APEX in the News

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 Strengthens Economic Growth Strategies with New Business Developer

Monday, April 08, 2019

The Area Partnership for Economic Expansion (APEX) is pleased to welcome Matthew Shermoen to the APEX team as a Business Developer. Shermoen is passionate about helping our region and its communities reach their fullest potential. Matt will draw from his 15 years of experience in business and economic development to grow the APEX region. To read the entire article, visit the Duluth News Tribune.

APEX announces 2019 Executive Committee officers, at-large members

Monday, April 01, 2019

The Area Partnership for Economic Expansion (APEX) Board of Directors announced 2019 Executive Committee officers and At-Large members. Election results were shared at the APEX annual meeting and reception at the Kitchi Gammi Club. The group will spearhead projects that drive regional economic growth. To read the entire article, visit Business North.

APEX Strategic Planning Underway

Thursday, August 08, 2019

The planning for APEX’s 2020 strategic plan is underway. In the spring, APEX distributed a request for proposal to local, regional and statewide consultants in search of a partner to lead the organization through the strategic planning process. In June, Mark Schill with Praxis Strategy Group was selected to lead the effort. The APEX Executive Committee and staff are working with Praxis Strategy Group to establish a work plan and timeline for the process. Expect to learn more about how investor-member insight will be gleaned - there will be a number of avenues available to engage and provide feedback this fall...

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...

Minnesota’s Forest Products Industry has Capacity for Mass Timber Manufacturing

Monday, March 18, 2019

Duluth, Minnesota: A recently completed study, The Economic Feasibility of Mass Timber Manufacturing in Minnesota, highlights a strong commercial market, accessibility to supply chain and opportunities for economic impact. The study, commissioned by the Area Partnership for Economic Expansion (APEX) and conducted by the Bureau of Business and Economic Research (BBER) and the Center of Economic Development (CED) at the University of Minnesota, Duluth’s Labovitz School of Business and Economics, suggests that Minnesota has great potential to introduce mass timber manufacturing in the Arrowhead region. “The forest products industry in our region has always been strong,” said Brian Hanson, APEX Presiden...

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...

APEX in the News

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