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.
Record year for wind parts helps salvage port season in Duluth
Thursday, December 17, 2020
The season’s final foreign ship carrying wind energy parts to the port of Duluth-Superior came and went last week — and along with the Liberia-flagged BBC Swift went another record-setting campaign.
The Duluth Seaway Port Authority will announce this week that 525,000 freight tons of wind-energy components moved through its Clure Public Marine Terminal in 2020.
It’s the second straight year the port has set a wind-parts record — far eclipsing 2019’s mark of 306,000 freight tons.
“This year, it wasn’t really even a contest,” said Jonathan Lamb, president of Lake Superior Warehousing Co., which is charged with unloading the parts, which ar...
Enbridge Line 3 Replacement Project Receives Final Permit Allowing the Start of Construction
Tuesday, December 01, 2020
St. Paul, Minn. (November 30, 2020) – Today, after six years of rigorous and thorough scientific regulatory review, the Enbridge Line 3 Replacement project received the final permit clearing the path for construction to begin. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) issued the storm water permit representing the final step to full regulatory approval.
“Today is nothing short of a triumph for what we’ve been fighting for all along – a predictable, fair and thorough regulatory process in the state of Minnesota,” said Doug Loon, president of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce. “This is the right time with the right environmental protection...
Line 3 receives key MPCA approvals, remaining DNR permits
Tuesday, November 17, 2020
The Line 3 petroleum pipeline replacement project has received authorizations and approvals from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources are an important step towards construction, Enbridge said Thursday. MPCA decisions include the 401 Water Quality Certification, which clears the way for a determination from the US Army Corps of Engineers regarding federal permits.
The Line 3 project has been designed to minimize impacts to sensitive streams and wetlands, the company said in an afternoon announcement.
"As the Administrative Law Judge confirmed, Enbridge and the MPCA identified the best and most prudent crossing method for each stream...
Minnesota Power hopes to jump start solar program to hasten COVID economic recovery
Tuesday, November 17, 2020
Minnesota Power is asking regulators for an expedited review of its plans for a $40 million solar energy investment. The goal is to jump start the region’s economic recovery, which will further advance Minnesota Power’s EnergyForward strategy to create more carbon-free energy.
The investor-owned utility has asked the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission to consider acting quickly on its plans to construct approximately 20 megawatts of solar arrays. Minnesota Power also released additional details on all three solar projects that were announced in June after the MPUC asked utilities to evaluate projects they could speed up as a way to support the recovery of local economies. The thre...
St. Luke’s Mariner Medical Clinic adds 3D mammography in Superior
Thursday, October 29, 2020
St. Luke’s Mariner Medical Clinic held a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate being the first clinic in Superior to offer patients state-of-the-art 3D mammography technology.
The cutting-edge technology makes an important difference in early detection of breast cancer, St. Luke's said. A 3D mammogram is able to take 15 photos of each breast to provide a three-dimensional image, making abnormalities easier to identify earlier and treatment more successful. This also allows more-invasive breast cancers to be caught sooner. The increased number of pictures also means fewer callbacks for patients.
“Having a breast cancer diagnosis is scary and anything we can do t...
One of Minnesota's newest public companies making four acquisitions worth $300M
Wednesday, October 07, 2020
APi Group is making four acquisitions worth $300 million that will extend its reach in both the U.S. and Europe.
The largest purchase is the SK FireSafety Group, a Netherlands-based company that provides fire and life safety services to a variety of industries in northern Europe.
New Brighton-based APi Group provides safety, specialty and industrial services through 40 different businesses that have more than 200 locations, mostly in North America.
To read the full article please visit Star Tribune.
Wagner Zaun Architecture joins LHB Inc.
Tuesday, September 29, 2020
Wagner Zaun Architecture Inc. of Duluth is joining LHB, Inc. in a deal structured as an asset purchase designed to strengthen Wagner Zaun's services for a broad range of customers.
Specializing in commercial interior buildouts including office space, restaurants, breweries and custom single-family homes, Wagner Zaun says its talented professionals will add a wider breadth of expertise as they are integrated into LHB’s multi-disciplinary team.
Visit Business North to read the full article.
Lake Superior College ranked among the best LPN programs in Minnesota
Monday, September 21, 2020
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects nearly 11% employment growth for licensed practical nurses (LPNs) through the year 2028. To assist students who may be interested in attending an accredited LPN program, practicalnursing.org reviewed twenty-six accredited programs throughout the state. Based on their LPN Programs Ranking Methodology, Lake Superior College received a score of 92.85 making it the 8th best program in the state. The rankings are based on a number of factors including accreditation, admissions requirements, tuition and costs, and NCLEX-PN exam results. The NCLEX-PN is the exam that all prospective LPNs must take and pass to officially gain licensure.
The summary of th...
Kraus-Anderson completes Bear Country Exhibit at Lake Superior Zoo
Thursday, September 17, 2020
The Duluth office of Kraus-Anderson has completed the Bear Country Exhibit at the Lake Superior Zoo in Duluth. The project renovated both the Black Bear and Brown Bear Exhibits.
The $3.8 million exhibit includes renovations of the existing bear den holding areas, adjacent exhibit areas and existing holding building.
Designed by DSGW Architects, the completed exhibit now open, renovated of the former exhibit that was built in the 1930s and was closed for more than 10 years.
The Brown Bear Exhibit, designed by HGA Architects, renovated the former Polar Shores Exhibit that was closed following the 2012 flood. The Brown Bear Exhibit includes rive...
Sky Harbor runway project complete
Tuesday, September 15, 2020
The Duluth Airport Authority (DAA) celebrated the conclusion of the Sky Harbor Airport runway realignment and environmental mitigation project with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday.
Located on Park Point between Lake Superior and the Duluth Harbor, the Sky Harbor Airport features a paved runway and two water runways, accommodating amphibious, float and wheeled aircraft. Known as “The People’s Airport,” Sky Harbor is a public general aviation airport popular with local recreational fliers and visitors to the area.
To read the full article please visit Business North.
Super Lawyers recognized at Hanft Fride
Wednesday, September 09, 2020
Hanft Fride announces the recognition of attorneys Charles “Huck” Andresen, Jake Baker, Bill Burns, Jennifer Carey, John Kelly and Cheryl Prince, who have been named to the Minnesota Super Lawyers list for 2020. Attorney Scott Witty was named to the 2020 Minnesota Rising Stars list.
“Hanft Fride is honored and proud of our seven attorneys who have received this peer recognition,” said Jennifer Carey, President of the law firm. “It is a privilege to work with this great group of attorneys who share a strong commitment to the practice of law, our clients and to our community.”
To read the full article please visit Busines...
Court sides with PolyMet on water permit
Tuesday, September 08, 2020
Judge John H. Guthmann rejected the allegations that MPCA engaged in a systematic effort to keep evidence out of the administrative record. Those allegations were made by the plaintiffs, which include Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, WaterLegacy, Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, Center for Biological Diversity and Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness. The court observed that the process for PolyMet’s permit involved “significantly more interaction between the EPA and the MPCA than with the usual NPDES permit,” PolyMet said in a news release.
The court determined that “[a]t no time did the MPCA try to discourage or preven...
St. Luke's celebrates expanded emergency department, cardiac cath labs
Tuesday, September 01, 2020
St. Luke’s unveiled its new emergency department, cath lab and cardiac space Thursday, all located just east of the main hospital building in Duluth.
Planned for two years and under construction for 17 months, the $37.5 million project triples the current amount of emergency treatment space.
“These rooms can take care of any patient,” said Dr. Nick VanDeelen, chief medical officer. “They will allow emergency docs to take care to the next level.”
To read the full article please visit Business North.
Local View: Rep. McCollum dividing northern Minnesota, threatening job creation
Thursday, August 20, 2020
Once again, a Twin Cities politician wants to call the shots for Greater Minnesota, this time by halting economic recovery and job growth in northern communities already ravaged as a result of COVID-19.
Congresswoman Betty McCollum of St. Paul buried language in the 176-page Fiscal Year 2021 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Spending Bill — that she “proudly authored,” as she said on the House floor — to halt any federal reviews of mine plans in the Rainy River Watershed in the Superior National Forest (“Bill would halt federal review of mine plans in Superior National Forest,” July 19).
McCollum also state...
Jobs for Minnesotans Statement on Minnesota Department of Commerce Line 3 Appeal Decision
Wednesday, August 19, 2020
St. Paul, Minn. (August 18, 2020) – Jobs for Minnesotans released the following statement in response to the Minnesota Department of Commerce (MDOC) decision to appeal the Line 3 Replacement Project Certificate of Need issued by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MPUC). The MDOC announced it will file the appeal on Wednesday, August 19:
“Jobs for Minnesotans is deeply disappointed by the MDOC’s decision to appeal the Line 3 Replacement Project’s Certificate of Need issued by the MPUC, an agency within the same governing administration. We firmly stand behind the dedicated MPUC Commissioners who have approved the Certificate of Need time after tim...
Northland Foundation awards $885,000 in grants
Wednesday, August 05, 2020
The Northland Foundation awarded 140 grants totaling $885,000 from April through June to nonprofit organizations, school districts, and Tribal Nations to help support programming aligned with Northland’s strategic focus areas.
All but a dozen grants were made in response to the health and economic crisis created by the COVID-19 pandemic. In the last quarter $123,000 in grants were awarded to help sustain child care during the pandemic. The majority of grant dollars – $673,000 – were made in support of basic needs such as food access, shelter, and safety for those most impacted by the COVID crisis. Numerous awards target foo...
Hodnik joins Minnesota Business Hall of Fame
Tuesday, August 04, 2020
Al Hodnik, ALLETE (NYSE:ALE) executive chairman and former president and CEO, is among this year’s inductees to the Minnesota Business Hall of Fame.
Each year the magazine honors five influential business leaders in Minnesota, recognizing them for their leadership and accomplishments in their respective industries, as well as their contributions to the business community. Hodnik joins more than 100 leaders inducted during the past 21 years.
Bethany Owen, who succeeded Hodnik as ALLETE president and CEO, said Hodnik’s leadership and vision have played a key role in the company’s success.
“As a company and as individuals, we have all benefited tremendously from Al’s passion for people...
Attorneys at Fryberger Law Firm Named Minnesota Super Lawyers
Friday, July 31, 2020
Fryberger, Buchanan, Smith & Frederick, P.A. is proud to announce seven attorneys: Stephanie A. Ball, Robert R. Kanuit, Paul B. Kilgore, Paul A. Loraas, Daniel D. Maddy and James H. Stewart were named 2020 Minnesota Super Lawyers. Only 5% of Minnesota lawyers are awarded this honor each year.
To read about each of the recipients please visit Duluth News Tribune.