co-working space in Rogers, which gives members access to workspace amenities that are not available at home or coffee shops, including high-speed internet, private meeting rooms and opportunities to collaborate. Commissioner Grove met with owner Mike Colosimo and members of The Social to learn more about the benefits of co-working and the unique needs of small employers or start-ups in exurban communities.
"Commissioner Grove is championing efforts to strengthen the innovation economy and we were delighted he could see first-hand all of the exciting opportunities in our area," noted Rep. Robbins. "DEED is often the first to learn about companies interested in expanding or starting up in Minnesota and we want to be on his radar as a destination for investment. I am proud to highlight our great business and city leaders, our hard-working, well-educated workforce, the concentration of talent and resources in our district, as well as the high quality of life in our district!"
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