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VIDEO: Right to Freeload
When we look deeper into the proposed constitutional amendment to make Minnesota a "right-to-work" state, it's important to know what could be stripped away by proposed legislation. As we've highlighted over the past two weeks, removing benefits provided by unions would compromise safety, shortcut training programs, even eliminate voices in contract negotiations.
It is also important to listen to workers who would be directly impacted by weakening collective bargaining policy in the workplace.
Posted in Economic Development | Related Topics: Union Working / Middle Class Issues
VIDEO: Crunch Time for College Admissions
The class of 2012 is now gearing up to enter higher education, but it takes much more than a good ACT score and a personal essay. The job is just beginning for the gauntlet of scholarship applications, FAFSA forms, and financial aid paperwork that aspiring co-eds must complete.
St. Paul-based College Possible (formerly Admission Possible) is a nonprofit that coaches low-income and first generation college-bound students in preparing and applying for higher education. We dropped in on an after-school coaching session to hear what's on the minds of aspiring applicants.
Posted in Education | Related Topics: Higher Education Youth Programs
VIDEO: Delivering for the Holidays
Santa has nothing on the US Postal Service. The big red guy is done after one night. Letter carriers, sorters, and other USPS workers hustle year around delivering everything from letters to giant packages. We recently sat down with two Twin Cities carriers to discuss potential changes at the postal service, what they say is really threatening USPS's future viability, and their favorite holiday deliveries. Here's a preview:
Come back to mn2020.org next Wednesday for the longer version of this discussion.
Posted in Economic Development | Related Topics: Regulation Shipping
VIDEO: Can’t Find a Job? Volunteer
Recent-grad unemployment rates climbed to 9.1% in 2010, and the burden of student debt is on the rise. Tactics for finding the right job at the right time takes dedication and creativity, and sometimes working for free. Internships and volunteerism are important for networking and keeping skills current when competition is so steep.
Posted in Economic Development | Related Topics: Higher Education Unemployment
VIDEO: A Real Small Business Tax Obstacle
Positive holiday retail sales signal consumer confidence is up, helping our economic recovery. But not all is well for small brick-and-mortar retail businesses in Minnesota, which have a double disadvantage against online retailers this season.
Internet merchants have a pricing advantage because of online sales tax loopholes. Adding to worries for traditional businesses is Amazon.com, which has developed a smartphone app that lets consumers go into a brick-and-mortar store, scan bar codes, and get a discount if they buy from Amazon instead.
Discounts can be attractive, but there's social and economic value in supporting Minnesota businesses and products.
Posted in Economic Development | Related Topics: Buy Local Corporate Business Small Business
VIDEO: Time for Payback
Minnesota policymakers were mostly surprised to learn of the $876 million budget surplus. Further inspection, however, shows much of the celebration is premature. By law, the surplus must go back into state reserves first, leaving us nothing to bay back the $2.9 billion debt owe to Minnesota schools.
Minnesota 2020 Executive Director John Van Hecke breaks it down.
Posted in Fiscal Policy | Related Topics: Conservative Policy "No New Taxes" Education Funding
Progress On Our Doorstep: It finally looks like something
After eight months of major construction, University Avenue, between Highway 280 and Snelling, is mostly complete, with two lanes of traffic free flowing in each direction along much of this section.
Since March, we've seen major underground utilities replaced, new sidewalks and lighting, cement platforms cast and dried, and tracks installed.
Check out MN2020's Glance So Far and past videos to see the progress on our doorstep.
Posted in Transportation | Related Topics: Public Transportation Central Corridor Light Rail
Diversity’s Opportunity
Diversity is good for Minnesota’s economy. Growing numbers of new Americans and minorities present a vast range of opportunity in nearly every industry from retail to high-tech manufacturing. A recent Minnesota 2020 report, using Concordia University data, identified more than $12 billion in economic activity coming from Minnesota’s ethnic communities.
This comes as our national partners at the Center for American Progress release their latest Progress 2050 video, a project that works to create a vision focused on the opportunity of diversity.
Watch:
Posted in Economic Development | Related Topics: Economic Growth Immigration Minority Issues
Why Minnesota 2020?
Michael Wojcik of the Rochester City Council, explains the importance of having reliable data in this short video:
Posted in News & Notes | Related Topics: Communication Progressive Community
Occupy the Minnesota Way
During a recent video shoot, we couldn't help noticing the distinct differences of the occupy movement in Minnesota to protests elsewhere. Demonstrations in the government plaza in Minneapolis have both a welcoming Minnesota Nice atmosphere, as well as clear communication and cooperation with law enforcement officers in the area.
Posted in Economic Development | Related Topics: Minneapolis / St Paul Progressive Community