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What About the Partners .
<br /> Greater MSP needs to clarify its results.
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<br /> TRUSITis een two years since the new Each organization believes•in the In a Greater MSP promotional I'm a big supporter of theCOMregioenal economic development intrinsic value of its services.Yet video,Polaris CEO Scott Wine credits Greater MSP concept for
<br /> organization Greater MSP was several could easily be consolidated the group for driving the effort,in reasons I wrote about before
<br /> founded,established by area lead- or closed,and many spend more response to his phone call."They're Langley was hired(http://
<br /> ers via the Itasca Group to accelerate time worrying about their own needs so effective at being able to navigate bit.ly/VKZkwM).We must RI G
<br /> job growth and capital investment in than those of the businesses they're the system and make sure you take regionalize and eventually HT C
<br /> the greater Twin Cities.Its subtitle is supposed to be serving.Meanwhile, advantage of all the opportunities consolidate all the individual
<br /> the Minneapolis Saint Paul Regional some who are truly active in busi- to grow here in Minnesota,"he says. efforts around town.And it
<br /> Economic Development Partnership. ness development wonder if Greater Yet insiders say Polaris planned this sounds like Langley is making
<br /> Note the last word in that title. MSP—whose$4.5 million annual expansion on its own,and financial progress setting up his teams,
<br /> At Winthrop & Weinstine, Today,it's hard to discern what the budget is larger than almost everyone incentives from the state,city,Chisago infrastructure,and opera-
<br /> we understand that trust isn't nonprofit has uniquely accomplished else's—will simply take ownership County,and others made it happen. tional capabilities;marketing
<br /> given. It's earned. So we try in terms of attracting or retaining of initiatives and play geographic Part of the issue is the definition the Twin Cities;and plant-
<br /> jobs jobs and capital investments,how well kingmaker,while tapping funding that of`Greater MSP. Its, an organiza- ing seeds that are expected
<br /> to listen better, work harder it's partnering versus doing its own they would have received. tion(the definition I'm using here),
<br /> to sprout into big projects.
<br /> and think smarter to help you thing,and how it's spent an estimated Against this backdrop,November's a region,and a group of organiza- But the organization needs
<br /> achieve your goals. That's a $5 million thus far.Financials for the announcement didn't help. tions partnering for a common to improve how it tracks.and
<br /> forganization are only available for Greater MSP reported that its cause.Greater MSP CEO Michael measures its results--which,
<br /> promise you can trust. 2011,when it was still hiring staff and annual results included 30 projects Langley says he was referring to the at press time,it says it was
<br /> setting up shop.And its 2012 annual expected to stimulate more than 4,000 broader group. working on(as well as a three-
<br /> results announcement in Novem- new or retained jobs,and more than "I can only say that it is never our year plan).
<br /> ber trumpeting its recent intention or our goal to "We truly are trying to be a
<br /> accomplishments left things take credit for projects,"he partnership,bringing together
<br /> a even foggier,while prompt- Some wonder if Greater said in an e-mail.Rather, everyone and getting us all to
<br /> ing ire among some who lead he aims to credit the com- go in the same direction,"says
<br /> smaller,much longer-estab- MSP will take ownership panes that are investing in Mike Brown,Greater MSP's
<br /> lished economic development of initiatives and play a project and the com- vice president of marketing
<br /> organizations. munity partners directly and communications.
<br /> Greater MSP was formed geographic kingmaker, engaged in the deals,he "We came in one year ago
<br /> because those groups weren't while tapping funding that says."As a new organza- and said We're open for busi-
<br /> playing together to market the tion doing this work at a ness.Over the last year,we
<br /> Twin Cities as a region to po- they would have received. regional level,it will take had some things that didn't go
<br /> tential employers.While other some time,and a lot of as well as planned and some
<br /> major cities are succeeding projects will occur,before growing pains,"he says."We
<br /> in wooing jobs and retain- our region gets used to the have to prove[in 2013]that
<br /> ing employers by taking a regional- $440 million in capital investments. fact that it is important to celebrate we can consistently do this
<br /> WINTHROP WEINSTINE ized approach,we've gotten stuck in While saying these projects"were successes as a region." work and show that we're not WIT
<br /> marketing individual cities or counties coordinated with state and regional Agreed.But the people who lead the just trying to take advantage
<br /> .an C'-rz++e.e.s xt Lew
<br /> and tend to compete with each other partners,"Greater MSP also seemed charge on such projects should receive of the early wins: ATT
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<br /> "�°�""`°"` to win tax revenues.And we have way to take credit for leading them.Fut credit as well,especially when they, Brown says Greater MSP is
<br /> too many cooks in the kitchen. it turns out that it only led/did most too,need to show funders a healthy keenly aware of concerns in
<br /> i) Greater MSP is supposed to serve as the work on about 10,according to ROI.Greater MSP has the staff,bud- the economic development
<br /> j Ca ellaTower
<br /> ' P master chef,unifying and partnering a source close to the organization.It get;and resources to do such market-
<br /> circles."There are a lot of ri-
<br /> SuiEe 3500 with nearly 100 economic develop- had a hand in others,but they were ing;many of its partners do not. valries in the community here, Daniel C.I
<br /> 225 South sixth street ment entities in the Twin Cities metro led and/or accomplished primarily by Nor does it need to claim so much and we're trying to get past Daniel C.Beck,Creditors'Remedies
<br /> area.There are at least 55 chambers of partner organizations. success to justify itself:It needs to that as well as a public skepti- Edward J.Drenttel,Community I
<br /> Minneapolis,MN 55402 ' on Ho ancon,Commercial Le
<br /> i.j commerce;several cities and counties Even these 10 deals lack specif- attract or retain about 450 jobs cism along the lines of`Why. J J 8
<br /> trtetN:(6121604 6400 have economic development direc- ics.Only three have been identified averaging$50;000 a year to pay for doou need this organization
<br /> ganization
<br /> "^""'""'ti1O Y tors.And there are more than a dozen publicly,and only one is significant in itself in tax receipts within two years. when there are others doing Capella Tower Suite
<br /> other entities to partner with,ranging terms of jobs and capital investment: After that,the recurring tax receipts economic development and MAIN:(612)604-6,
<br /> from the Asian Economic Develop- Polaris'decision to add up to 300 jobs become like an annuity.I'm told marketing?"'he says."People
<br /> ment Association to the Minnesota and invest$22 million in its R&D Greater MSP is already perform- were willing to give us the
<br /> Department of Employment and facility in Wyoming,Minnesota,over ing above this threshold,but again, benefit of the doubt,and we
<br /> Economic Development. the next three years. where's the proof? have to prove it now." TCR
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<br /> 10 TWIN CITIES BUSINESS tcbmag.com FEBRUARY 2013
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