An estimated 38.9 million tons of iron pellets were produced by the state's mining operations in 2011, up from 35.1 million tons in 2010 and up dramatically from 17.1 million tons in 2009.
Economy
The council will reportedly spend the money on a marketing campaign intended to attract customers to struggling businesses along the Central Corridor light-rail line.
A federal program that gave up to 13 weeks of extended benefits to long-term unemployed individuals is being phased out in Minnesota and nine other states.
The Central Corridor Funders Collaborative has awarded millions of dollars in grants to support economic development around the Central Corridor light-rail line, and it will enter 2012 with about $5 million available to invest.
Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak explores his decade in office in an exclusive Q&A with editor Dale Kurschner.
Prime Therapeutics plans to add 300 information technology and business analyst jobs as it expands into the former home of Buffets, Inc., in Eagan.
The Downtown Council, in conjunction with local business leaders, has a plan to boost downtown Minneapolis' residential population, revitalize Nicollet Avenue, build a "downtown sports district," develop a new park, and more.
Despite the dropping unemployment rate, state officials say the state continues to shed jobs, and the conflicting indicators make it difficult to draw clear conclusions about Minnesota's labor market.
The state took in more revenue and spent less in fiscal 2011 than it had previously anticipated-resulting in a forecasted $876 million balance for the remainder of the current budget period.
Minnesota lost about 6,100 jobs during the month, but some sectors that have been struggling, including the construction industry, saw year-over-year gains.
The city's convention and visitors association is rolling out a new brand-including a logo, tagline, and revamped Web site-in an effort to attract more visitors, and in turn, create more jobs.
Governor Mark Dayton announced that the state will disburse up to $100 million among community banks to spur lending to small businesses, thus doubling the amount provided through an existing program.
Minneapolis officials, who have mostly remained on the sidelines since the Vikings announced their support for an Arden Hills plan, are now re-entering stadium talks; part of the mayor's plan involves an increased sales tax.
The state shed about 7,400 jobs in September, but Minnesota employers have added 27,700 jobs in the past year, and the unemployment rate dropped 0.3 percent.
The new economic development organization plans to roll out a marketing campaign for the region-and it has set a goal of helping the area add 100,000 jobs in the next five years, or about 25 percent more than the number of jobs expected to come through natural growth.
A new 64-page report outlines ways to reduce racial employment disparity in the Twin Cities, which reportedly has the highest such disparity among the nation's largest metro areas.
A new report from the Minneapolis Foundation shows dramatic differences between Minneapolis residents of differing races and ethnicities-disparities that begin at an early age and affect education, jobs, housing, and other aspects of life.
The 15-year-old organization will cease operations at the end of this year; its executive director, Joel Akason, will become a full-time employee of recently formed regional economic development organization Greater MSP.