APEX News and Events

Tuesday, April 18, 2023

Business Retention & Expansion (BR&E) Hello APEX Members, APEX understands the importance of retaining and growing existing businesses–nearly 80% of job growth results from local business expansion. Studies from across the country continuously highlight the importance of supporting existing local businesses in addition to attracting new businesses to the area. With this knowledge, APEX collaborates with local, regional, and state partners, like Grow Minnesota!, to maintain a strong Business Retention and Expansion (BR&E) Program. Grow Minnesota! has had a legacy of retaining and growing Minnesota businesses. Through key partnerships with more than 90 local chambers...

APEX Annual Meeting Focuses on Developing the Next Generation of Regional Leaders, Announces 2023 APEX Executive Committee

Friday, March 03, 2023

Duluth, Minnesota: The Area Partnership for Economic Expansion (APEX) hosted its Annual Board of Directors and Investor-Member Meeting and Reception on January 30, 2023, at Pier B Resort Hotel in Duluth, MN and virtually via Zoom. APEX welcomed keynote speaker Russ Becker, President and Chief Executive Officer of APi Group (APi), a global, market-leading business services provider of life safety, security, and specialty services. Becker shared insights on APi’s growth from a single plumbing company in St. Paul to the leading global safety and specialty services company operating in over 20 countries with ~26,000 team members. He also discussed...

Cirrus Housing Support

Tuesday, January 31, 2023

In October, APEX, Cirrus Aircraft, and the Duluth Airport Authority coordinated a targeted housing development initiative based on the housing demand of Cirrus’ current and prospective workforce. With Cirrus’ recent acquisition of the former AAR facility and the announcement of its impending conversion to an innovation center, Cirrus shared a hiring plan to recruit approximately 160 new employees to the Twin Ports. Cirrus reached out to APEX to help identify housing solutions. To help us understand our region’s developable potential, we hosted a series of events to explore what housing solutions are offered in our community. In...

Matt’s Corner

Tuesday, January 31, 2023

Welcome to Matt’s Corner, where our Senior Business Developer, Matt Shermoen, dives deep into some of the more complex questions of economic development. Business and economic development is a critical component that drives economic growth, creates new job opportunities and improves the quality of place and life. It increases access to opportunities created by economic growth for existing and future businesses and residents. What does it cost to do business in Minnesota? There are many reports and articles written and commissioned every year to break down the business cost and friendliness of each...

Middle of the Rez Road Podcast

Tuesday, January 31, 2023

On November 25, 2022, Rachel Johnson, APEX President and CEO, and Ian Vincent, APEX Director of Business Development, joined Ricky Reilly, host of the Middle of the REZ Road podcast, to have a great conversation about opportunities for the Native American community to get involved with responsible industrial projects around the region. Ricky allowed Rachel and Ian to turn the tables and he sat in the interviewee's seat for this episode. After connecting on a shared appreciation for great food and the importance of family, the group explored how participating in projects like Line 3 or a nonferrous...

APEX Board & Investor-Member Meeting Highlights

Wednesday, November 23, 2022

APEX hosted its bi-monthly Board and Investor-Member meeting on Thursday, November 3, 2022, at Pier B and virtually via Zoom. Chair Lisa Bodine welcomed all investor-members and prospective investor-members and introduced keynote speaker Ryan Flom from the Softwood Lumber Board (SLB). After approving minutes and financials from September by the Board, Flom presented on The State of Mass Timber: Opportunities and Building Types to Spur Growth. The SLB believes the next building revolution will involve wood. To spur interest, the SLB’s outreach includes funding for initiatives such as WoodWorks, the American Wood Council, Think Wood and the...

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...

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...

APEX Annual Meeting Keynote Featured Cleveland Cliffs’ President and CEO

Thursday, March 21, 2019

On January 15, APEX hosted the organization’s Annual Meeting at the Kitchi Gammi Club. The crux of the meeting centered around the important connection between industry and the Duluth economy. 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 and how Minnesota plays an important role in this effort, both nationally and globally. Left to Right: Brian Hanson with APEX, Brian Maki with Lakehead Constructors, Inc., Lourenco Goncalves, Chairman, President and CEO of Cleveland-Cliffs,...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

APEX Annual Meeting Focuses on the Connection Between Water and Industry

Sunday, April 15, 2018

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...

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...

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...

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...

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