Greater Mankato - The Way to Grow

MANKATO greater

MINNESOTA

THE WAY TO

GROW YOUR PORTAL FOR THE MIDWEST

2017 | A publication of Greater Mankato Growth, Inc.

See where your big ideas can take you.

Big ideas. Real-world thinking. mnsu.edu

GREATER MANKATO MINNESOTA

6

CONTENTS 5

16

BUSINESS & ECONOMY Welcome Top 10 Diverse Economy A Portal for the Midwest Marketplace Confidence Innovative Roots Talent Pipeline Talent Task Force GreenSeam Stronger Together

4 5 6 8 9 10 12 13 14 15

LIVING HERE Community Profile Discover Greater Mankato Abundant Activities Awards & Accolades

ABOUT US

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16 17 20 21

Greater Mankato Growth (GMG) is committed to advancing business for a stronger community. As the Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development organization serving the regional marketplace, GMG exists to intentionally develop the regional center by promoting, supporting and serving as a catalyst for economic development through business growth, retention and attraction, talent growth retention and attraction, regional livability and advocacy of the marketplace. Greater Mankato Growth, Inc. includes two affiliates: Visit Mankato, which focuses on visitor attraction and servicing, and the City Center Partnership, which focuses on development in the City Center.

FOR MORE INFORMATION GREATER MANKATO GROWTH Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development 1961 Premier Drive, Suite 100 Mankato, MN 56001 Phone: 507.385.6640 Email: info@greatermankato.com greatermankato.com

PRESIDENT & CEO’S NOTE “Imagine a place that’s … sophisticated and simple, progressive yet placid, innovative as well as intimate, worldly but also warmly welcoming...

That’s Greater Mankato”

THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS FOR MAKING THIS PUBLICATION POSSIBLE: CAPITOL SPONSORS:

ADVOCATE SPONSORS: GREATER MANKATO IS A VIBRANT AND DYNAMIC REGIONAL marketplace that includes the Mankato - North Mankato Metropolitan Statistical Area (encompassing Blue Earth and Nicollet counties), as well as communities immediately adjacent such as Le Sueur. Located in a “sweet spot” of southern Minnesota, our residents and businesses have access to “bigger city” services and amenities in the core cities of Mankato and North Mankato, surrounded by delightful smaller towns and rural areas, with the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area just a short drive north.

Our residents can enjoy their morning coffee at their home located in the city, on a farm or by a lake, and be to their workplace in 12 minutes or less.

And after work they can take advantage of the area’s many activities and attractions before enjoying a quick and easy drive home.

Our businesses capitalize on our diverse economy, productive supply chain and highly educated and broad talent pool. They leverage the region’s growing consumer base while creating long-lasting relationships with a broad range of business partners.

SUPPORTING SPONSORS:

Residents are not alone in recognizing the unique combination of economic vitality, talent, livability, business environment and resources found only in Greater Mankato. This region continues to receive national recognition in areas such as livability, economy and leisure.

Read on and you will discover why so many have chosen Greater Mankato as the place to grow their businesses and families.

Jonathan G. Zierdt President & CEO Greater Mankato Growth, Inc. HOMETOWN SPONSORS: 4

City of Mankato Mankato Area Public Schools

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REASONS TO INVEST AND DO BUSINESS IN GREATER MANKATO

1. TALENT PIPELINE: With five higher education institutions, the region has a combined average annual enrollment of 26,000 and graduates 5,000 students each year.

2. IDEALLY LOCATED: We are 60 minutes south of MSP, at the confluence of two four-lane highways, 169/60 and 14. The region boasts a regional airport as well as freight rail service. Greater Mankato is a regional hub for health care, education, retail, agriculture and manufacturing.

3. LIVABLE & CULTURAL: From our vibrant cultural and arts scene to outdoor activities galore, Greater Mankato has it all. Residents are warm and welcoming, the cost of living is lower than the national average and health care providers are world renowned.

4. 12 MINUTE COMMUTE: Sleep in and enjoy your coffee at home, whether in the city, on a farm or lake, you’ll be to work in 12 minutes.

5. LOW COST OF DOING BUSINESS: The cost of doing business is 15% below the national average. We are proud to have the 5th lowest cost of doing business in the upper Midwest.

6. HIGHLY RATED: We can’t list them all - but here’s a start: #3 in the Nation for affordable health care, #1 GDP growth in the State of MN, 5th in the Nation

greatermankato.com

for best small city based on economic health, affordability and quality of life, #5 most affordable city in Minnesota, and we ranked in the top third of cities in the Nation for best places to travel for business.

7. SUPPLY CHAIN: We offer abundant existing suppliers and complementary industries, with a strong presence in metal, power generation, and electronics manufacturing as well as printing, limestone and sand mining, agriculture and food processing.

8. DIVERSIFIED ECONOMY: Our economic strength and stability stem largely from our diversification.

The region is comprised of 33% primary economy, 57% professional/service economy and 10% retail/ consumer economy.

9. LARGE LABOR SHED: The MSA offers a population of 99,000+. Factor in our labor shed, and we have a workforce of more than 250,000 within a 60 minute commute.

10. CURRENT INVESTMENT: With record numbers of projects and dollars invested and committed for 2016-17, our marketplace has been noticed and continues to be seen as a solid investment. More than $491 million has been invested across the marketplace within the last three years.

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A DIVERSE ECONOMY THE KEY INGREDIENT TO OUR SUCCESS

GREATER MANKATO HAS A vibrant economy that has proven itself over time. The marketplace weathered the national economic recession better than most metropolitan areas across the country. Several factors contributed to this resiliency, including the industry makeup of the economy and a strong supply chain in the manufacturing sector. One example is GreenSeam. This region is a magnet for agribusiness and boasts more than 800 agrelated businesses. The diverse regional economy has been a leader in many categories such as personal income, regional domestic product and sales. On the following pages you will find key metrics that paint a picture of the local economy’s vibrant growth and success.

Employees at Dotson Iron Castings work with molten iron.

TOP PRIVATE EMPLOYERS 1,700+ EMPLOYEES

525-1,200 EMPLOYEES

275-345 EMPLOYEES

Taylor Companies, Mayo Clinic Health System, Minnesota State University, Mankato

MRCI WorkSource, Gustavus Adolphus College, Monarch Healthcare, Le Sueur Inc., Mankato Clinic, Verizon Wireless, Wal-Mart Distribution Center

MTU Onsite Energy, Coughlan Companies, Kato Engineering, MICO, Consolidated Communications, EI Microcircuits

For a complete list of top employers please visit greatermankato.com/major-employers.

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BUSINESS & ECONOMY

EMPLOYMENT SECTORS

(% of nonagricultural jobs)

BUSINESSES

GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT Total Real GDP - All Industries growth by MSA from 2015-2016

2,436

Mankato/ North Mankato

1

Private Sector

3.2%

Businesses *Source: MN DEED QCEW, Q2 2016

MAJOR ECONOMY SECTORS Primary Economy... 33% Professional Services/ Service Economy...57% Retail/Consumer Economy... 10% *Source: MN DEED QCEW, 2015

5

Annual Retail Sales

Wholesale Trade... 4.75% Public Administration... 4.55%

Finance and Insurance... 3.39% Accommodation and Food Services... 2.40% Other Services... 2.17%

GROSS SALES In Billions

Utilities... .87% Real Estate and Rental and Leasing... .66% Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation....35%

The Mankato-North Mankato MSA is #1 in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth in the State of Minnesota from 2015-2016 at 3.2% and 3rd highest in the upper midwest.

PERSONAL INCOME GROWTH

1

2

+141%

$6.3

$2.6

+58%

$312.8

$197.8

3

4

2000 2013 MANKATO - NORTH MANKATO MSA

2000 2013 STATE OF MINNESOTA

Transportation and Warehousing... 1.79% Natural Resources and Mining... 1.23%

Duluth -4.1%

Personal Income growth by MSA from 2014-2015

Construction... 4.5% Information... 3.58%

Rochester

*Source: Department of Commerce Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)

Professional and Business Services... 7.45% Education and Health Services... 7.08%

2.7%

$4.5B

SECTOR DETAIL

Retail Trade... 7.15%

Minneapolis/ St. Paul

2.9%

*Source: MN Department of Revenue, 2014

Educational Services... 14.88%

3

4

Annual Hotel, Recreation and Food Sales

Health Care and Social Assistance... 16.45%

St. Cloud 2.8%

RETAIL, TOURISM & DINING

$203M Manufacturing...16.75%

2

*Source: Minnesota Department of Revenue 2014

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Mankato/ North Mankato 5.6%

Minneapolis/ St. Paul 4.37%

Rochester 4.24%

St. Cloud 3.65%

Duluth 2.58%

*Source: U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA)

From 2014 - 2015 the Mankato – North Mankato MSA experienced the highest growth rate among all Minnesota based MSAs at 5.26% peaking above $4 billion. This percentage of growth also places the MSA at 96th out of 382 MSAs nationwide.

*Source: MN DEED QCEW, 2015

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A PORTAL FOR THE MIDWEST LOCATION. LOCATION. LOCATION. GREATER MANKATO IS A MULTI-STATE GATEWAY strategically located for access to and from Minnesota because of its strong transportation grid fueling economic activity in education, health care, manufacturing, retail and agriculture.

It boasts a vibrant state-of-the-art general aviation airport training future airline pilots, growing trucking services and logistics, freight rail access and public bus transit.

It also provides easy access with four-lane highways (U.S. 14 and U.S. 60 for east and west travel and Highway 169 for transport north and south) to carry goods throughout the Midwest and U.S. markets with easy movement to I-90 and I-35. These were chiefly the reasons why companies like the Wal-Mart Distribution Center and North Central Utility selected the area as a strategic logistics location.

“We’re able to provide service sooner, providing fresher products to the customer,” said Wal-Mart DC General Manager Mark Carlson. “It’s a good location to help service (our) network and still have access to good road systems, for not only ourselves but also our vendors.”

Highway 169 moves the equivalent of 30,000 tons of freight by truck per day with an average daily traffic count of 1,200-3,700 heavy commercial vehicles. It also carries the fifth heaviest freight volume of any highway in Minnesota. The top four are I-94, I-90, I-35 and Highway 52.

Highway 14 is one of the original United States highways of 1926 running from Yellowstone National Park to Chicago. It runs four-lanes from Nicollet through Mankato and on to I-35 in Owatonna and is currently being expanded to add additional four-lane segments.

TRANSPORTATION ASSETS Mankato Regional Airport

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Direct access to U.S. Highways 169 and 14, State Highways 22 & 60 with highway connections to Interstates 35 & 90

Access to two Class I freight rail lines

MARKETPLACE CONFIDENCE GREATER MANKATO HAS EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANT, sustainable growth over the past three years (2014 - 2016).

Across all industries, there has been more than $491 million in capital investment within the marketplace. Investment of that scale speaks to the confidence the business community has in their future here.

The 284 projects that generated the nearly half a billion of investment varied in size and scope. The growth of the marketplace was spread across all sectors of business. The retail economy has over 40 new capital investments totaling $9.4 million which impacted 220,280 square feet of space.

The professional service economy saw $7.4 million of capital investment impacting 111,291 square feet of office space.

The primary economy had $3.1 million of capital investment impacting over 30,000 square feet.

Greater Mankato has continued to show up on the Forbes Best Small Places for Business & Careers list five years running.

Confidence in the marketplace can also be seen in the consistent addition of new jobs over the last several years.

In 2016 there were more jobs in the marketplace than ever before and the trend doesn’t seem to be slowing down.

GREATER MANKATO JOB NUMBER AVERAGE BY YEAR (Mankato-North Mankato MSA which includes all of Blue Earth & Nicollect Counties)

7

200

Source: CES, Minnesota Department of Employment & Economic Development (DEED) Compiled

by Greater Mankato Growth, Inc. greatermankato.com 507.385.6640

8 9 200 2010

200

greatermankato.com

2011

2012

2013

2016 only include Jan - Dec For more awards and accolades see page 21.

2014 2015

2016

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INNOVATIVE ROOTS STARTUPS FIND SUPPORT AND SUCCESS IN GREATER MANKATO IT’S NO SURPRISE THAT innovation and entrepreneurs thrive in Greater Mankato. It is home to The Center for Excellence & Innovation on the campus of Minnesota State University, Mankato. The Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI) yearly awards the Ag Innovator of the Year trophies to businesses and small entrepreneurs who have excelled in innovation. And Greater Mankato is home to the Regional Center for Entrepreneurial Facilitation, which has helped more than a thousand small business owners achieve their goals.

The climate is ripe because Greater Mankato has a long history of innovation and incubation for entrepreneurs and start-ups.

TAYLOR CORPORATION Taylor Corporation started out as a single small business in North Mankato and today is one of the largest privately held companies in the United States. With more than 80 domestic and foreign subsidiaries, and 12,000 plus employees, Taylor companies provide communication services, products and technologies

Taylor Corporation started out as a single small business in North Mankato.

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to many of the most recognizable brands in the world.

ANGIE’S BOOMCHICKAPOP® Angie’s Boomchickapop, the official popcorn of the Minnesota Twins and a favorite of the Minnesota Vikings, makes a variety of non-GMO and gluten-free kettle corn and popcorn.

It found its beginnings in a cold Mankato garage but is now found in natural food, grocery, club and mass retail outlets nationwide and across the world.

DAVISCO Founded in 1943 by Stanley Davis with his purchase of the St. Peter Creamery, Davisco Foods International is now a business unit of Agropur and is a worldwide dairy business headquartered in Le Sueur.

They operate five dairy processing plants (cheese, whey and other dairy-based food ingredients) in South Dakota, Minnesota, and Idaho.

Davisco Foods makes 65 percent of the whey protein isolates sold worldwide.

CAMBRIA Building on the success of Davisco Foods, the Davis family founded Cambria, the first and only familyowned, American-made producer of natural quartz surfaces in 2000.

Headquartered in Le Sueur, it has since become the premier source for the freshest and most-expansive quartz palette for homes and businesses in the world.

VETTER STONE For more than a century, stone has been quarried, cut and shipped to destinations around the world from Minnesota quarries in the Kasota-Mankato stone district and from its Alabama quarries. A fourth generation family business, Vetter Stone and Alabama Stone have earned a reputation for consistent product quality, technical precision and personalized customer service.

Its stone was used to build the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian; the U.S. Embassy in Muscat, Oman; the Arizona Diamondbacks Stadium and even Target Field for the Minnesota Twins.

EI MICROCIRCUITS Starting out as a family-owned business in 1984, EI Microcircuits became an industry pioneer in surface mount technology, or SMT and one of the first to own and utilize robotic SMT placement machines. Having now expanded to three manufacturing facilities in Mankato and St. Peter, they continue to design and manufacture a wide variety of sophisticated electronic devices and components utilized in critical applications from medical devices to industry and consumer products.

CAPSTONE PRESS Capstone was started by the Coughlan family who after running a successful quarry business wanted to diversify their businesses operations and expand into

BUSINESS & ECONOMY JONES METAL INC. In 1942 when Kato Engineering, owned by Cecil Jones, needed a metal fabrication business, Cecil’s wife Mildred Jones started Jones Sheet Metal. Now 74 years later Jones Metal Inc. continues to produce high quality custom, complex metal fabrication and enclosures for local and international customers like Caterpillar, AGCO, EnerSys Power Systems, and Emerson to name a few. It also kept its tradition of women at the helm up to today, now in their 3rd generation of family ownership.

publishing. Capstone is a leading publisher of children’s books and digital products and services, including myON, a platform of enhanced digital ebooks with multimedia supports that has more than 6 million student readers.

CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS With a robust fiber network encompassing 4,500 fiber route miles in Minnesota and 13,717 route miles nationally, Consolidated Communications serves commercial and consumer customers with business and broadband communication solutions.

With roots dating back more than 118 years in Mankato, the company has innovated and embraced change in the rapidly moving communications industry to become a leading provider in the region.

TBEI With a Small Business Administration loan, Eldon and Helen Jones started Crysteel Manufacturing in Lake Crystal and after being purchased

by Truck Bodies & Equipment International has become one of the world’s leading hoist, platform and dump body producers.

RIDLEY USA INC. R. D. Hubbard in 1879 established Mankato Milling later named Hubbard Milling.

Now owned by Ridley USA Inc., a division of Alltech, they are one of the leading commercial animal nutrition companies in North America.

Angie’s BOOMCHICKAPOP got it’s start in Greater Mankato.

DOTSON IRON CASTINGS Started by a German immigrant in 1876, Dotson Iron Castings now produces 25 million pounds of finished ductile iron castings, including castings found on more than 75% of all semi-trucks on the road in North America.

KATO ENGINEERING In 1926, Kato Engineering was formed and under the eventual leadership of Cecil Jones developed and manufactured the rotary converter, a device that rural families could use to operate AC appliances from their DC storage batteries. Today, Kato Engineering is owned by Emerson and is part of the Leroy Somer Electric Power Generation business unit, the global leader in electric alternators.

greatermankato.com

ALUMACRAFT Alumacraft in Saint Peter started in 1946 continues to lead the industry in solidly, well-crafted aluminum fishing boats.

MTU ONSITE ENERGY Another local company that found its genesis in Kato Engineering is MTU Onsite Energy. First opened in 1952 as Katolight, MTU Onsite Energy is one of the core brands of Rolls-Royce Power Systems and is a leading provider of high – and medium-speed diesel and gas engines, complete drive systems, distributed energy systems and fuel injection systems.

ISG ISG started as I&S Engineers more than 40 years ago as a civil engineering firm in Ken Surprenant’s basement. Today ISG is a full service firm for high level architecture, engineering, environmental and planning strategies nationwide with 200+ staff in seven offices.

ARCHER DANIELS MIDLAND In 1947, Lowell Andreas and brother Dwayne bought a soybean plant in Mankato and developed it into the nation’s largest soybean plant of its type. Then in the 1960s, the brothers were asked to manage Archer Daniels Midland. Within a year of that offer, Lowell was named president and helped grow the publicly held ADM for more than 30 years. Today, ADM Mankato processes and transforms soybeans into a variety of animal feed ingredients and foodgrade vegetable oils.

JARRAFF All-terrain tree trimmers produced

by Jarraff in Saint Peter provide utility, arbor and line maintenance contractors the high quality, innovative equipment they need to safely and efficiently clear land and maintain utility right-of-ways.

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TALENT PIPELINE

GREATER MANKATO IS HOME TO FIVE HIGHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

ACCESS TO A TALENTED WORKFORCE is a key ingredient to business and overall community success. Greater Mankato is fortunate to be a region with a strong labor pool, a commitment to optimizing our talent surplus and abundant lifelong learning opportunities.

As a region, we are focused on how to attract, develop and retain the talented workforce that we need today and into the future. With five higher educational institutions within a 15 mile radius enrolling more than 6,000 new students each year, we have a natural draw for attracting new talent.

26,000+

MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY, MANKATO • Comprehensive four-year university and second largest higher education institution in Minnesota • More than 18,000 students including nearly 1,200 international students from 90 countries • Offering more than 140 undergraduate programs, 80 graduate programs, bachelor’s, master’s, applied doctoral, associate and specialist degrees RASMUSSEN COLLEGE, MANKATO • Private college for business and professional careers • Approximately 650 students • Offering bachelors and associates degrees and diplomas and certificates in the following areas of study: business management, health science, nursing, information technology, digital design, education and justice studies SOUTH CENTRAL COLLEGE, NORTH MANKATO & FARIBAULT • Community and technical college • More than 5,500 students • Offering associate in arts degrees in liberal arts and science that allows students to take the first two years of a bachelor’s degree, as well as 50 career and professional majors

Enrolled students in our five higher educational institutions

BETHANY LUTHERAN COLLEGE, MANKATO • Private, residential, Christian, co-educational liberal arts college owned and operated by the Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS) • Nearly 600 students • Offering 19 majors and eight pre-professional programs

EDUCATIONAL LEVEL Some High School High School Some College Associate Degree Bachelor’s Degree Post-Graduate 12

6% 28% 23% 12% 21% 10%

GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS COLLEGE, SAINT PETER • Nationally recognized, private, co-educational liberal arts college affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church (ELCA) and host to the famed annual Nobel Conference • Nearly 2,500 students representing 43 states and 15 foreign countries • Offering 64 majors and 15 pre-professional programs *Sources: Educational levels: 2014 Census Bureau, ACS; Enrolled students: Greater Mankato Growth

TALENT TASK FORCE

THE CRITICAL WORKFORCE SHORTAGE IT’S BEEN WELL CHRONICLED THAT OUR ECONOMY FACES A LOOMING workforce shortage. This is perhaps one of the most critical and daunting of economic development challenges our region will ever face.

Over the next five years, employers – already struggling to fill open positions – will see this challenge accelerate due to the confluence of an aging workforce, a diminishing worker pool and the need to fuel an anticipated 20% growth in new employment due to economic growth.

With a laser focus on our region’s future, Greater Mankato Growth convened a talent task force of 13 key business and community leaders charged with initiating a collective community response, stemming from a framework of strategic priorities. The Greater Mankato Talent Task Force has developed a framework, reviewed by the Greater Mankato Growth, Inc. Board of Directors and a focus group of business executives, whereby our community can undertake coordinated actions that not only fill normal job vacancies but also meet the growth of our regional economy. The task force unveiled it as the guiding document at the January 17th Workforce Talent Summit. With more than 160 businesses & community leaders participating in the strategic work sessions, it was evident the need for effective solutions is great.

Greater Mankato Growth, Inc. President and CEO, Jonathan Zierdt said “The looming workforce shortage cannot be taken on by any one private, public, or community organization. This must be a community-wide endeavor. The Greater Mankato community will need to coordinate its efforts to fill job vacancies and increase the overall pool of talent.” He went on to say “Proactive and purposeful talent attraction and retention will make the biggest impact on the workforce shortage. By participating in this summit, attendees were empowered to lead and help direct the future of our regional workforce.”

For more information about the Talent Task Force please visit greatermankato.com/talent.

MISSION (WHY DO WE EXIST?): Engage the community in strategies & action plans which create greater clarity & alignment of employer / employee expectations to increase the overall talent pool & enhance long-term talent retention.

VISION (WHAT FUTURE DO WE WANT TO ACHIEVE?): The community can secure the required talent to meet the looming employment demands & fuel the maintenance & growth of our regional economy.

STRATEGIC COMMITMENTS

Workforce Demographics

Competitive Compensation & Benefits

Powered by:

greatermankato.com

Workforce Talent Preparation

Innovative Recruitment & Retention Initiatives

Public Policy

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GREENSEAM REDEFINING AGRIBUSINESS RESOURCE OF EXCELLENCE IN SOUTHERN MINNESOTA AND NORTHERN IOWA WHAT IS GREENSEAM? GreenSeam is not simply a place; GreenSeam is also a state of mind and being. We have a real and visceral connection to the land we stand on. We are connected to all the people and enterprises that support, supply and stand with us. And we have a heritage that links us with the hardworking past generations whose shoulders we stand upon.

GreenSeam innovation is forward-thinking and historical.

Long before there was any concept of a place called “The GreenSeam,” people of this area were innovating.

Advances in farming techniques, developments in production, equipment and technological breakthroughs all had origins in the minds of those inhabiting this GreenSeam. A continuum of innovation.

BE A PART OF THE SEAM

65%

Research & Educational Partnerships (as compared to 14 last year)

of Minnesota’s Ag-bioscience is generated in the GreenSeam region

For more information, on how to become part of the GreenSeam visit greenseam.org or contact Sam Ziegler, Director at 507.385.6672.

ONE-HALF

BILLION DOLLARS

Invested in Southern Minnesota in 2016 by < 12 companies.

“

WE ARE PART OF THE GREENSEAM.

We are Ag because we design and manufacture a diverse range of custom electronic products and wire harnesses for tractor controls, spraying, seed placement and grain carts for a variety of agricultural OEMs. As the Ag market continues to move towards advanced electronics, we anticipate our revenue in the Ag sector to grow.

Eric Else | El Microcircuits and Kato Cable 14

“

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We invite you to be a part of the GreenSeam, whether you are in manufacturing, technology, professional services, education or an industry that has a role touching part of the agriculture umbrella. Help share the depth, scope and diversity of Ag-related business across Southern Minnesota and Northern Iowa by sharing your story, using the GreenSeam logo on your print and web materials and/ or raising your GreenSeam flag.

GreenSeam | Facebook • @greenseamregion | Twitter

REGIONAL ECONOMIC

REDA partner city Eagle Lake’s City Hall.

DEVELOPMENT greater MANKATO

REGIONAL MARKETPLACE

EACH OF THE COMMUNITIES IN THE GREATER Mankato marketplace has its own unique characteristics, when combined creates a robust portfolio of regional assets. These communities – the cities of Eagle Lake, Lake Crystal, Le Sueur, Mankato, North Mankato, Saint Peter and the counties of Blue Earth and Nicollet – joined with Greater Mankato Growth to form the Regional Economic Development Alliance (REDA).

Region Nine Development Commission serves as a liaison from REDA to all of south central Minnesota.

Le Sueur

Lee

By working together we are able to efficiently provide regional as well as individual city and county information to businesses interested in the Greater Mankato marketplace.

Saint Peter

Madison Lake

North Mankato

Mankato

Eagle Lake

Lake Crystal

Nicollet County Administrator Ryan Krosch told Connect Business Magazine the county joined REDA “to be a fuller player at the table with our other regional partners and help see continued prosperity in the region.

“We felt like it was a good use of resources to help the regional marketing efforts of Blue Earth County and Nicollet County. Their website is full of data for us and they’re able to provide marketing info, statistics, etc., on how to build our resources and data that we have and to be aware of what’s happening in the other communities.”

“Any support we can provide our regional partners in promoting the area is a win for everybody.”

REDA Chairman Jim Beal added that, “The cities that have participated feel a connection and a collaboration which is so important to the success of what we’re doing.”

PARTNERS IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EAGLE LAKE

MANKATO

BLUE EARTH COUNTY

LAKE CRYSTAL

NORTH MANKATO

NICOLLET COUNTY

LE SUEUR

SAINT PETER

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COMMUNITY PROFILE DEMOGRAPHICS

TRANSPORTATION

REAL ESTATE

$172,400 BRONZE

Median value of owneroccupied housing units, with a mortgage

Level Bicycle Friendly

AGE Under 5 6 - 17 18 - 24 25 - 44 45 - 64 65 and over

6% 14% 20.4% 23.8% 22.3% 13.5%

12MINUTES

The largest sector of residents of color are Latino/Hispanic followed by Black/ African American.

26 16

BACKGROUNDS

Residents hail from more than 26 different racial and/or ethnic backgrounds.

Number of housing units

Average commute to work

Owners

RACE/ETHNICITY White/Caucasian 94% Residents of Color 6%

40,661

76 MILES Mankato Regional Airport Closest International Airport, MSP. There are four major airports within a 3 ½ hour drive

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

Greater Mankato Transit System

Renters

There are 37,129 housing units in the Mankato - North Mankato MSA. Approximately 25,611 (66.6%) are owneroccupied and 12,833 (33.4%) are occupied by renters.

2.49

Average household size

LIVING HERE

DISCOVER GREATER MANKATO A PLACE TO CALL HOME

WITH ALL THE SERVICES YOU WOULD EXPECT FROM A MAJOR METRO and the charm you can get only from a close knit community, Greater Mankato is a wonderful place to call home. In addition to a strong economy, residents enjoy Greater Mankato’s scenic setting, abundant activities, shopping and dining, outstanding services and affordable cost of living. Given all these attributes, it’s no wonder why Bizjournals.com ranked Greater Mankato number seven on its national list of “Dream Towns.”

The Greater Mankato region is located in a “sweet spot” of Southern Minnesota with the core cities of Mankato and North Mankato surrounded by many other vibrant towns including Saint Peter, Le Sueur, Lake Crystal, Madison Lake and Eagle Lake. We are also about an hour’s drive from the Twin Cities including the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

Our residents can enjoy their morning coffee at home located in the city, on a farm or by a lake, and be to their workplace in 12 minutes or less. After work, they can take advantage of the area’s many activities and attractions.

A SCENIC SETTING Nestled in the scenic Minnesota River Valley, Greater Mankato is renowned for its great parks and trails and is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy nature, wildlife and recreational activities. Rivers, lakes, ravines, bluffs, natural prairies and forested areas offer breathtaking landscapes and provide a scenic backdrop for an area steeped in historic significance.

AFFORDABLE COST OF LIVING Residents tend to get more for their money in Greater Mankato. According to the Council for Community Economic Research’s Cost of Living Index, the average home price at the end of 2016 was $229,604, 42% less than the national average. While some might associate a low cost of living with an area in financial trouble, just the opposite is true of this region. Greater Mankato sits in an economically vibrant area with an ideal location and size that make living here affordable. greatermankato.com

A scenic setting over the beautiful Minnesota River Valley.

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LIVING HERE EDUCATION Greater Mankato has a strong and responsive education system. From preschool to college and beyond, learning is lifelong in Greater Mankato.

The region’s K-12 schools are among the best in the nation, with innovative educators partnering with area businesses and organizations to ensure students are well-prepared to meet the needs of employers and as a result achieve success for themselves. The region is also fortunate to have five higher education institutions. In addition to providing a ready pool of talent, these institutions also provide continuing education and industryspecific training for area businesses. Other organizations also provide abundant professional development opportunities, including the more than 30-year-old Greater Mankato Leadership Institute and Greater Mankato Young Professionals program.

HEALTH & WELLNESS Greater Mankato offers access to all the primary services residents want and need. In addition, the area is a health care mecca. It is the regional headquarters for Mayo Clinic Health System, with a hospital and 13 clinics throughout the region. The Mankato Clinic also has a comprehensive regional network with 12 area clinics. The Orthopaedic & Fracture Clinic in Mankato is known as an expert in its field. And in nearby Saint Peter, Rivers Edge Health Care offers both a clinic and hospital.

Over the years, Greater Mankato’s health care providers have continued to expand their services, minimizing the need for area residents to travel for specialized medical treatment.

ENGAGED CITIZENS Greater Mankato residents embody a unique combination of Minnesota Nice and community commitment, with more than 100 civic and social groups. The continued national success of the Greater Mankato Area United Way’s annual giving campaign is testament to the generosity of citizens and businesses in the region. And individuals from a variety of walks of life also enthusiastically give of their time. Greater Mankato has had four community-wide visioning initiatives in the past 80 years, including the current Envision 2020 plan, designed to ensure the future ongoing success of the marketplace. Through the Greater Mankato Leadership Delegation, community, business and government leaders also look to other cities for new ideas to propel the community forward, taking inter-city leadership visits to Columbia, Missouri; Bellingham, Washington; Fort Collins, Colorado and Charlottesville, Virginia, in the past nine years.

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POPULATION

99,134

Mankato - North Mankato MSA

5.5M Minnesota

*Source: 2015 Census Bureau

COST OF LIVING

8%

Below the national average *Source: Cost of Living Index

TAXES Mankato Food & Beverage Tax City Sales & Use Tax County Sales Tax State Sales Tax

.5% .5% .5% 6.875%

North Mankato City Sales & Use Tax State Sales Tax

.5% 6.875%

HOUSEHOLD INCOME

$100,000+ $50,000 - $99,999 $25,000 - $49,999 $24,999 and under *Source: 2014 Census Bureau, ACS

DISTANCE TO MAJOR CITIES NEARBY Minneapolis - St. Paul Rochester Sioux Falls Des Moines Chicago

greatermankato.com

79 miles 84 miles 157 miles 209 miles 432 miles

CLIMATE

30’’ 193

Average annual rainfall, national average is 37” Average number of sunny days annually 19

ABUNDANT ACTIVITIES

FROM MINNESOTA VIKINGS TRAINING CAMP TO THE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF SOUTHERN MINNESOTA ACTIVITIES FOR PARTICIPANTS AND SPECTATORS alike abound in Greater Mankato. The area has many community sports leagues for players of all ages, as well as eight golf courses. Watching sports is also a Greater Mankato tradition, served up by the area’s high schools and college teams, and each summer - the Mankato MoonDogs baseball team and Minnesota Vikings Training Camp. The Riverfront Park Amphitheater is another popular summer destination, hosting concerts and festivals, including the annual RibFest. Throughout the year, the Verizon Wireless Center, with 5,280 seats and additional meeting spaces, provides a venue not only for Minnesota State University, Mankato Division I hockey, but also concerts, shows and conventions.

ARTS AND CULTURE Greater Mankato boasts a thriving arts and culture environment, with more than 15 museums and galleries including the popular Children’s Museum of Southern

With miles of rivers Greater Mankato is an outdoor enthusiast’s haven.

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Minnesota, many dance companies, four community choruses, a symphony orchestra and community theater.

In addition, area colleges offer outstanding, theater, music, dance and visual and written arts programs. And while strolling around the City Center, art is all around, with the annual CityArt Walking Sculpture Tour.

SHOPPING AND DINING Greater Mankato is a retail center that attracts visitors from throughout southern Minnesota and northern Iowa. As a result, per capita retail spending is twice what it is in other similar trade centers in Minnesota. With hundreds of stores and restaurants, ranging from large national retailers to quaint local shops, residents and visitors can find all they need and more in Greater Mankato.

Looking for all events and happenings?

Be sure to checkout visitmankatomn.com or greatermankatoevents.com.

AWARDS AND ACCOLADES FORBES BEST SMALL PLACES FOR BUSINESS & CAREERS In top 40 on Forbes Best Small Places for Business & Careers list five years running.

MOST AFFORDABLE COLLEGE TOWN Mankato ranks most affordable college city in Minnesota and 336 in the nation, according to a Great Value College 2014 release.

2ND BEST PLACE FOR YOUNG FAMILIES The City of North Mankato was ranked 2nd best place in MN for Young Families in 2014 by nerdwallet.com.

5TH BEST SMALL CITY IN AMERICA On the 2015 list of Best Small Cities in America from nerdwallet.com.

7TH BEST HOCKEY TOWN In the U.S., a 2016 ranking by smartasset.com.

greatermankato.com

9TH BEST TOWN TO RAISE A FAMILY Niche ranked the city of North Mankato 9th on the 2015 list of best towns to raise a family in Minnesota.

Also making the list were Mankato and Saint Peter.

3RD IN U.S. FOR AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE 3rd in the nation on livability.com's 2014 Top 10 Cities for Affordable Health Care.

5TH SAFEST COMMUNITY

North Mankato, MN was ranked 5th safest city in the state by movoto. com in 2014.

4TH IN TOP ENROLLMENT Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal rated Minnesota State University, Mankato 4th in Minnesota for fall enrollment numbers in 2016.

19TH TOP COLLEGE TOWN In 2014 the Mankato-North Mankato Metropolitan Statistical Area was ranked 19th in the nation for top college towns with under 250,000 residents by The American Institute for Economic Research.

ONE OF THE COOLEST URBAN SPACES IN THE U.S. Thrillist ranked City Center Mankato's CityArt as one of the 14 Coolest Urban Spaces in America on their 2015 list.

HOME TO ONE OF THE COOLEST PLAYGROUNDS Mankato's Sibley Park ranks 9th on NewsCastic's 2015 list of coolest playgrounds in the state of Minnesota.

4TH BEST OUTDOOR VENUE IN MINNESOTA Awarded to Vetter Stone Amphitheater in Riverfront Park from the Star Tribune in 2014.

BEST MINNESOTA WINERY The Star Tribune ranked Chankaska Creek Ranch and Winery in Saint Peter, MN the best Minnesota winery on their 2015 Best of MN list.

17TH TOP BREWERY Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal rated Mankato Brewery 17th on itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s list of top breweries in Minnesota & Western Wisconsin.

Rated by number of barrels produced in 2015.

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www.MankatoBrewery.com • 1119 Center Street, North Mankato, MN Taproom Hours: Mon–Fri 4–9pm, Sat 12–9pm, Sun 12–6pm Book with us for your next Birthday Party, Grooms Dinner, Concert, Company Outing, Fundraiser or Wedding!

Mayo Clinic care in your community.

mayoclinichealthsystem.org

Choices. Value. Oppor t unities! f the Proud to be a part o ince 1946! ys Greater Mankato communit

www.southcentral.edu Faribault • North Mankato

Committed + Connected ISG has called the Greater Mankato Area home for the past 40+ years. Having grown to span three states with clients nationwide, our local opportunities with progressive partners in the area have positively impacted ISG professionals and the communities that we are so intimately connected to. The future possibilities of the region and supporting industries are endless, and ISG is committed to providing innovative solutions that benefit our clients now and into the future.

A member of Minnesota State. South Central College is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Educator and has ADA accessible facilities.

ARCHITECTURE

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ENGINEERING

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ENVIRONMENTAL

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PLANNING

PART OF BRINGING ENERGY TO THE COMMUNITY IS BEING PLUGGED INTO IT. The energy we deliver comes from lots of places, and goes to lots of places too. But the greater Mankato area isn’t just a place to us. We live here, we work here, and we make it our business to make the cities and counties we serve in Minnesota better places to do both of those things. So we invest in our communities and strive to give back to the places we’re proud to call home.

Visit xcelenergy.com to learn more.

© 2017 Xcel Energy Inc.

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2/20/17 10:58 AM

An Integrated Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Organization 1961 Premier Drive, Suite 100 Mankato, MN 56001 Phone: 507.385.6640 greatermankato.com #liveworkplaymankato