APEX in the News

APEX, in partnership with the Lake Superior Perkins Consortium and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), was pleased to arrange tours of regional manufacturing facilities for over 300 high school students again this year, on October 4 and 5.To recognize and celebrate Minnesota Manufacturing Month, students from 11 school districts covering Moose Lake to Two Harbors, including Fond du Lac, explored 13 companies in Duluth, Superior, Two Harbors and Chisholm.“The best way to understand the regional manufacturing industry and the career opportunities it holds is first-hand experience and exposure,” said Rachel Johnson, APEX President and CEO. “APEX...

Minnesota is renowned for its abundant forests, pristine landscapes and commitment to sustainable forestry practices. The multi-faceted world of sustainable forestry is a great fit for our region.Job Creation: Sustainable forestry employs a diverse workforce, from loggers and foresters to equipment operators and truck drivers. Rural communities in northern Minnesota rely heavily on these jobs.Timber Production: The state ranks among the top in the U.S. for timber production, generating substantial revenue from the sale of timber products. This income bolsters the state's economy.Bioenergy: Minnesota's sustainable forestry sector contributes to the production of bioenergy, fostering a clean and sustainable energy future...

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...

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...

Andy Reierson With Flint GroupFrom your experience living and growing businesses in Fargo/Moorhead and Duluth/Superior, can you share insights on the unique challenges border cities face?The biggest thing I see, whether it’s Fargo/Moorhead, Grand Forks/East Grand Forks, Duluth/Superior, or Sioux Falls, SD and Hudson, WI, is that most of the business growth, housing and economic development is happening outside of Minnesota. Border cities face particular challenges that are not entirely understood by the rest of the state. There are clear differences in policy, tax and other considerations that flow into decision-making when competing with a city in a neighboring state...

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 and economic development organizations, the Grow Minnesota! collective...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...