News

Essentia Health’s Vision Northland project stimulating local economy

Thursday, April 08, 2021

Increasingly larger crews are working on Essentia Health’s Vision Northland project as construction accelerates both on the exterior and interior. The $900 million project, which is on schedule and about 30% complete, will build a state-of-the-art replacement for St. Mary’s Medical Center while providing thousands of good-paying jobs. Essentia has collaborated with its construction manager, McGough Construction, and the Duluth Building and Construction Trades Council to maximize the local impact of those jobs, as well as bring new people into the construction trades. “Essentia Health is grateful for all the workers of the trades who are helping to make our vision o...

NRRI receives $2 million dollar grant to help advance iron ore pellets

Thursday, April 01, 2021

UMD's Natural Resources Research Institute has received a $2.1 million dollar grant to help move the mining industry forward. The money is coming from the U.S. Department of Energy. Researchers will be looking for ways to enhance iron ore pellet chemistry, to make them usable for the DRI (direct reduced iron) process. UMD's NRRI gets a $2 million dollar grant to help develop higher iron content pellet technology for the mines. UMD's NRRI Don Fosnacht, NRRI's Associate Director, said, "Different mines on the Iron Range have different capabilities for making direct reduced grade pellets. This will assist Minnesota mines to produce pellets for direct reduced iron...

St. Luke's opens Spine Center offering comprehensive treatment

Thursday, April 01, 2021

St. Luke’s is excited to announce the opening of its comprehensive Spine Center. St. Luke’s Spine Center is the first of its kind in the Northland. The Spine Center is an integrated program that collaboratively treats all spinal issues, ranging from the common to complex, by bringing together experts who can provide the best possible care. The Spine Center offers treatment for all spine conditions including minimally invasive spine surgery, spinal fusion surgery, interventional pain management treatment, spine total disc replacement, back and neck injury evaluation and management, spine decompression surgery, dedicated physiatry programs, treatment of spine trauma conditions, scoliosis and deformit...

Essentia Health wins national quality excellence award

Tuesday, March 16, 2021

Essentia Health has won a national quality excellence award for its work reaching patients who need help with things that can affect their overall health, such as a lack of housing or food. The National Association of Accountable Care Organizations gave Essentia the Leaders in Quality Excellence Award for “outstanding efforts among ACOs working to improve the quality and safety of patient care and advance population health goals.” Essentia’s project submission was “Connected Communities: addressing social determinants of health and health inequities through partnership and technology.” The need is great — the food-insecurity rate in the neighborhoods surrounding Essentia’s downtown Duluth headquarters...

Prettner Solon reappointed to Port Authority Board of Commissioners

Tuesday, March 16, 2021

By Jayson Hron Minnesota Governor Tim Walz this week reappointed Yvonne Prettner Solon (pictured) to a third term on the Duluth Seaway Port Authority Board of Commissioners. Prettner Solon served previously on the board as a Duluth City Council appointee from 1990-1994, including a term as board president in 1993. She later became Minnesota’s 47th lieutenant governor, serving in that capacity from 2010-2014, before being appointed by former Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton to a second term on the Port Authority board in 2015. Prettner Solon’s most recent appointment extends through January 2027. Raised in Duluth, Prettner Solon graduated from the University of Minnesota Duluth and embarked first on a career i...

Altec partners with Lake Superior College to bring new welding opportunities to women

Thursday, March 11, 2021

Altec, a local manufacturer of electric utility equipment, is partnering with Lake Superior College to offer free welding education to individuals in the Duluth area. The program, Fired Up About Welding, just completed its fourth year. While there is a class open to men, this program gives women a unique opportunity, as welding is traditionally seen as a trade for men. Lyndsay Barrett, the program's founder and a fabrication supervisor at Altec, started the program after attending welding classes at Lake Superior 10 years ago. As the only woman in the class, Lyndsay felt like she was alone in her efforts to become ...

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 ...

Lake Superior College President Receives Award

Tuesday, February 23, 2021

Lake Superior College president Dr. Patricia Rogers (pictured) has been selected to receive a 2021 Paragon President Award from the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society. The award recognizes new college presidents for their outstanding support of student success. Phi Theta Kappa will recognize 22 college presidents with the Paragon Award during their annual convention, the PTK Catalyst 2021, broadcast live from Orlando, Florida, April 8-10. Awards are given to new college presidents who have shown strong support of student success by recognizing academic achievement, leadership, and service among high-achieving students at their college. Recipients were nominated for the award by the students o...

Maurices President Goldfarb Announces Retirement

Tuesday, February 23, 2021

George Goldfarb has been with the company for 36 years and has been president and CEO for 10 years. David Kornberg will succeed Goldfarb in the role. George Goldfarb, president and chief executive officer of Maurices, announced his retirement Tuesday, and has accepted the role of chairman emeritus for the Duluth-based clothing company. “It’s been such an honor to lead Maurices," Goldfarb said. "It is an unbelievable brand, with a winning track record, even during a global pandemic. I attribute that success to our seasoned leadership team and talented associates. David’s experience will enable continued success for the brand and his authenti...

Ronald McDonald House Northland

Tuesday, February 23, 2021

The staff of the Ronald McDonald House Northland in Duluth is ready to welcome the first families in need into its care. The space officially opened Wednesday with the capacity to host up to five families at a time. “We’re ready to go and we’re eager to serve as soon as there’s that need,” said program manager Tara Gallagher. The Ronald McDonald House is on the fourth floor of 503 E. Third St., next to the Essentia Health-St. Mary’s Medical Center. Families who stay there are given access to a private bedroom and bathroom, free laundry facilities, a full kitchen and loung...

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...

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...

St. Luke’s Showcases New Emergency Department and Cath Labs

Monday, August 31, 2020

On Wednesday, August 12, the Area Partnership for Economic Expansion (APEX) was pleased to co-host their most recent Insider Event at St. Luke’s. The event featured St. Luke’s new state-of-the-art emergency department set to open this fall along with their new Cath Labs. They were honored to have had the opportunity to allow APEX investor-members a sneak peek of this newly developed section of the hospital prior to its opening to the general public. “St. Luke’s has always offered premier care throughout our region and the expansion of their emergency department is a testament to their growth and success,” explained Bria...

APEX May Board & Investor-Member Meeting Recap

Wednesday, July 01, 2020

At the May 7, 2020, APEX Board and Investor-Member meeting, Kevin Nokels, President & CEO of St. Luke’s, shared how the healthcare system has taken steps to prepare for the pandemic. The system consists of the hospital in Duluth, wholly owned Lake View Hospital in Two Harbors, and a management contract with North Shore Health in Grand Marais. Nokels’ presentation started with the historical connection between St. Luke’s and previous epidemics and pandemics. St. Luke’s was founded in 1881 by the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church as the first hospital in Duluth during the height of the typhoid epidemic. By 1918, th...

Check Out the APEX Business Continuity Website

Wednesday, July 01, 2020

As the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic continue, the APEX Business Continuity Website remains a reliable resource and place of support to business owners facing challenges to operations. The content highlights efforts to make strategic, deliberate changes to protect employees and ensure business continuity during these uncertain times in an effort to promote growth and retention to our existing regional businesses. APEX believes it is essential to remain as connected as possible, especially during difficult times. That’s why our business continuity webpages are intended to share important information for investor-members and other business leaders who are seeking support to help thei...

APEX Launches Business Continuity

Wednesday, April 29, 2020

APEX recently added new web content dedicated to providing direct resources and support to business owners facing challenges to operations amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The new content focuses on making strategic, deliberate changes to protect employees and ensure business continuity during these uncertain times. “As we watched the world transform in response to COVID-19, we also witnessed APEX investor- members making smart, strategic decisions to keep their teams and their clients safe, while maintaining operations,” explained Brian Hanson, APEX President and CEO. “In times like these, when physical separation is necessary for the health of the entire world, it is essentia...

COVID-19 Business Impact Survey

Wednesday, April 29, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic is having a profound impact on global, national, state, and local business, and the landscape is changing almost daily. In March, APEX surveyed our local business owners to gain a better understanding of impacts seen around the region. Our intent is to use the information we glean to inform local and state elected officials, government agencies, and others of the economic and human impact of the COVID-19 virus to our region. This survey is part of a national effort by local economic development organizations and chambers of commerce. It will be conducted several times as things are changin...

March Board & Investor-Member Meeting Highlights

Wednesday, April 29, 2020

On March 5, 2020, David Ulrich, Communications Consultant for Twin Metals Minnesota LLC, provided an update on the Twin Metals Minnesota (TMM) Project. The company shared details with APEX investor-members on the intent to develop and operate an economically sustainable 21st century underground mining project on Minnesota’s Iron Range. TMM, with an office and core storage in Ely and an office in St. Paul, plans to mine strategic minerals including copper, nickel, cobalt, and platinum group metals. Steve Burgess (National Bank of Commerce), David Ulrich (Twin Metals Minnesota LLC.), Brian Hanson (APEX) Ulrich discussed details of the project located within the Superio...

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...

Roberts to retire after 45-year career with A&L Properties, Chinese Lantern and Northland Country Club

Thursday, April 08, 2021

Taking Positive Steps to End the Northland’s Childcare Crisis

Tuesday, February 23, 2021

Long before the coronavirus pandemic shook the world, parents across the northland struggled to find high-quality childcare. Then, as parents juggled remote working and distance learning, the absolute necessity of childcare became even more urgent than we could have imagined just a year ago. In short, it has become abundantly clear that our economy depends on reliable childcare and our current availability is sorely lacking. Not only are our communities short on available childcare slots, but the financial and regulatory burdens to develop new childcare centers have created severe barriers to entry. In December, APEX convened a group of childcare providers...

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 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, Inc. and Brian Thun with maurices Cliffs has lon...

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 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 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...

News

follow us

"Minnesota lands back in top 10 of tech-business rankings"

"Among the Top 15 Best States for Doing Business"

"2016 Top State for Business"

"#1 State for Quality of Life"

"Fastest-Growing State for Technology Jobs"

"Among the Top 10 Most Innovative States"

"#3 in Overall Healthcare"