The Hastings-based company has more than 1.5 million members at its clubs; on average, a new gym opens every 36 hours, and a new member joins every three minutes.
Economy
The Grand Rapids-based company, which already reclaims iron ore from mining waste at plants in Keewatin and Taconite in northern Minnesota, will invest an estimated $120 million in the new plants, each of which will reportedly employ about 120.
A Twin Cities entrepreneur develops a new approach
to East African development.
Among universities that earned more than $2 million in royalties in 2009, the University of Minnesota reportedly saw the biggest drop during the subsequent two years.
Launched to promote job creation in the state, Jobs for Minnesotans will support proposals to bring mining of copper and other metals to northeastern Minnesota—which it claims will create thousands of jobs.
Imris, Inc., will relocate about 60 employees from its current home office in Winnipeg and hire local residents for an additional 70 positions.
Local companies have pledged monetary support to the American Red Cross and other charities, but they have also offered other types of aid, including truckloads of food, paid vacation to employees dedicated to providing relief, and matching employee contributions; total donations exceed $1.25 million in value.
Eighteen of the new restaurants will be in California, and a single new location will open in the cities of Lansing, Michigan; Independence, Missouri; and Yakima, Washington.
The economic development group said that by the end of 2012, its efforts will have helped create or retain 4,000 Twin Cities jobs.
The company, which has hired 22 people in the metro area this year and anticipates additional hires in the near term, recently relocated to a larger office space.
Some Minnesota companies that were forced to close their East Coast locations as Hurricane Sandy hit the coast Monday reopened stores on Tuesday; meanwhile, U.S. stock markets remain closed but are expected to reopen Wednesday.
Mark Phillips, who became DEED commissioner in January 2011, said he was “a good fit for a good part of the DEED work” but didn’t enjoy the administrative part of his role; he plans to retire in about five years and wanted to end his career in the private sector.
Kraft plans to move its Velveeta line of products and another production line out of New Ulm but boost production of processed cheese at that plant; the shifts will eliminate roughly 80 full-time equivalent hourly positions and 10 salaried positions next year.
Taylor-Wharton International, which has more than $200 million in annual revenue, is moving its corporate headquarters to Minnetonka and will relocate up to 30 jobs, with plans to hire new employees in the Twin Cities.
3M, Tennant, and Donaldson recently lowered their earnings outlooks, citing current economic conditions.
DiaMedica, which is developing drugs to treat diabetes, chose to move to the Twin Cities because of the area's strong life sciences sector, among other benefits.
The company plans to add 87,000 square feet to its former headquarters building in downtown Minneapolis, which is now a research and development facility.
Friday will be Mark Phillips’ last day at DEED; Minnesota Trade Office Executive Director Katie Clark has been appointed to succeed him in the position.