The Regional Business Climate
APEX investor-members are focused on growth. Their successes and achievements have a positive impact on the region. Browse recent headlines to get a sense of how investor-members are impacting, and demonstrating their commitment, to the region.
ALLETE showed strong financial growth in 2019
Wednesday, February 26, 2020
ALLETE, Inc. (NYSE: ALE) reported earnings growth versus 2018 in its annual report, released Feb. 13.
Earnings in 2019 were $3.59 per share on net income of $185.6 million and operating revenue of $1.2 billion. Reported results from 2018 were $3.38 per share on net income of $174.1 million and operating revenue of $1.5 billion, the report said.
Net income in 2019 included a gain on the sale of U.S. Water Services of 26 cents per share, of which 4 cents per share was recognized in the fourth quarter of 2019 for the favorable settlement of a U.S. Water Services patent infringemen...
‘Record year of growth’ at Duluth’s Cirrus Aircraft
Tuesday, February 25, 2020
Sales at Cirrus Aircraft climbed last year, marking a record year of growth.
Cirrus’ production increased by nearly 5% last year, with a total 465 aircraft sold. And the Duluth-based company’s Vision Jet, which sold 81 units, became the world’s bestselling jet in the general aviation industry, according to a news release from the company.
The Duluth-based company’s 2019 growth made it the fifth consecutive year that its airplane shipments increased.
Cirrus' growth comes as the rest of the industry also saw increases in sales of nearly all aircraft categories, according to the General Aviation Manufacturers Association.
To read the full article please visit th...
Essentia purchases former Sears store at Duluth mall
Monday, February 24, 2020
Essentia Health purchased the former Sears store in Duluth's Miller Hill Mall.
It will allow the health care system to offer a "variety of services to its patients at a convenient location," but exact plans haven't been finalized, according to a news release.
"Malls across America are redefining themselves as retailers close their stores. Essentia Health sees an opportunity to contribute to the redevelopment and vibrancy of the Duluth mall," the release read.
It’s the second Miller Hill space Essentia has purchased. The Miller Hill Health Plaza opened in the fall, and more services will be added to its second floor, according to th...
Designs enhance student success
Friday, February 21, 2020
TKDA has been awarded a contract to design a new residence hall and expanded dining hall at the University of Minnesota Duluth. It’s the fourth housing/dining project the company (and its predecessor firms) have prepared for the UM system.
The 10-story residence hall will be constructed on the north end of Griggs Hall and will complement the eight-story Ianni Hall to the south. In the long term, new facilities eventually will replace ones that are growing old, but it’s not an overnight process. Food and housing operations at the UM are required to support themselves. They finance construction through public bonds tha...
Labovitz School of Business and Economics Maintains Prestigious AACSB Business Accreditation
Thursday, February 20, 2020
The Labovitz School of Business and Economics (LSBE) at the University of Minnesota Duluthhas been reaccredited by AACSB International—The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. LSBE, which was first accredited in 2000, has the distinction of being the only school in Northeastern Minnesota to have attained AACSB accreditation. Only 5% of business schools globally have earned AACSB accreditation.
AACSB is the longest-serving global accrediting body for business schools and the largest business education network connecting students, educators, and businesses worldwide.
Achieving accreditation is a multiyear rigorous process for the school in aligning all of its many components with AACSB’s high accreditation standards...
U of M Pioneer Hall design wins Grand Award
Wednesday, January 29, 2020
SAINT PAUL, Minn. — TKDA, an employee-owned provider of engineering, architecture and planning services, is pleased to announce that the University of Minnesota’s Pioneer Hall expansion and renovation project received a Grand Award at the recent American Council of Engineering Companies of Minnesota’s 53rd Engineering Excellence Awards banquet.
TKDA led engineering and architecture design services on the project, collaborating with KWK Architects of St. Louis, the project design architect. The team transformed the 90-year-old Georgian Revival-style residence hall in the university’s Superblock district into 18 vibrant student communities while preserving a significant amount of the historic building’s exterior. McGough Construction wa...
Real estate activity continues at full speed
Friday, January 24, 2020
Following about four years of healthy growth, 2019 has been another banner year for commercial real estate transactions in Northeastern Minnesota and Northwestern Wisconsin. Although this market doesn’t typically march in lockstep with national trends, our region has discovered plenty of its own catalysts for growth.
Two of the region’s prominent commercial real estate brokers share their thoughts on the factors encouraging growth in their unique industry: Dave Holappa – owner of Holappa Commercial Real Estate in Duluth, who specializes in the greater Duluth-Superior area with occasional transactions on the Iron Range – and Greg Follmer – owne...
Andy Reierson named CEO of RR46
Thursday, January 23, 2020
Andy Reierson has been promoted to CEO of RR46, a family of nine companies established to serve and solve the marketing communications needs of clients in the company's most important industries. Andy succeeds Roger Reierson who has served in the role since 1983. He will now oversee the management and operation. Roger will move to RR46 executive chairman.
Andy joined Flint Group, a business unit of RR46, in 2006. He was promoted to COO of RR46 in 2016. As COO he oversaw daily operations at the parent company level and built working partnerships with each business unit, president and leadership team...
LSC included in Walz bonding proposal
Wednesday, January 22, 2020
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz released a higher education bonding proposal for the 2020 Legislative session that includes nearly $1 million for predesign work on the Lake Superior Project.
The predesign funding would allow Lake Superior College to begin the process of planning to move its downtown manufacturing campus back to main campus in a newly remodeled, expanded and updated wing – a $12-14 million project.
To read the full article please visit Business North.
Wisconsin regulators approve Minnesota Power’s proposed natural gas power plant
Tuesday, January 21, 2020
Wisconsin’s Public Service Commission (PCSW) on Thursday approved the Nemadji Trail Energy Center to be built in Superior by Minnesota Power and Dairyland Power Cooperative.
Commissioners voted 2-1 to approve the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity that allows Minnesota Power and Dairyland to move forward with plans for the 525- to 625-megawatt combined-cycle natural gas power plant. The Sierra Club immediately criticized the decision, arguing natural gas is not a good replacement for coal.
As part of Wisconsin’s regulatory process, the project must still obtain approval for necessary permits from the city of Superior, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the U.S...
St. Luke's, YMCA establish new partnership
Monday, January 20, 2020
St. Luke’s celebrated a new partnership with the Duluth Area Family YMCA with a short presentation and ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday.
St. Luke’s opened a new physical therapy location in the YMCA’s downtown Duluth branch and also started sponsoring their drop-in care center. The care center is now known as St. Luke’s Kids Club. It gives kids the opportunity to have fun and stay active while their parents are working out.
To read the full article, please visit Business North.
Maurices President and CEO George Goldfarb Receives Minnesota Distinction
Friday, January 03, 2020
George Goldfarb, President and CEO of maurices, was an honoree at this year’s “TCB 100 People to Know,” an annual list of prominent and emerging business and community leaders to watch in the year ahead. The list is created by Twin Cities Business and appears in the December issue of the magazine.
Individuals selected for the TCB100, are chosen by TCB editors and correspondents for their thought leadership, influence and the likeliness that they will drive change in the year ahead.
Goldfarb and the other selected recipients were honored at a reception and networking event in Minneapolis on December 17, 2019.
Announcement originall...
ALLETE Clean Energy’s newest wind facility goes online
Tuesday, December 31, 2019
ALLETE Clean Energy announced its Glen Ullin Energy Center 40 miles west of Bismarck is now online and producing wind power for Xcel Energy customers in the Upper Midwest.
The center is a 106-megawatt wind facility that produces enough electricity to power about 55,650 homes from its forty-three General Electric turbines. It will employ about 10 people during operation.
Glen Ullin Energy Center is the third North Dakota wind expansion project developed and built by ALLETE Clean Energy, and the first it will own and operate. It also developed the 107.5-megawatt Thunder Spirit wind farm near Hettinger and sold it to Montana-Dakota Utilities in 2015. ALLETE Clea...
National Bank of Commerce announces completion of Republic Bank merger
Tuesday, December 31, 2019
The process began in early July, with NBC submitting a merger proposal to the Federal Reserve and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) for federal regulatory approval. Approval was granted on September 17 and officially closed on October 25. At that point, NBC began the process of converting Republic Bank’s accounts, branches and systems into theirs, all while keeping their customers and community informed of the progress. As of today (Dec. 9), the process is complete.
National Bank of Commerce now operates 12 local branches across northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin, including six former Republic Bank branches tha...
Enbridge, Minnesota unions sign labor agreement for Line 3 project
Thursday, December 12, 2019
ST. PAUL — Line 3 oil pipeline owner Enbridge on Tuesday, Dec. 3, inked a labor agreement that company officials estimate will create around 2,000 jobs for Minnesota trade workers.
The planned replacement of pipeline segments that run through the state is projected to require a construction workforce of about 4,200. With the agreement now in place, the entirety of that contingent will be backed by unions and around half of it will be made up of local laborers.
To read the full article please visit Duluth News Tribune.
Northland Foundation awards $90,000 in grants to 6 child care projects in the region
Tuesday, December 10, 2019
DEED funds support child care start-ups and expansions in Cohasset, Duluth, Eveleth, Grand Rapids, and Littlefork.
Northeast MN - An $85,000 Child Care Economic Development Grant from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), along with $5,000 from the Northland Foundation's grant funds, has been distributed as grant awards to five new child care entities and one expanding child care in northeastern Minnesota.
To read the full press release please visit Business North.
Pro-industry advocates alter public discourse
Tuesday, December 03, 2019
Critics were winning the public communication battle over two projects of vital importance to economic development in the state.
Supporters, however, of copper/nickel/precious metals production at the proposed PolyMet facility on the Iron Range and also of rebuilding an Enbridge oil pipeline, believed there was solid public enthusiasm for those ventures.
But opponents were good at emotionally and relentlessly saying the projects were not safe and would damage the environment. Their one-sided arguments, often based on questionable information, needed to be countered.
Jobs for Minnesotans was formed in 2012 to do just that. And the group has responded with gusto.
To read the ful...
Drilling by PolyMet reveals additional minerals
Monday, December 02, 2019
Poly Met Mining announced Tuesday that a drilling update has revealed its land holdings contain more minerals than previously revealed.
Mineral Resources statements from 2018 and 2019 indicate proven and probable reserves increased by 14 percent to 290 million tons while measured and indicated resources increased by 22 percent to 795 million tons.
To read the full article please visit Business North.
St. Scholastica alum opens school back home to better serve marginalized children in Tanzania
Wednesday, November 27, 2019
After graduating from the College of St. Scholastica with an undergraduate and a master's degree, both in education, Sister Gaudensia Mwanyika returned to her home country of Tanzania to open a school aimed at helping marginalized children succeed.
The idea to do so came to her during her seven years of living in Duluth. It was here that she noticed the ways in which schools can care for students with disabilities and give them the support they need to succeed.
"I went to other schools just to watch what the special ed. teachers do," said Mwanyika, who taught for four years i...
LSC Raises Awareness about Cybersecurity Careers
Tuesday, November 26, 2019
Lake Superior College held a workshop Friday to increase awareness about the many jobs available in the cybersecurity field.
The event was free and open to anyone. The U.S. Department of Defense sponsored the workshop which was led the LSC Computer Information Systems department.
CSI instructor Vickie McLain said, “Unfortunately, right now, there is a huge need for cyber security all over the world. And there’s no way that we can even catch up to the amount of people that we need.”
To read more and view the news coverage please visit WDIO.
Companies Show Superior High Students Manufacturing Careers
Thursday, November 21, 2019
SUPERIOR, Wis.- Five companies and Lake Superior College stopped by Superior High School to talk to students about manufacturing careers.
This, at a time when the industry is also dealing with an aging labor force.
Students stopped by each company’s table to learn about the different types of positions within those companies.
According to the school’s Transition Coordinator, many of these jobs students have never heard of before.
“A lot of students don’t even know what companies are in the area,” Shawna Anderson said. “They drive by and they may see the facility they may see the building but they don’t necessarily know wha...
Maurices reports sales increase last quarter, surpassing goals
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
Maurices reported a 7% increase in sales last quarter compared to the same quarter last year.
The sales and profits surpassed goals set for the three-month quarter that ended Nov. 2, according to a Maurices news release. The profits follow OpCapita LLP’s purchase of the Duluth-based clothing retailer earlier this year.
It also reported "solid gains" in margin, operating income and earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization.
To read the full article please visit Duluth News Tribune.
Maurices creating new IT positions to expand online presence
Friday, November 15, 2019
Maurices is looking to increase its online presence by creating several new information technology jobs.
The 20 new positions — a number that will likely grow — will all be based at the retailer's Duluth headquarters. Those who are interested in a data architecture, integration, project management, data analysis or operations job are invited to an open house on Wednesday from noon to 3 p.m. at 425 W. Superior St.
Online sales "is sort of the wave (of) the future and so much of our business is moving online," said Sue Ross, Maurices' senior vice president, chief of human resources and communication...
National Bank of Commerce teams up with Where’s Duke? and Project Joy to help kids this holiday season
Thursday, November 14, 2019
National Bank of Commerce (NBC), is the area’s largest, locally-owned, full-service community bank. It’s important for NBC to give back to the communities in which we serve. With the holidays upon us many are thinking of shopping for gifts, travel and time with family. For some, this isn’t the case as many children in our area don’t have sufficient food on the weekends.
Project Joy is a non-profit organization that provides healthy meals to kids on the weekends. The food is packed in backpacks and delivered to those in need on Fridays. The backpack contains two breakfasts, two snacks and tw...
In Duluth, New College Presidents are Old Friends
Wednesday, November 13, 2019
Duluth - After decades of crossing paths in Minnesota higher education, it may have seemed Patricia Rogers and Barbara McDonald were bound for different worlds when they took on their new roles here this year--McDonald as president of the private, four-year College of St. Scholastica and Rogers as president of two-year Lake Superior College.
Yet while it seems an unlikely partnership on paper, their futures are more intertwined than ever.
"Between the institutions, we could really do a lot together and really think about how to create that workforce for the future," McDonald said.
To read the full article please visit the Sta...
UMD’s Labovitz School of Business and Economics adds sales major
Tuesday, November 12, 2019
The business industry is calling for more graduates with specific professional sales experience, but less than 100 colleges in the U.S. have sales programs or courses, according to Harvard Business Review.
Therefore, to meet the growing industry need for professional sales graduates, UMD’s Labovitz School of Business and Economics has added a professional sales major to its quality educational offerings. LSBE is the only public university in Minnesota to offer a bachelor’s degree in professional sales.
To read the full article please visit Howie's Blog.
NBC/Republic Bank merger becomes official
Friday, November 08, 2019
The merger between National Bank of Commerce (NBC) and Republic Bank was approved by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Federal Reserve, and became official Friday. Both banks put their primary focus on commercial lending.
Natcom Bankshares, the Superior-based bank holding company that owns National Bank of Commerce, received federal permission to buy 49 percent of the voting shares of Republic Bancshares, Inc., which is the Duluth-based owner of Republic Bank, in December of 2017. The shares were acquired from Michael Paulucci, son of the late Jeno Paulucci, who founded Republic Bank.
To read the full article pleas...
PolyMet and Twin Metals say they’ll create thousands of jobs
Thursday, November 07, 2019
The promise of thousands of jobs from a boom in copper-nickel mining has won the new industry broad political support on the Iron Range. But where a rush in employment creates opportunity, it may also present a challenge.
The state is facing an escalating workforce shortage sparked by retiring baby boomers. There are more than 146,000 job vacancies in the state, including nearly 8,000 in northeast Minnesota, and industrial sectors of the economy such as manufacturing have not been spared from the labor crunch.
Workforce leaders and two companies that hope to build Minnesota’s first copper-nickel mines, PolyMet Mining and Twin Metal...
Duluth aircraft company Cirrus' new tech auto-lands the plane with the push of a button
Wednesday, November 06, 2019
Using new technology from Garmin, Cirrus' Vision Jets will turn into autonomous vehicles that land themselves — when passengers press one button. This makes Cirrus' jet one of the first general aircrafts with auto-land tech, according to a Wednesday news release from the company.
The dedicated button is located in the jet's cabin. When activated, the Safe Return tech takes control of the aircraft; analyzes terrain, weather and fuel levels; navigates to the nearest suitable airport for landing; communicates with its traffic control; lands; and then fully stops the aircraft — all without human help.
To read the full article please visi...
Northland Employer Spotlight: AAR Aircraft Services
Wednesday, November 06, 2019
Leading aviation services provider to commercial airlines and governments worldwide.
With a total global workforce of approximately 6,000 people around the world, Chicago-based AAR Aircraft Services operates service facilities in Illinois, Florida, Indiana, Michigan, Oklahoma — and Duluth, Minnesota.
The company has landed on the Forbes List of Best Midsize American Employers two years running, in part because they offer competitive pay and a full range of benefits including medical and dental insurance, company-paid holidays, generous time off, and more.
Furthermore, AAR invests in its employees’ professional growth, offering tuition reimbursement for continued education and certification, as well as employee mentorship programs. The company als...
Moose Lake's Mercy Hospital board votes to join Essentia
Tuesday, November 05, 2019
Mercy Hospital's board of directors voted Monday night to affiliate with Essentia Health, headquartered in Duluth. The hospital had issued a request for proposals earlier this fall, seeking a potential health partner to provide greater stability and bring improved resources to its operation in Moose Lake.
A release said that after examining the proposals it received in response, "Board members chose Essentia, citing its strongly aligned mission and values and Essentia's plan to grow primary- and specialty-care services in Moose Lake, along with hospital and emergency care."
To read the full article please visit the Duluth News Tribune.
Duluth port breaks record for wind turbine parts
Monday, November 04, 2019
Wind energy has already blown out a Duluth port record.
The sheer volume of wind turbine blades, towers and other parts moving through Duluth in 2019 surpassed record tonnage totals this week by reaching 306,000 freight tons.
"We have been watching with excitement as our wind cargo tonnage overtook our record 2008 tonnage," Duluth Seaway Port Authority Executive Director Deb DeLuca said. "This didn't happen by accident."
To read the full article please visit the Duluth News Tribune.
More passengers using Duluth International Airport
Monday, November 04, 2019
Passenger numbers grew by 15% in the second quarter of 2019 compared to 2018 at the Duluth International Airport, the Airport Authority announced.
This marks the second consecutive quarter of year-over-year growth this year, with passenger numbers growing by 5% in the first quarter of 2019 compared to 2018.
To read the full article please visit Business North.
LHB buys NREC in asset purchase
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
LHB, Inc. and Natural Resources Engineering Company (NREC) announced the asset purchase of NREC. The acquisition was to offer expanded services to pipeline, industrial and commercial clients, LHB said in an Oct. 15 news release The expanded firm will operate under the LHB brand.
NREC, founded in 1997, provides engineering and management services related to the transmission petroleum industry including regulatory compliance, pipeline and facilities construction, water resources, waste disposal, land development, and environmental compliance. Its services span from basic due diligence audits to multifaceted capacity expansion projects and comprehensive regulatory audits.
To read the full article please visit Business North.
Port's cargo handling hauls in award in Belgium
Monday, October 21, 2019
The port of Duluth hauled in worldwide acclaim on Tuesday.
Duluth Cargo Connect was selected 2019 Worldwide Port/Terminal Operator of the Year, in Antwerp, Belgium, by the publication "Heavy Lift and Project Forwarding International."
Duluth Cargo Connect beat out other finalist ports in places such as Denmark and Corpus Christi, Texas.
Jonathan Lamb and Deb DeLuca, leaders of their respective halves of Duluth Cargo Connect, and others from Duluth were scheduled to be in Belgium throughout the week, visiting existing clients and drumming up further business.
To read the full article please visit Duluth News Tribune.
Area developers expect medical expansion to spur business growth
Thursday, October 17, 2019
Essentia Health officials call the system’s $800 million Vision Northland expansion project, which formally got underway in September, Duluth’s largest-ever private investment. Coupled with medical neighbor St. Luke’s nearly $250 million phased campus redevelopment, which has also started, a more than $1 billion investment in health care facilities will transform Duluth’s eastern edge of downtown and the hillside into what is envisioned to be a flourishing, robust medical district.
This giant construction endeavor – set to be completed by the end of 2022 for Essentia and over the next five to seven years for St. Luke’s – has several area busines...
St. Scholastica to honor former president Bruce Stender
Wednesday, October 16, 2019
The College of St. Scholastica will host an event to rename one of its schools in honor of President Emeritus Dr. Bruce Stender and his family.
The college will celebrate the new name of the Stender School of Business and Technology at 4 p.m. Oct. 23 in the Mitchell Auditorium on campus. After a program in the auditorium, guests are invited to a reception, a plaque unveiling and tours of newly renovated SSBT classrooms on the third floor of Tower Hall.
To read the full article please visit Business North.
Lake Country Power dedicates Cohasset Service Center
Tuesday, October 15, 2019
Lake Country Power on Tuesday held a ribbon cutting ceremony at its Cohasset Service Center including guided tours. The event, open to co-op members and the public, took place at 26039 Bear Ridge Drive in Cohasset Industrial Park II, just off Highway 2.
Officials from Lake Country Power, HAWK Construction, Architectural Resources, Inc., and the City of Cohasset gave brief comments to mark the occasion.
To read the full article please visit Business North.
Lake Superior College to host Manufacturing Career Night
Tuesday, October 15, 2019
With strong demand in the Twin Ports for machinists, welders and computer-assisted designers in engineering, Lake Superior College will host a Manufacturing Career Night from 4:30-7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 23, at the school's downtown campus, 120 N. Second Ave. W.
To read more about this event please visit Duluth News Tribune.
Lakehead Constructors celebrates new Superior structure
Monday, October 14, 2019
Friends and associates of Lakehead Constructors Inc. on Thursday celebrated the completion of the company’s new $6.5 million facility in Superior.
On April 1, the 103-year-old firm broke ground on its new building, which is located in an industrial park at 3801 Winter Street. Work was completed in slightly less than five months, said Kirk Ilenda, the company’s director of business development.
To read the full article please visit Business North.
St. Luke's celebrates grand opening of Q Care Express Clinic at college
Friday, October 11, 2019
St. Luke’s on Sept. 27 celebrated the grand opening of a Q Care Express Clinic at Lake Superior College. Though on the LSC campus, it offers walk-in care for everyone.
“This is a great new option for students, and anyone who is in need of convenient access to health care,“ St. Luke’s President and CEO Kevin Nokels said. “We’re always looking for ways to better serve our community and collaborate with others to improve access to health care. We welcomed the opportunity to partner with Lake Superior College to bring medical services to their campus and look forward to working wit...
$16M student housing development near LSC moves ahead in Duluth
Thursday, October 10, 2019
Plans to build student housing next door to Lake Superior College took a step forward last week when the Duluth Economic Development Authority signed off on a proposed development agreement for a 100-unit apartment building.
LSC Flats LLC, an offshoot of Titanium Partners LLC, expects to invest at least $16 million in the building, which will offer two- to four-bedroom apartments for rent.
To read the full article please visit Duluth News Tribune.
Sertich Reappointed to Port Authority
Wednesday, October 09, 2019
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz recently reappointed Tony Sertich to a second six-year term on the Duluth Seaway Port Authority Board of Commissioners.
Sertich, who currently serves as vice president of the board, was originally appointed by Gov. Mark Dayton in 2013. His reappointment term expires in 2025.
To read the full article please visit Business North.
Cirrus Aircraft co-founder tells story of growth, landing in Duluth on new show
Tuesday, October 08, 2019
Dale Klapmeier, co-founder of Duluth-based Cirrus Aircraft, shares his story in a new 41-minute show dedicated to industry-changing entrepreneurs.
The second episode of a program called “Airtime” debuted on YouTube this week and in it, Klapmeier reflects on the evolution of Cirrus, a company he and his brother, Alan, launched from a barn in Baraboo, Wis.
To read the full article and view the video, please visit Duluth News Tribune.
