June 2, 2015 ROTARY IN REVIEW:
Greater MSP: Business and People Prosper Here
Cecile Bedor, Executive Vice President of Greater MSP, Minneapolis-Saint Paul's regional economic development partnership, appeared at the Club 10 Tuesday luncheon to detail Greater MSP's brand platform: "Business and People Prosper Here," capped by a video presentation demonstrating the sustained success of our economic region.
Club 10 Business Report
President-elect Carla Hauge brought the meeting to order at 12:18 p.m. on a sunny, summer day in downtown Saint Paul. David Laird led the assembled Rotarians in singing God Bless America accompanied by Bob Jones on the piano. Scott Van provided today's invocation. Bill Collins facilitated the introduction of visiting Rotarians and guests. Today's Greeters were Kate Heider and Bill Collins (double-duty!).
President-elect Carla announced an upcoming multi-Club event, "Rotary Night at Park Square Theater." A flyer was available at the meeting with details also on the Club 10 website. Club 10 members are also asked to help plant at Cleveland Circle on June 7th at 8 am; please register online. Carla also reported that Values Day was a success. Jon Cieslak gathered Happy Dollars.
Linda Mulhern introduced visiting Rotarian Sameer Kumar from India. It has been 66 years since India's independence but the country is still plagued by illiteracy. Rotary districts 3150 and 7980 in India have collaborated on a project to "Make dreams real/The School on Wheels" which visits slum areas. The goal is to hit the target, a child's will. What appears to be an end may be a new beginning. Mr. Kumar is seeking support, blessings, promotion and participation. For more information see http://www.schoolonwheels.co.in
Jay Pfaender introduced today's speaker, Cecile Bedor, Executive Vice President of Greater MSP, Minneapolis-Saint Paul's regional economic development partnership. The economic partnership was formed in 2010 to "get off the best kept secret list." Doug Baker of Ecolab was founding chair. An early objective of Greater MSP was to identify what it takes to get on the radar of business development professionals looking to site new businesses.
Greater MSP's vision is to have the region recognized as a globally leading economy where business and people prosper. It is interested in strategic outreach. Greater MSP meets with site selectors. It's domestic outreach effort responds to requests for information sent out by site selectors. Last year, 43 requests received a response. Requests from site selectors receive a response in less than one day. The international outreach effort has contract staff in Toronto, Munich, Shanghai.
One of the key messages is the competitive advantage the region has: the workforce. This was the winning argument with Emerson/Rosemount in Shakopee that resulted in securing 500 new jobs and $71 million in capital investment that might have gone to Mexico but stayed in Minnesota thanks in part to the efforts of Greater MSP.
The regional economic development strategy owned and deployed by the partnership can be summarized as: "Tell the story; prioritize talent; build global sectors of strength." By the year 2020 our region may have a shortage of 100,000 professionals. Ways to limit this shortage include improving social inclusion for new professionals coming to the region; supporting innovative talent; connecting talent to our community; connecting talent & employers; and closing near-term talent gaps.
Ms. Bedor ended by referencing the "Regional Indicators Dashboard" that was distributed at today's meeting. The document provides a view of the region's competitive position. It also outlines the Greater MSP brand platform: "Business and People Prosper Here." Ms. Bedor stated that the remaining pillar of the group's work is marketing the region. One of the key tools being used to battle the impression that we are only a "cold" destination is a video that she shared at the end of her presentation. The video demonstrated the sustained success that this region has achieved.
President-elect Carla thanked Ms. Bedor for her remarks and noted that a donation in her name would be made to the Saint Paul Public Library's "Read With Me" program. She then led those assembled in a recitation of the Four-Way Test ("Is it the Truth? Is it Fair to all concerned? Will it build Goodwill and Better Friendships? Will it be Beneficial to all concerned?"). She then rang the bell to close the meeting at 1:07 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Chuck Standfuss