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.
APEX Annual Meeting Highlights
Tuesday, February 23, 2021
Christopher Lloyd, Vice-Chair of the Site Selectors Guild and Sr. VP & Director, Infrastructure & Economic Development, McGuireWoods Consulting LLC
APEX hosted its Annual Board of Directors and Investor-Member Meeting, held virtually on January 28, 2021. APEX welcomed guest speaker Christopher Lloyd, Vice-Chair of the Site Selectors Guild and Sr. VP & Director, Infrastructure & Economic Development, McGuireWoods Consulting LLC. Lloyd shared insights into economic development from an experienced site selector’s perspective, paying close attention to the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and highlighting opportunities to position the APEX Region for success once business activity returns to a semblance of normal.
“Economic development is ...
APEX lends support to Line 3 replacement project
Monday, October 12, 2020
APEX will represent private industry’s perspective in support of the project’s potential to drive anticipated economic stimulus to the region.
The Area Partnership for Economic Expansion (APEX) has been named amicus curiae—a friend of the court—regarding the application of Enbridge Energy’s certificate of need and a routing permit for the proposed Line 3 replacement project.
“Communities in northern Minnesota are depending on Enbridge and the project, and APEX is in a unique position to take our support one step further by aiding the court proceedings,” explained Brian Hanson, APEX president and CEO. “We look forward to participating in the regulatory process and helping t...
Look inward to strengthen our forever-changed region
Thursday, September 10, 2020
Hang in there, Northland. The COVID-19 pandemic and recent civil unrest weren’t in anybody’s strategic plan for the year. Although we’re working through the survival mode we all adopted during the past few months, we’re not out of the woods yet. It’s time to think strategically about how the business community and our citizens can evolve to address equity issues and tackle the growing needs of customers, employees, business owners, and our economy.
The first step is accessing the resources available to support ongoing operations, provide safe work environments, and build toward long-term success. Emergency funding is available today in bot...
Celebrating the Long-Lasting Impact of Dr. Pat Johns, Outgoing Lake Superior College President
Monday, July 15, 2019
Economic development is all about people, and it truly begins with education. In northeast Minnesota, we are fortunate to be home to several of the state’s finest higher education institutions. The Area Partnership for Economic Expansion (APEX) has been proud to partner with Dr. Pat Johns, recently retired president of Lake Superior College (LSC), on many levels over the years, creating opportunities for students to gain real-world experience in the type of jobs that lend strength to our economy.
Dr. Johns led an impressive career in academia and always recognized the important role that higher education plays in the overall wellnes...
APEX Annual Meeting Highlights
Wednesday, February 26, 2020
Brian Hanson (APEX), Barbara Philibert (Industrial Technologies Group), Joel Larson (Barko Hydraulics), and Steve Burgess (National Bank of Commerce) at the APEX Annual Board Meeting.
APEX hosted our Annual Board of Directors and Investor-Member Meeting and Reception on January 30, 2020, at Pier B Resort in Duluth, MN. Barbara K. Philibert, President and Chief Executive Officer of Chicago, Illinois-based Industrial Technologies Group (ITG), joined us as the keynote speaker. She shared insights about how manufacturing will continue to transform with innovations in technology.
“The impact of manufacturing is critical to the U.S. economy and is a fundamental building block of rural communities,&rdquo...
APEX Welcomes Bailey Plemel as Operations Specialist
Monday, July 15, 2019
Duluth, MN: The Area Partnership for Economic Expansion (APEX) is pleased to welcome Bailey Plemel to the team as Operations Specialist. Plemel brings a strong background in customer service, having worked in insurance, regional retail, hospitality, news/media and restaurant industries.
“Bailey’s energy and passion for the region make her a great fit for APEX; we’re pleased to welcome her to the team,” said Brian Hanson, APEX President and CEO. “Her diverse experience, organizational skills and drive to learn will help her provide excellent service to APEX and our investor-members.”
The APEX Operations Specialist serves as the first point of contact for client...
APEX Annual Meeting Focuses on the Connection Between Industry and the Economy
Wednesday, January 16, 2019
Duluth, Minnesota: The Area Partnership for Economic Expansion (APEX) hosted their annual Board of Directors and member-investor meeting and reception on January 15, 2019 at the Kitchi Gammi Club. APEX was pleased to welcome Lourenco Goncalves, Chairman, President and CEO of Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc. (Cliffs) as the featured guest speaker. Goncalves shared insights and opportunities for clean steel manufacturing in Minnesota and discussed Cliffs’ leadership role in addressing climate change issues.
Cliffs has long been a global leader in iron ore pellet production, specializing in using ferrous scrap to create high-grade customized pellets that can be fed directly into blast furnaces. Thi...
APEX Insider Event Celebrates RSM’s 100 Years of Service
Thursday, September 27, 2018
Duluth, MN: Yesterday, RSM celebrated 100 years of serving the region with tax, audit and consulting services at the Area Partnership for Economic Expansion’s (APEX) Insider Event at their newly-renovated RSM office in Downtown Duluth on September 26, 2018.
“RSM’s long history of service has been critical to the success of many regional businesses. The RSM team helps drive investment every day by sharing their deep understanding of the accounting nuances facing mid-market businesses in the region,” explained Brian Hanson, APEX President and CEO. “The APEX Insider Event celebrated RSM’s investment in the the Duluth office, and highlights 100 years o...
Future Forest Stewards Invites High School Juniors and Seniors to North Star Expo
Tuesday, September 11, 2018
Grand Rapids, MN: Future Forest Stewards (FFS) is pleased invite high school juniors and seniors to learn more about careers in Minnesota’s forestry industry at the Minnesota Timber Producers Association’s 65th annual North Star Expo. The expo will be held on September 14-15, 2018, at the Itasca County Fairgrounds in Grand Rapids, Minnesota.
The expo will provide students first-hand opportunities to learn about the importance of the forestry industry in Minnesota and the wide variety of jobs that make Minnesota a strong timber and timber products producer. The industry includes career opportunities in logging, trucking, foresters, millwork, mechanics, research, manufacturing, forest products an...
APEX Hires New Operations Specialist
Tuesday, May 01, 2018
Duluth, MN: The Area Partnership for Economic Expansion (APEX) is pleased to welcome Janet Windus to the team in the newly created position of Operations Specialist. Windus comes to APEX with a wealth of experience in accounting and payroll services, customer service, and administrative functions. She joined the APEX team on April 11, 2018.
“We’re so pleased to have Janet as part of our team,” said Brian Hanson, APEX President and CEO. “Her 18+ years of professional office experience and organizational skills will help streamline our operations. She is already a great addition to APEX.”
As Operations Specialist, Windus is responsible fo...
APEX Annual Meeting Focuses on the Connection Between Water and Industry
Sunday, April 15, 2018
Duluth, Minnesota: On January 25, 2018, the Area Partnership for Economic Expansion (APEX) hosted their annual Board of Directors and investor-member meeting and reception at the Kitchi Gammi Club. The meeting featured guest speaker LaMarr Barnes, CEO of U.S. Water Services, Inc. (U.S. Water) speaking about the interconnection of water and industry in our region and the importance of understanding and managing water in a sustainable way.
Barnes shared valuable insight into the changing hydrological cycle, explaining the intricacies of the water/energy nexus throughout industries. Generating electrical power, agriculture, public water and industry are the largest water-using sectors in our econom...
APEX Investor Members Support ISD 709 Construction Technology Program
Friday, December 15, 2017
Duluth, Minnesota: The Area Partnership for Economic Expansion (APEX) and several APEX investor-members are pleased to support ISD 709’s Construction Technology program. The Boldt Company, APi Group, Inc., United Piping, Inc., The Jamar Company and Northland Constructors donated much-needed cold weather work gear and safety equipment to the Construction Technology program.
“When the district reached out to APEX, we were more than happy to get involved,” said Sandy Johnson, Manager, Member Relations and Administration at APEX. “Many APEX investor-members seized the opportunity to support the next generation of trades workers.”
This fall, students in the Construction Technology program have been working i...
APEX Debuts 360-Degree Virtual Reality Tour
Thursday, September 21, 2017
Duluth, MN: The Area Partnership for Economic Expansion (APEX) is pleased to announce the availability of a 360-degree virtual reality (VR) tour that provides prospective business partners and site selection consultants a full-immersion experience of the APEX region from anywhere in the world. The Place VR tour, created by Golden Shovel Agency, highlights existing industry and infrastructure and showcases the region’s high quality of life.
“It’s one thing to see images or video of our region. It’s quite another to be fully immersed in the Place VR tour,” said Brian Hanson, APEX President and CEO. “This innovative approach showcases many element...
Enbridge Line 3 Replacement Project to Support 8,600 Jobs in Northeast Minnesota: New Economic Impact Study from UMD's BBER
Monday, June 12, 2017
Duluth, MN: The Bureau of Business and Economic Research (BBER) at the University of Minnesota Duluth’s Labovitz School of Business and Economics recently released the results of the Enbridge Line 3 Pipeline Replacement Construction Economic Impact Study (EIS). The Area Partnership for Economic Expansion (APEX) requested this study be conducted to help stakeholders better understand the significant contribution this project will provide. The BBER concluded that the project will create approximately 8,600 jobs and will represent an investment of over $2.0 billion in the 15-county study area in the northern portion of the State of Minnesota.
“APEX supports the Enbridge Lin...
APEX Annual Meeting Highlights Economic Optimism for Region
Friday, April 07, 2017
Duluth, MN: On January 26, 2017, the Area Partnership for Economic Expansion (APEX) hosted their annual Board of Directors and investor-member meeting and reception at the Kitchi Gammi Club. Nearly 100 regional, public and private sector leaders were in attendance for the event and to hear guest speaker John R. Elmore, Vice Chair of Community Banking and Branch Delivery at U.S. Bank. Elmore shared his insight into recent economic shifts.
Elmore expressed optimism for economic development in the region of northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin. Equity markets and the treasury yield curve are trending upwards. Overall wages have been on th...
