Minutes of East Central Minnesota Workforce Partnership Meeting

 

October 12, 2004

 

Call to Order: Chair John Norris called the meeting to order at 7:08 a.m.

 

In Attendance: Sharon Prahl, People Focus & Cargo Box, Christy Flaspeter, Grandview, John Norris, Atscott Mfg., Mary Ann Straley, Princeton ISD #477, Marty Harding, Communities Investing in Families, Robert Musgrove, Pine Technical College, Terry Dalbey, MN DEED, Keith Lester, Mora Schools, Bridget Peterson, Greater MN Credit Union, Angie Sanders, Braham, Cambridge-Isanti, Mora, Princeton ABE Consortium, Dennis Tollefson, Central MN Jobs and Training, Nick Waldoch, Braham Schools, Roger Crawford, City of Mora, Sally Hoy, City of Braham, Jim Ausmus, City of Hinckley, Darwin Bostic, Pine City Public Schools, Ken Runberg, Cambridge-Isanti Public Schools, Scott Moore, NE Regional Labor Market Analyst, MN DEED and Ray Hoheisel, Executive Director.

 

Welcome and Introductions: John N. welcomed Scott Moore, NE Regional Labor Market Analyst and representatives from the cities of Braham, Hinckley and Mora to the meeting. Members introduced themselves.

 

Minutes: Partnership meeting minutes of September 15, 2004 were approved upon motion by Robert M, seconded by Nick W. Motion carried.

 

Financial Report: Executive Director Ray H.. reported a balance of $35,594.08. Revenue was from interest. Expenditures were for Executive Director services and mileage. Moved by Robert M., seconded by Darwin B. to approve financial report. Motion carried.

 

Executive Director Payment for Services: Upon motion by Robert M., seconded by Terry D., members approved payment for one day for director services in September 2004. Motion carried.

 

Enterprise Network Analysis Presentation: John N. began by giving a brief history of the Partnership. Scott Moore, NE Regional Labor Analyst, DEED gave a presentation entitled Enterprise Network Analysis. His presentation outlined a method for communities and regions to organize and recognize economic development opportunities that have a greater likelihood to succeed. The analysis is based on using existing available data in an attempt to level the playing field for economic development in rural areas. The premise is that for a new business to succeed, inputs for their product must be available in near proximity.

 

He shared and discussed the essence of the analytical model and gave examples of potential new business opportunities based on the analysis. He said industry codes are key data items and implementing ideas in communities or regions should be done by industry driven groups. In response to a question he estimated that a regional study would cost in the neighborhood of $50,000, but that should be looked at in light of what is currently being spent on economic development in individual communities. He felt that the key to successful launching of new businesses was area wide cooperation to recruit and support them, doing a more sophisticated analysis of probable success and educating entrepreneurs about the possibilities so they felt there was a greater chance to successfully launch a new enterprise.

 

Review Employer Conference Survey Draft: Marty H. distributed copies of survey draft and listing of breakout sessions by category since conference’s inception. Members gave Marty H. several suggested changes to the survey instrument. She mentioned that the conference is set for Friday, April 29, 2005. The survey will be e-mailed to past participants and responses will be collected via Survey Monkey. Conference theme, speakers and breakout sessions were also discussed. It was announced that the Employer Conference committee will meet each month following the Partnership meeting. This will also include Communities Investing in Families, Employer Employee committee members.

 

Regional Meeting with Manufacturing Businesses: Robert M. reported on the October 4, 2004 “Meeting on Manufacturing Workforce and Workforce Education in East Central Minnesota.” He said the third meeting was mostly spent in task force meetings. The two task forces that met were K-12 Outreach and Out-of-School.

 

The K-12 Outreach group focused on K-12 students and parents and teachers concentrating on how to increase career awareness for manufacturing. For the short term the group discussed particulars about a manufacturing career day that is tentatively set for December 3, 2004 at Pine Technical College. Planning included identifying a keynote speaker, hands-on activities for participating juniors and seniors, job and scholarship opportunities and enlisting local manufacturers to lead activities and give presentations.

 

The Out-of-School group brainstormed and generated a lengthy list of ideas that were recorded and included in the minutes. Minutes of the meeting will be sent to Partnership members via e-mail.

 

Review Partnership Mission and Goals Section on Developing Future Workers: Postponed until November meeting.

           

Meeting adjourned at 8:45 a.m. Minutes by Ray Hoheisel