When I created the Mayor’s Employer Celebration Day 11 years ago it was to highlight the positive impacts of all of our Employers. We have been very successful in creating a positive enviroment for our existing businesses to grow and in recruiting new businesses. We have a 40% net increase of total businesses and a 48% net increase of local jobs since 2010. We have won two prestigious Business Recruitment Awards from the Economic Development Association of Minnesota in my time as Mayor. We are the smallest city to have won such an award let alone twice. My Economic Development Team has changed over my years as Mayor but our commitment to growing and diversifying our commercial/industrial businesses to provide jobs, services and tax base has remained consistent.
