Minnesota Manufacturing's Fabulous Five

Story Highlights Enterprise Minnesota Magazine's Call Out to Excellent Manufacturing Communities

The Minneapolis Star Tribune's Jan. 23 business section highlighted this month's Enterprise Minnesota magazine tribute to Alexandria, Mankato, St. Cloud, St. Paul and the Iron Range as great places to do business in the state. While manufacturing's success is evident across Minnesota, a few communities are exceptionally supportive of their local manufacturers' continued success. From land redevelopment and lower-interest financing to collaborations with local education and economic development entities, each community is dedicated to developing its current manufacturers, and training and attracting the industry's next generation of workers to ensure future growth.

In St. Paul, the St. Paul Port Authority has redeveloped 1,200 acres of land into 22 business parks that are home to 500 industrial companies employing 17,000 workers. Among the parks' newest tenants are Brazil-based steel manufacturing giant Gerdau and Japan-based machining equipment manufacturer Matsuura Machinery, both of which chose St. Paul for their expansions after considering cities across North America.
 
Alexandria's reputation as the "Silicon Valley" of the packaging equipment world is bolstered by the recent establishment of the Packaging Machine Manufacturers' Consortium (PMMC), which brings companies together to promote the industry and recruit and train new workers. PMMC members were integral in the design of a new industrial program at the new Alexandria Area High School, which will feature a state-of-the-art industrial center and lab when it opens in the fall of 2014.

Formed in 2008, St. Cloud's Central Minnesota Manufacturers' Association (CMMA) unites 110 area manufacturers in regular networking opportunities and efforts to spark student interest in manufacturing careers. CMMA regularly partners with local schools to sponsor student field trips and also funds $1,000 kits for students to participate in the popular VEX Robotics Program, in which student teams build robots and then send them into regional, U.S. and world competitions with other robots. In 2009, CMMA also originated what has since become the Statewide Tour of Manufacturing, an annual event where dozens of manufacturers across the state open their doors for tours to give local students, parents, teachers and residents an inside look at modern manufacturing's high-tech operations.

Mankato's Minnesota State University-Mankato and South Central College regularly work with area manufacturers to ensure skills taught align with the local industry's current and future workforce needs. In response to a growing number of companies seeking lean training for their employees, South Central College created an online program that teaches the basic tenets of lean in a matter of hours. The online format is more economical than in-person training, and allows students to learn at their own pace and on their own schedule.

South Central College is also one of two colleges the nation selected by the Obama Administration to deliver the Right Skills Now program, designed to boost supplies of qualified CNC machine operators in local communities. Students learn basic CNC machine operation skills in an accelerated, 16-week curriculum based on competencies from the National Institute for Metalworking Skills, and then go on to receive 16 weeks of on-the-job instruction at local companies. Each participating company agrees to take a predetermined number of students, and hire them if all goes well.

Up north, state agency Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board (IRRRB) helps existing businesses secure low-interest financing for expansions and large capital equipment purchases. It also kicks in funds for customized training programs that local manufacturers and higher education institutions develop together. One of those programs is the new Iron Range Engineering degree offered by Mesabi Range Community and Technical College, which teaches advanced engineering skills in the context of local industry engineering projects, rather than typical classroom study.

"We believe in "economic gardening" here," explains IRRRB Commissioner Tony Sertich, a fourth-generation Iron Ranger. "We look at existing businesses and ask them, 'How can we help you grow?'"

To read the full story click here.

GreenLean® - Eliminating Time & Energy Wastes to Cut Costs & Grow Business     

Wednesday, Feb. 13
8-11am
Great River Energy
12300 Elm Creek Blvd. North
Maple Grove

Cost: $79 by Jan. 29; Regular $119

Register Online

What to Expect: 

Learn why and how GreenLean® practices can drive growth and innovation inside your company. Come learn from manufacturing CEOs about how they have reduced, and in many cases, eliminated, time and energy wastes. You will see how GreenLean® processes and practices can become a productive business strategy for your organization.

Speaker:
Corey Bacon,  Plant Metallurgical Engineer
Smith Foundry, Minneapolis


Register Online Today!

Have news or events for e-trends?  Contact Sue Roe at sue.roe@enterpriseminnesota.org