IEDC Minutes 09-07-2021MINUTES
INDUSTRIAL & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE (IEDC)
Tuesday, September 7, 2021— 7:00 a.m.
North Mississippi Room, Monticello Community Center
Members Present: Chair Randy Skarphol, Vice -Chair Liz Calpas, Joni Pawelk, Brian Hudgins, Darek
Vetsch, Steve Johnson, Wayne Elam, Luke Dahlheimer, Andrew Tapper,
Sarah Kortmansky, Eric Olson, Kevin Steffensmeier, Don Roberts
Members Absent: Dick VanAllen, Meghan Hanson, Thomas Conboy
Liaisons Present: Marcy Anderson, Jolene Foss, Rachel Leonard, Jim Thares
1. Call to Order
Randy Skarphol called the regular meeting of the IEDC to order at 7 a.m.
2. Approve Minutes:
• August 3, 2021, meeting minutes
KEVIN STEFFENSMEIER MOVED TO APPROVE THE AUGUST 312021, MEETING
MINUTES.MOTION SECONDED BY SARAH KORTMANSKY. MOTION CARRIED
UNANIMOUSLY, 13-0.
3. Consideration of Adding Items to the Agenda
None.
4. Table Topics
a) 2020 State -Local Census -Demographic Information — A Deeper Dive, Megan Dayton,
MN State Demographer's Office:
Megan Dayton shared a Power Point presentation with the group reviewing the
demographic changes in Minnesota following the 2020 Census.
Minnesota's population has grown 7.6% from the last census which is .2% higher than
the national average of 7.4%. The growth is fully attributable to multiracial populations.
Minnesota has retained its 8t" Congressional Seat. Wright County is ranked 5t" in the
largest gains in percentage of population, at 13.3%. Monticello as a city grew by 14%. The
7-County Twin Cities metro added 313,537 people, 78% of the state's growth.
There are unprecedented increases in Minnesota's 65+ population. Nearly half of Baby
Boomers have now retired and the MN labor force is much younger now than a decade
ago. Minnesota's labor force growth is projected to slow further over the next 10 years.
We no longer have the domestic migration and Minnesota's labor force is decreasing. In
response to COVID-19. About 41.6% of Minnesota households report at least one
teleworker.
Strategies to address the slowdown in labor force growth include:
• Institutionalize training your own and/or make it easier for employees to gain
skills in an outside setting
• Recruit from other states and from abroad
• Raise wages — slowdown in LF growth is structural
• Create flexible schedule options
• Options for workers to telework
• Invest in technology
Key Takeaways:
• Fewer school -age children relative to older adults will mean pressures to shift
resources from younger to older, potential impacts on education/training
resources
• Slowing -labor force growth and increasing demands of job market will mean that
training and retaining works will a essential to future economic growth
• Increasing diversity has its own growth momentum
Dayton said she will email the presentation to the group, and further information can be found
online at mn.gov/demography.
5. Consideration of Manufacturer's Recognition Event(s) October 14, 2021, Update
The Manufacturers Recognition Morning Breakfast Event is scheduled for 7 a.m. on October 14.
Randy asked if the members had any suggestions on speakers for the event, particularly a keynote
speaker, and possibly a secondary speaker. If members have any ideas, please email Jim Thares.
Steve Johnson suggested to check with the Federal Reserve Bank in Minneapolis as they have a
Speaker's Bureau. Randy mentioned that he would check with Brian Koslofsky, Executive Director,
Wright Tech Center, Buffalo, MN.
6. Reports (Verbal Reports):
• Economic Development
• Project Update: Jim Thares reviewed Exhibit A.
• Prospects List: Jim Thares reviewed Exhibit B.
• Planning Commission Agenda (attached): Jim Thares reviewed Exhibit C.
• City Council: Rachel Leonard provided updates.
• DMV Relocation to the Prairie Center Building by the end of the year.
• Preliminary levy will be set the end of September. There will be more of an
increase on the residential side.
• Chelsea Commons SAP will be brought to City Council for approval at the end of
September.
• Wright County Economic Development Partnership: Jolene Foss provided
updates, including a few highlights below.
• Business Retention & Expansion Visits. Attended a couple business
retention visits with Jim Thares and will be scheduling additional visits.
Thares encouraged members to attend the business retention visits, the
next one is September 10th.
• Working on a marketing study with the U of M Extension office, looking at
what is the existing retail in Wright County and what the needs are and
where there are gaps. Will have a second meeting and a couple city staff
members will be attending.
• Desire to continue the learning luncheons. The next one will be
September. It is free and open to everyone; topic will be insights into new
workforce trends.
• American Recue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars includes $10M for Broadband
service extension. Commissioner Vetsch will be able to further talk about
that. The County may not need to apply all the funds to broadband. Marcy
Anderson asked for feedback from the broadband study.
• Chamber of Commerce: Marcy Anderson provided updates.
• October 28t" Downtown Trick or Treat event with the MCC
7. Adjournment:
DAREK VETSCH MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 8:00 A.M. MOTION SECONED BY
ANDREW TAPPER. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY, 13-0.
Recorder: Beth Gree ZA18
Approve tember 28, 2021
Attest:
Jinn Thares, Economic Development Director