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Politics & Government

'Greater MSP' to Promote Dakota County Business Climate

New economic development group recently announced.

Editor's Note: Dakota County Commissioner Tom Egan represents Mendota Heights, Lilydale, Mendota and a portion of Eagan. He was elected to office in 2004 and is now serving his second four-year term. Egan will write regularly to Patch readers about county government.

Dakota County and the Dakota County Community Development Agency (CDA) recently co-sponsored a meeting at the entitled "Dakota County—Good for Business." 

The meeting was a kick-off for Dakota County and its many public and private members who have financially joined in sponsoring a newly formed regional economic development group called Greater MSP (Minneapolis/St. Paul) to demonstrate why Dakota County is such a great place to do business.  

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Around 100 people attended this meeting representing Dakota County chambers of commerce and nearly every facet of business and local government in the county. Representatives of Greater MSP, including but not limited to its Chief Executive Officer Mike Langley and Metropolitan Sports Commission Chair Ted Mondale, were also present.

Dakota County Commissioner and Board Chair Joe Harris welcomed everyone, made opening remarks and helped with the introduction of each presenter. Dakota County financially joined Greater MSP through the CDA. As Chair of the CDA Board of Commissioners, I was invited to provide preliminary background information on Dakota County including demographics, finances, technology, facilities and the nature of our many businesses.

A select and diverse group of Dakota County business leaders were introduced by the mayors of their respective communities.

Mayor Elizabeth Kautz introduced Brian Gora of Goodrich Corporation, Burnsville. Goodrich is a Fortune 500 company that is a global supplier of systems and services to the aerospace and defense industry. Gora spoke about the benefits of operating in Burnsville and Dakota County.

Mayor Mike Maguire introduced Rick King of , Eagan. Thomson Reuters is the world's leading source of intelligent information for businesses and professionals. King too spoke about the advantages of doing business in Eagan. The Eagan campus is probably Thomson Reuter's largest in the world.

Mayor Bill Droste introduced Scott Dohmen of , Rosemount. CF Industries is, among other things, the second largest nitrogen fertilizer producer in the world and the third largest phosphate fertilizer producer among public companies. Dohmen had great things to say about doing business in Rosemount and Dakota County.

Mike Langley spoke about Greater MSP, pointing out that it is a public-private partnership whose mission is to stimulated economic growth and prosperity in the Minneapolis-St. Paul region. The goals and objectives of Greater MSP include becoming a resource to all economic development organizations and activities.

Since Dakota County financially joined Greater MSP through the CDA, it was very appropriate that Mark Ulfers, executive director of the CDA should wrap up this meeting by discussing our next steps. Already, a survey has been issued to all Dakota County communities asking for information on recent economic activity, successes, failures and challenges.

I have to say that it was hard coming out of that meeting without feeling very positive and that we are well on our way in exiting the economic doldrums we have been in for the last several years.

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