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| Minneapolis-Saint Paul Regional Economic Development Partnership | |
|---|---|
| Name | Minneapolis–Saint Paul Regional Economic Development Partnership |
| Formation | 2012 |
| Type | Economic development nonprofit |
| Headquarters | Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| Region served | Twin Cities metropolitan area |
| Leader title | CEO |
Minneapolis-Saint Paul Regional Economic Development Partnership is a public-private nonprofit collaboration focused on promoting trade, investment, and job creation in the Twin Cities metropolitan area of Minnesota. It unites municipal, county, corporate, and civic actors to coordinate regional marketing, business attraction, and cluster development across Minneapolis, Saint Paul, and surrounding suburbs. The Partnership acts as a convenor among corporations, universities, airports, and cultural institutions to strengthen competitiveness in sectors such as healthcare, advanced manufacturing, and finance.
The Partnership was created following strategic discussions involving the City of Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Hennepin County, Ramsey County, and major corporations including Target Corporation, 3M, Ecolab, and Best Buy Co., Inc. to respond to regional challenges identified after the 2008 financial crisis and the later bid processes for events and corporate relocations. Early allies included the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, University of Minnesota, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, and metropolitan chambers such as Greater MSP and the Minneapolis Regional Chamber. The organization’s formation paralleled national efforts like SelectUSA and regional models such as Greater Phoenix Economic Council and Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce to create a unified brand for business attraction. Major milestones included coordinated bids for corporate headquarters, development of sector strategies in partnership with Mayo Clinic affiliates and securing trade missions with U.S. Commercial Service representatives.
Governance is built around a board of directors composed of civic leaders from Hennepin County, Ramsey County, mayors of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, and executives from multinational firms such as General Mills, UnitedHealth Group, Medtronic, and Cargill. Advisory committees include representatives from academic institutions like University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Augsburg University, and Hamline University as well as nonprofit partners such as Greater MSP and Twin Cities Rise. Operational staff coordinate with municipal economic development offices in Maple Grove, Bloomington, and Plymouth and liaise with regional agencies including Metropolitan Council (Minnesota).
Programmatic work targets industry clusters including medical devices around Medtronic, finance around Piper Jaffray, and retail innovation near Target Corporation headquarters. Initiatives include international trade missions to markets like China, Germany, and Canada coordinated with Consulate General of Japan in Chicago contacts, export assistance partnering with Small Business Administration programs, and talent attraction campaigns with workforce agencies such as DEED (Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). The Partnership has supported site selection services for corporate relocations similar to work by CBRE Group and JLL (Jones Lang LaSalle), offered incentives navigation with counties and cities, and advanced placemaking tied to institutions such as Walker Art Center and Minnesota Orchestra to enhance quality-of-place for executives and employees.
The Partnership convenes stakeholders across municipal, corporate, and institutional boundaries, coordinating with regional bodies like the Metropolitan Council (Minnesota), transit agencies including Metro Transit (Minnesota), and airport authorities such as the Metropolitan Airports Commission. It works alongside philanthropic organizations like the McKnight Foundation and Bush Foundation and partners with research centers including the Minnesota Population Center and Robina Institute of Criminal Law and Criminal Justice for data-driven strategy. International collaboration has involved connections to Consulate General of Sweden in Chicago and trade delegations linked to U.S. Department of Commerce initiatives.
Funding derives from a mix of municipal dues from City of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, county contributions from Hennepin County and Ramsey County, corporate sponsorships from firms such as Target Corporation and 3M, and grants from foundations like the Gannett Foundation and Bush Foundation. The Partnership leverages public financing tools administered by entities such as Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development and municipal tax increment financing (TIF) mechanisms used in Bloomington and Saint Paul redevelopment. Financial oversight is reported to stakeholders at annual meetings alongside audits comparable to standards followed by United Way Worldwide affiliates.
Reported outcomes include facilitation of several corporate expansions in the Twin Cities, increased international investment leads similar to successes reported by Greater MSP, and support for cluster growth in healthcare and finance with partners such as Mayo Clinic Health System and UnitedHealth Group. Metrics cited by the Partnership have included job commitments, capital investment totals, and new export contracts achieved through trade missions to China and Germany. Civic placemaking projects tied to the Partnership’s marketing have highlighted cultural anchors like Minneapolis Institute of Art and sports venues such as U.S. Bank Stadium in talent recruitment efforts.
Critics have questioned the Partnership’s transparency in incentive negotiations that echo controversies involving Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority and debates over tax increment financing in Minnesota. Community groups and affordable housing advocates referencing organizations like TakeAction Minnesota have raised concerns about prioritization of corporate incentives over local needs, and labor organizations including Minnesota AFL–CIO have scrutinized job quality outcomes tied to recruitment deals. Debates also touched on regional equity and inclusion raised by civil rights groups such as the NAACP Minneapolis and civil liberties advocates monitoring urban development impacts.
Category:Economy of Minneapolis–Saint Paul