WDSE WDSE WDSE WDSE KEN: ARBOR IS LATIN FOR TREE AND WE ARE IN A PLACE WITH A LOT OF TREES.

WE ARE AT THE FORESTRY CENTER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA AND THIS IS 43 ACRES OF LAND SET ASIDE FOR LEARNING AND STUDYING.

ARBOR DAY, WE ARE CELEBRATING ARBOR MONTH IN MINNESOTA.

WE STARTED ARBOR DAY IN APRIL BUT DUE TO THE UNPREDICTABILITY OF THE PLANTING SEASON, GETTING TREES IN THE GROUND TAKES A WHOLE MONTH SO WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF MAY WHICH IS ARBOR MONTH IN MINNESOTA.

THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE THIS IS OUR 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF ARBOR DAY IN MINNESOTA AND WE WERE THE FOURTH STATE IN THE UNION TO PICK UP THE IDEA OF HAVING AN ARBOR DAY.

AMERICA CELEBRATING ITS 100TH YEAR, IT CENTENNIAL, MINNESOTA WAS THE FOURTH STATE IN THE UNION TO CELEBRATE ARBOR DAY.

LEONARD HODGES IS IN CHARGE OF THIS.

IN JANUARY 1876, HE’S THE FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE MINNESOTA FORESTRY ASSOCIATION.

HE STARTS A CONTEST, BUT HE NEEDS A LITTLE JINGLE FOR HIS CONTEST TO WORK.

HIS EMPLOYER PLEDGES $50 A YEAR FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS TO PROMOTE PLANTING OF TREES ON THE PRAIRIES OF MINNESOTA AND ARBOR DAY BEGINS.

DELANO PROBABLY MADE ABOUT $85 A MONTH BACK THEN AND PLEDGING $50 A YEAR, WHICH TODAY IS ABOUT $1600, WAS A PRETTY BIG DENT IN HIS SALARY.

SO HE WENT TO HIS BOSS TO GET THE MONEY.

FR DELANO WAS AN AGENT FOR THE ST.

PAUL AND PACIFIC RAILWAY, SOON TO BECOME A PART OF JAMES J HILL’S EMPIRE BUILDER RAILWAY SYSTEM.

I BRING THAT UP BECAUSE LEONARD HODGES WAS ALSO THE GUY THAT DURING HIS TENURE WITH THE MINNESOTA STATE FORESTRY ASSOCIATION SET ASIDE 3400 ACRES OUTSIDE OF CLOQUET FOR THE CLOQUET FORESTRY CENTER FOR THE UNIVERSITY.

A WORD YOU NEED TO KNOW.

DEFEASANCE MEANS BUYING YOUR WAY OUT OF AND ENCUMBER MEANT.

IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE BECAUSE BONDING BILLS IN THE PAST PAID FOR SOME OF THE INSTALLATION PROJECTS ON THE FORESTRY CENTER, THAT MONEY IS ENCUMBERED TO THE STATE.

IT HAS TO BE WITH THE STATE.

THAT 400 ACRES OF THE 3400 IS ENCUMBERED.

DEFEASANCE IS THE WORD TO SAY WE ARE BUYING OUR WAY OUT OF THAT ENCUMBER MEANT.

IN THE BONDING BILL WAS $1.3 MILLION IN GENERAL FUNDING FOR DEFEASANCE, FREEING UP THIS 400 ACRES WHICH WILL FREE UP THE 3400 ACRES WHICH WILL BE REPATRIATED TO THE FOND DU LAC BAND OF LAKE SUPERIOR CHIPPEWA.

WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE ENTIRE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND WHAT BILLS AND MEASURES WERE PASSED FOR AFFECTED BUSINESSES BECAUSE THIS IS A BUSINESS-ORIENTED PROGRAM.

WE ARE TALKING SEVERAL LEGISLATORS ABOUT THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND WHAT THE IMPACT WILL BE ON BUSINESSES ACROSS THE STATE AND REGION AND WE WILL TALK TO A COUPLE OF OTHERS WHO HAVE RECEIVED BONDING MONEY IN THIS GREAT BONDING BILL, 1.2 BILLION DOLLARS WORTH, WHICH WILL CHANGE THE WAY CERTAIN SEGMENTS OF OUR SOCIETY ARE TREATED IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THAT IS ALL TONIGHT ON "IN BUSINESS."

♪ KEN: WELCOME TO "IN BUSINESS."

I'M KEN BUEHLER.

THIS WEEK, WE ARE FOCUSED ON THE JUST-FINISHED MINNESOTA LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND THE IMPACT NEW LAWS AND PROVISIONS APPROVED BY OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS WILL HAVE ON BUSINESSES ACROSS THE STATE AND HERE IN OUR REGION.

FOR BUSINESSES IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, THE MAJOR PIECE OF LEGISLATION AFFECTING THEM IS THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT OR BONDING BILL.

THIS $1.2 BILLION EXPENDITURE FINANCES CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS ACROSS THE STATE, INCLUDING SEVERAL IN OUR AREA.

STATE MONEY AND LOCAL MATCHING FUNDS WILL LEAD TO THOUSANDS OF JOBS OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS PAYING WORKERS AND THE COMPANIES THAT EMPLOY THEM TO BUILD NEW AND REPAIR OLD.

THE LEGISLATURE HAS STRUGGLED OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS TO AGREE ON A BONDING BILL.

THE LAST ONE WAS THREE YEARS AGO AND WAS OUT OF SEQUENCE.

THAT’S WHY THIS YEAR’S MEASURE IS SO NOTEWORTHY.

WE PICKED TWO PROJECTS THAT IMPACT OUR AREA.

JOINING US IS LUCIE AMUNDSEN, THE DECC COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, TO TALK ABOUT A PROJECT AT THE DULUTH ENTERTAINMENT AND CONVENTION CENTER.

KATIE HAGGLUND IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DULUTH UNION GOSPEL MISSION.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

WE WILL START WITH YOU, LUCIE.

DECC GOT $4.9 MILLION TO DO SOME PROJECTS WITH INFRASTRUCTURE.

LUCIE: IT FEELS LIKE WE HAVE WAITED A LONG TIME.

WE’VE BEEN GOING TO THE LEGISLATURE FOR A GOOD THREE YEARS NOW, BECAUSE ONE OF THE GREATEST THINGS ABOUT THE DULUTH ENTERTAINMENT CONVENTION CENTER IS THAT IT IS 60 YEARS OLD THIS YEAR AND THE VET ABOUT THAT AS WE HAVE SO MANY INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS.

WE ARE GOING TO TAKE ABOUT $2 MILLION OF THAT BONDING MONEY DUE IS SUPER UNGLAMOROUS, BUT NECESSARY PROJECT OF REPLACING PIPE COUPLINGS THROUGHOUT THE SERIES OF VENUES THAT WE HAVE.

IT IS GOING TO IMMEDIATELY MAKE THE BUILDER SAFER FOR OUR STAFF, AS WELL AS SAVE US $100,000 A YEAR RIGHT OFF THE BAT.

KEN: SO THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PROJECT YOU HAVE WAITED A LONG TIME FOR.

HOW LONG DO YOU THINK IT IS GOING TO TAKE TO DO?

LUCIE: IT’S GOING TO TAKE A WHILE.

TO REACH THE PIPES, WE HAVE TO BUST THROUGH WALLS AND DO ALL THE REPAIRS AND FIX THEM IN BETWEEN THE 500 EVENTS WE HAVE.

THERE’S GOING TO BE A LOT OF PIECEMEAL WORK GOING ON.

OUR OTHER BIG PROJECTS ARE TOO NEEDED UPGRADES TO OUR ELEVATORS AND TO OUR ESCALATOR SYSTEMS, SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO WELCOME EVERYONE.

KEN: KATIE, YOU ARE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE YOUTH GOSPEL MISSION.

YOU GOT TO BE LOCATED INTO A BRAND-NEW BUILDING.

HOW IMPORTANT IS THAT TO YOUR ORGANIZATION AND THE COMMUNITIES YOU SERVE?

KATIE: IT IS TRANSFORMATIONAL FOR UNION GOSPEL MISSION.

WE HAVE BEEN SERVING THE COMMUNITY FOR ALMOST 104 YEARS.

WE HAVE MOVED SEVEN TIMES ACROSS DOWNTOWN DURING THAT CENTURY OF SERVICE BUT THE BUILDING WE ARE CURRENTLY OPERATING AND USED TO BE AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP SO IT’S NOT BUILT FOR THE LEVEL OF FOLKS WE ARE SERVING EACH DAY.

WE ARE SERVING UPWARDS OF 300 PEOPLE PER MEAL TIME.

GUESTS ARE COMING IN AND OUT.

WE HAVE TWO BATHROOMS, 75 CHAIRS.

WE HAVE OUTGROWN OUR SPACE AND THEN THE NORTHLAND COMMUNITY FOLKS STRUGGLING HAS CONTINUED TO RISE.

OUR HOMELESS FOLKS HAS RISEN 41% IN THE PAST 10 YEARS AND CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS HAS RISEN 157%.

OUR HOUSING VACANCY RATE IS 1.7%.

SO FOLKS ARE QUITE LITERALLY GETTING TRAPPED IN THE SYSTEM AND WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO REINVENT OUR HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM IN THE NORTH LAND SO WE ARE PARTNERING WITH NONPROFIT PARTNERS PARTICULARLY TO TAKE A LOOK AT HOW WE CAN MAKE THIS SYSTEM, ACCOMMODATE THE FOLKS THAT EXIST IN IT NOW, BUT ALSO BE ABLE TO GET FOLKS OUT OF THE HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN, SO WITH US BEING ABLE TO RELOCATE TO A BUILDING THAT IS PURPOSE BUILT, IN A LOCATION THAT BETTER SERVES THE NEIGHBORS THAT WE WORK WITH EACH DAY, THERE IS JUST GOING TO BE SO MUCH BENEFIT TO THE FOLKS THAT WE SERVE.

AND ALSO WITH US RELOCATING IT KIND OF OPENS THE DOOR FOR SOME ECONOMIC REDEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES AT OUR EXISTING SPACE.

KEN: WE WILL TALK ABOUT THAT IN A MINUTE, BUT I’M INTERESTED IN THE TIMELINE FOR THE PROJECT AND WHERE THE BUILDING WILL BE LOCATED IN DULUTH.

KATIE: OUR FUTURE BUILDING WILL BE LOCATED DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM THE ST.

LOUIS COUNTY GOVERNMENT SERVICES CENTER.

IT IS JUST A MUCH BETTER AREA FOR US TO BE.

IT CENTRALIZES THE NONPROFIT COMMUNITY.

IT ALLOWS FOLKS TO NO LONGER HAVE TO NAVIGATE AND WALK ACROSS DOWNTOWN DULUTH TO REACH BASIC NEEDS DAILY.

OUR GOAL IS TO REAPPLY FOR MINNESOTA HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY FUNDS TO FUND THE SECOND AND THIRD FLOOR OF OUR BUILDING.

LAST YEAR WE APPLIED FOR A MUST WHEN HE MILLION DOLLARS TO FUND THE SECOND AND THIRD FLOORS OF OUR FUTURE SPACE SO WE CAN PROVIDE 40 UNITS OF EFFICIENCY HOUSING FOR GUESTS IN THE COMMUNITY.

WE WERE THE NUMBER ONE SCORING APPLICATION ACROSS THE STATE AND UNFORTUNATELY WE WERE TURNED DOWN BECAUSE WE DIDN’T HAVE THE FUNDING SECURED FOR THE FIRST FLOOR.

SO NOW WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SECURE THAT WITH THE HELP FROM THE LOCAL DELEGATION AND A PLETHORA OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND WE FEEL VERY CONFIDENT THAT BY THE END OF THE YEAR WE WILL BE FULLY FUNDED AND NEXT SPRING WE WILL BE BREAKING GROUND AND WE WILL OPEN OUR DOORS BY 2028.

KEN: KATIE IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE YOUTH UNION GOSPEL MISSION AND LUCIE IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE DULUTH ENTERTAINMENT AND CONVENTION CENTER.

TONY: WE ARE NOT --LUCIE: WE ARE IN A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT SITUATION.

WE ARE A CAUSE I GOVERNMENTAL BUILDING.

WE WILL STATE OF MINNESOTA -- WE WERE BUILT BY THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, SO WE DON’T HAVE TO COME UP WITH THE MATCHING FUNDS.

KEN: KATIE, WHERE IS YOUR FUNDING COMING FROM?

KATIE: FORTUNATELY FOR US WE HAVE ALREADY SECURED $2.5 MILLION IN LOCAL RESOURCES TO GO TO THE BUILDING.

SOME OF THAT HAS BEEN PRIVATE PHILANTHROPY.

SOME OF THAT HAS BEEN FUNDING THROUGH THE CITY OF DULUTH AND ST.

LOUIS COUNTY IN SOME OF IT CAME FROM HEALTH CARE PARTNERS, COUNTY, CITY, AND JUST THE FOLKS THAT LIVE AND WORK AND EXIST IN THE NORTH LAND HELPING US MAKE THIS ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

KEN: WHEN YOU ARE DONE WITH THIS, WILL YOU BE EXPANDING YOUR WORKFORCE?

KATIE: WE ABSOLUTELY WILL.

WE ARE EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO START TO BECOME A BUILDING THAT CAN OPERATE 24/7 365 DAYS A YEAR.

THAT IS DESPERATELY NEEDED FOR THE FOLKS WE WORK WITH SO WHERE TEAM WILL BE EXPANDING QUITE SIGNIFICANTLY.

KEN: BONDING MONEY HAS ANOTHER EFFECT.

IT FUNDS JOBS AND IT FUNDS COMPANIES THAT EMPLOY THESE PEOPLE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE ECONOMIC IMPACT WILL BE OVER THE YEARS THAT IS GOING TO TAKE?

WHAT DO YOU THINK A THAT MULTIPLIER EFFECT?

LUCIE: WELL IT CERTAINLY WILL MAKE A LOT MORE COMFORTABLE AND WONDERFUL TO HAVE AN EVENT AT THE DECC.

IT IS GOING TO MAKE IT SO NOT ONLY WILL WE HIRE LOTS OF SKILLED LABOR TO GET THE JOB DONE, BUT IT MAKES IT EASIER FOR US TO HAVE HIGHER-QUALITY EVENTS THAT WILL EVENTUALLY TRANSLATE INTO MORE AND MORE EVENTS.

BECAUSE IT IS A HUGE BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY WHEN WE HAVE A BIG CONVENTION, BRING A BIG CONCERT.

THE RIPPLE IS DEFINITELY FELT.

KEN: I WANT TO THINK OUR TWO GUESTS WE HAVE HAD WITH US.

KATIE HAGGLUND IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF DULUTH’S UNION GOSPEL MISSION IN DOWNTOWN DULUTH.

8.8 $5 MILLION BONDING RECIPIENT.

LUCIE AMUNDSEN IS THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE DULUTH ENTERTAINMENT AND CONVENTION CENTER.

WE THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING A PART OF THE PROGRAM.

BEFORE OUR NEXT SEGMENT, HERE'S A QUICK LOOK AT SOME BUSINESS NEWS FROM ACROSS THE REGION.

ESSENTIA HEALTH HAS BROKEN GROUND ON A NEW EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT AT ITS VIRGINIA HOSPITAL CAMPUS.

THE $13 MILLION PROJECT WILL NEARLY DOUBLE THE SIZE OF THE CURRENT EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT, ADDING NEW EXAM ROOMS, UPDATED TECHNOLOGY, AND A DEDICATED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SUITE.

CONSTRUCTION IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN SPRING OF 2027.

GROUND HAS ALSO BEEN BROKEN ON A NEW CONTROL TOWER AT DULUTH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

AIRPORT OFFICIALS, CITY LEADERS, AND STATE TRANSPORTATION REPRESENTATIVES TOOK PART IN THE CEREMONY.

THE PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO MODERNIZE AIR TRAFFIC OPERATIONS AND SUPPORT FUTURE GROWTH AT THE AIRPORT.

AND THE FOND DU LAC BAND OF LAKE SUPERIOR CHIPPEWA HAS OPENED MINNESOTA'S FIRST CANNABIS TASTING LOUNGE IN CARLTON.

THE NEW ANANG TASTING LOUNGE FEATURES EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES, A “DAB THEATRE,” AND SOLVENTLESS CANNABIS PRODUCTS PRODUCED BY THE BAND.

NEXT, WE HAD OUR "MINNESOTA LEGISLATIVE REPORT" HOST TONY SERTICH SIT DOWN WITH AREA LEGISLATORS TO FIND OUT WHAT THIS SESSION COULD MEAN FOR AREA BUSINESSES.

TONY: HELLO AND WELCOME BACK TO "IN BUSINESS," I’M TODY INSERTED.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE END OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND WHAT IT COULD MEAN FOR THE SESSION.

JOINING US NOW IS A DFLER FROM DULUTH AND REPRESENTATIVE NATHAN NELSON, A REPUBLICAN FROM CULVER TOWNSHIP NEAR HINCKLEY REPRESENTING DISTRICT 11B, AND A REPUBLICAN REPRESENTING DISTRICT THREE B. WELCOME TO YOU ALL.

THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION JUST WRAPPED UP IN THE MAIN QUESTION ON VIEWERS’ MINDS IS WHAT WAS THE IMPACT OF THE SESSION ON OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY?

WE WILL START WITH YOU.

>> THANK YOU AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS MOST IMPORTANT WAS TO HAVE A PASS-THROUGH ENTITY BE PROTECTED THIS NEXT YEAR AND THAT GOT WORKED ON AND WE PASSED THAT.

THE OTHER THING THAT I THINK WILL HELP THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS THE CHILD TAX CREDIT.

IT IS TO HELP THE WORKFORCE HAVE CHILD CARE.

IT WILL ALLOW THEM A LANE TO DO THAT.

I THINK THAT IS A GREAT OPTION FOR THEM.

AND AGAIN I’M EXCITED TO SEE EVENTS ARE HAPPENING WITH THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE DRAFT COMING TO MINNEAPOLIS.

I WORKED HARD ON TRYING TO GET A NEW PATHWAY FOR FUNDING SO THE MINNESOTA EVENTS CAN VET THESE REALLY RENOWNED EVENTS, WHETHER IT IS WRESTLING EVENTS OR GYMNASTICS OR THE OLYMPIC TRIALS.

ALL OF THESE THINGS.

MINNESOTA SHOULD BE AT THE FRONT LINES TO COMPETE.

THAT WILL BRING REVENUE TO DULUTH AT THE DECC AND BRING REVENUE TO MINNEAPOLIS.

I’M EXCITED FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY AND FOR SMALL BUSINESSES ACROSS THE STATE.

THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS WE WERE ABLE TO GET DONE AND WE HAVE A LOT MORE TO DO.

MANY HAVE ASKED ABOUT PAID LEAVE.

WHILE WE AUTHORED BILLS TO HELP ONE OF THE PAID LEAVE, THAT WASN’T GOING TO HAPPEN.

AS FAR AS THE BUSINESSES WITH VERY FEW EMPLOYEES ARE REALLY STRUGGLING TO COMPETE.

AND TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO COVER PAYROLL RIGHT NOW WHEN THEY DON’T HAVE THE ABILITY TO HAVE REPLACEMENTS.

KEN: WHAT IMPACTS TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY HAPPENS DURING THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION?

>> I THINK AS THE REPRESENTATIVE STATED, SOME OF THE FEDERAL CONFORMITY’S ARE IMPORTANT WITH THE TAXES I WAS DISAPPOINTED WE COULDN’T GET CHANGE IN, WE GOT A LOT OF SELF-EMPLOYED INDIVIDUALS IN MY DISTRICT AND ALL ACROSS THE STATE THAT ARE PAYING INTO IT, THAT ARE NEVER GOING TO BE ABLE TO COLLECT UNPAID LEAVE, BUT IT IS A COST ON THEIR BOTTOM LINE.

WE ARE REALLY ABLE TO HAVE A DISCUSSION AROUND THAT AND THAT IS REALLY UNFORTUNATE THAT WE COULDN’T ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE ISSUES.

BUT AGAIN, SOME OF THE GOOD THINGS IS THE FEDERAL CONFORMITY ONE OF THE TAX ISSUES.

KEN: HOW OUR BUSINESS IS GOING TO BE IMPACTED BY THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION?

>> THIS BUSINESS COMMUNITY REALLY CAME TOGETHER TO SHARE THEIR NEEDS, CHALLENGES, SUCCESSES, AREAS WE REALLY NEED TO LEAN INTO AS A STATE LEGISLATURE TO BE AS BROAD --TO BE A STRONG PARTNER TO MAKE SURE A REGIONAL AND STATE ECONOMY CAN THRIVE AND GROW AND EXPAND, WHILE ALSO MAKING SURE THAT WORKERS ARE GIVEN A FAIR SHAKE AT BEING ABLE TO HAVE ECONOMIC MOBILITY.

A COUPLE OF THINGS I’M PROUD THAT WE WERE ABLE TO REACH BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT ON US THE PAST FEW ENTITIES -- PASS-THROUGH ENTITIES, THOSE WILL BE IMPORTANT FOR OUR BUSINESSES.

TALKED TO MANY OF THEM ABOUT AFTER SEEING THE IMPORTANT FEDERAL CREDIT ADOPTION.

ANOTHER THING I DID THAT I WAS PROUD, WE HEARD MANY CONCERNS AND HAD LOTS OF CONVERSATIONS AROUND PAID FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE AND I KNOW THERE WAS A BUMP FOR EMPLOYERS TO ACCESS THE CREDIT JUST TO GIVE THEM A LITTLE BIT OF RELIEF.

WE SAW THAT PROGRAM, MINNESOTANS ARE USING IT IN DROVES AND IT IS MAKING SURE THAT FOLKS ARE ACCESSING TIME AWAY WITH THEIR BABIES, TIME AWAY TO CARE FOR THEMSELVES AND ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE CONTINUING TO KEEP OUR EAR TO THE GROUND AS WE HAD FORWARD TO GET THE RELIEF.

BUT MIGHT BE HAVING A LITTLE CHALLENGE WITH IT.

SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS, THE HOUSING BILL IS PROBABLY THE THING THAT WALKING OUT OF IF YOU HAD SAID WE WERE GOING TO GET $165 MILLION WITH ZERO IMPACT TO THE GENERAL FUND IN A BUDGET NEUTRAL WAY, WE WOULDN’T HAVE BELIEVED YOU AND THAT LOOKS LIKE $100 MILLION OF HOUSING INFRASTRUCTURE BONDS WHICH WERE NORTHERN MINNESOTA THAT HAS BEEN OUR BREAD AND BUTTER TO BE ABLE TO BUILD MULTIFAMILY HOUSING, SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSING, BE ABLE TO PLEDGE OUR TRADE AND LABOR UNIONS.

ALSO GOT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE REPUBLICAN SIDE AS A TREMENDOUS PARTNER.

WE ARE NEVER GOING TO BE ABLE TO SOLVE OUR WORKFORCE SHORTAGE ISSUES UNLESS WE SOLVE OUR HOUSING CRISIS.

WITH 100,000 UNITS SHORT, WE WILL BRING ON THE 2200 UNITS.

WE ALSO INVESTED IN THE GREATER MINNESOTA WORKFORCE HOUSING.

THAT LOOKS LIKE SEWER, WATER HOOKUPS AS WELL AS NEW HOMES AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE.

WE HEARD ACROSS THE STATE BUT REALLY DIRE HERE IN ST.

LOUIS COUNTY WHERE WE HAVE FOLKS WHO ARE CONTINUING TO CARRY THE BURDEN OF THE HIGHEST ADDICTIONS IN MINNESOTA AND THAT IS NO IMPACT DIFFERENT THAN ST.

LOUIS COUNTY WHETHER YOU ARE A MINOR SEEING A DOWNTURN OR YOU ARE SOMEBODY WHO IS JUST LOSING HOURS OR YOU HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE WALK BACK OF COMMITMENTS.

THAT IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE 3% OF THOSE DOLLARS.

THAT WILL COME RIGHT HERE TO ST.

LOUIS COUNTY AS WELL AS 9% GOING OUT TO EVERY TRIBAL NATION.

WE HEARD FROM EMPLOYERS THAT WE CAN’T EXPAND AND THIS WILL BE SUPERCHARGED PUTTING PEOPLE TO WORK.

TONY: SPOKE ABOUT WORKFORCE IN THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT BILL.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THOSE ISSUES AND HOW THEY MAY BE SUPPORTING OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY MOVING FORWARD?

>> YES, THANK YOU.

I THINK ONE OF THE IMPORTANT THINGS ON THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT IS THAT WE ARE CLEANING UP WATER INFRASTRUCTURE, PRESERVING ASSETS, BUT WE ARE ALSO PUTTING PEOPLE TO WORK.

THAT IS GOOD JOBS ALL ACROSS THE STATE AND THE REGION AND THAT IS SO IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

ONE OF THE OTHER ISSUES IS WHEN WE LOOK AROUND THE STATE AND WE SEE THE NEED FOR WORK, HAVING HOUSING THAT MATCHES REALLY THE AFFORDABILITY OF THE LIVING, WHEREVER THEY ARE GOING TO LIVE, IS BE ABLE TO PAY FOR THE RENT OR THE MORTGAGE, AND HAVING THE HOUSING THAT MATCHES THAT IS SO CRUCIAL.

TONY: REPRESENTATIVE?

>> I COULDN’T AGREE MORE.

I WAS HAPPY TO SEE THE PILOT PROJECT FOR ST.

LOUIS COUNTY AND LAKE COUNTY FOR THE MINNESOTA NICE HOME SHARE PROGRAM WHICH IS BASICALLY AN AIRBNB PROGRAM FOR SENIORS TO RENT A ROOM IN THEIR HOUSE.

WHILE WE ARE WORKING TO GET MORE HOUSING TO HELP BUSINESSES BE ABLE TO HAVE A PLACE FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES TO LIVE, THIS IS A SOLUTION FOR PEOPLE AND FOR THE PROPERTY TAX RELIEF SIDE IT HELPS SENIORS WHO HAVE A VERY FIXED INCOME STAY IN THEIR HOME LONGER BECAUSE THEY HAVE A WAY TO SUPPLEMENT THEIR INCOME.

THAT HAS BEEN A JOY TO SEE THAT HAPPEN.

YOU ARE TAKING YOUR FIRST JOB, YOU MIGHT BE IN COLLEGE, YOU MIGHT BE WIDOWED, SINGLE, WHATEVER YOUR SITUATION IS, IT ALLOWS THE SENIORS TO FIND THE MATCH THAT WORKS FOR THEM AND MOST OF THESE END UP BEING REASONABLE, AFFORDABLE RENT FOR THE WORKER AND IT GIVES INCOME FOR THE SENIORS.

I’M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

I’M EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY, SPENCER GOT THE NUCLEAR STUDY PAST, SO THAT IS GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT.

WHEN WE LOOK AT HOW DOES BUSINESS CRY VENTRAL, WE HAVE TO HAVE AFFORDABLE ENERGY.

THE WIND AND SOLAR ONLY PLAN, BUT OUR GRID IS ONLY -- REALLY DEPENDENT ON COAL, NUCLEAR, NATURAL GAS, SO WE HAVE TO HAVE A STRONG BASELINE LIKE THE OTHER COUNTRIES THAT USE NUCLEAR DO SO THAT WE CAN REDUCE OUR ELECTRICAL COSTS AND REDUCE OUR ENERGY COSTS, SO THINGS CAN BE MORE AFFORDABLE FOR THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, FOR BUSINESSES.

ON TOP OF THAT, I’M EXCITED HELIUM TO HAVE A PATHWAY TO HAVE THE MINERAL ARTICLES UPDATED THIS LAST SESSION SO WE CAN GET GOING AND START DOING WHAT WE CAN TO HAVE THE NORTH THRIVE.

WHEN THE NORTH THRIVES WITH MINING AND THE HELIUM DEPOSITS THAT ARE HERE AND THE CO2 DEPOSITS, WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY TO LEAVE THE WAY FOR THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

WE CAN ALSO LEAD WHAT WE PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT.

WHEN PEOPLE HAVE THEIR JOBS THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER BENEFITS AS FAR AS MENTAL HEALTH AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES AND WHAT I WOULD SAY IS GOING TO HELP THE BUSINESS IS THE FEDERAL CONFORMITY WHERE PEOPLE WHO ARE ABLE-BODIED.

DISABLED PEOPLE ARE EXCLUDED, PREGNANT PEOPLE ARE EXCLUDED OR PEOPLE WITH YOUNG CHILDREN BUT IF YOU ARE AN ABLE-BODIED ADULT 18-64 IN ORDER TO HAVE YOUR MEDICAL ASSISTANCE BENEFITS YOU HAVE TO WORK 20 HOURS A WEEK OR VOLUNTEER 20 HOURS A WEEK OR BE IN SCHOOL 20 HOURS A WEEK AND I THINK THAT WILL HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT FOR THE WORKFORCE, FOR THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

YOU SEE HELP WANTED SIGNS ALL OVER THE PLACE OR REDUCED HOURS AND HOSPITALITY ESPECIALLY SO I THINK IT IS GOING TO HAVE A FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCE FOR THE EMPLOYERS AND THE COMMUNITY.

IT IS SIMILAR TO WHAT PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON PASSED IN THE 1990’S AND I SUPPORTED THAT.

I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO HAVE THEIR OWN SELF-ESTEEM AND ALSO IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMUNITY.

TONY: LAST WORD, THIS SESSION’S IMPACT ON BUSINESSES AND WORKERS.

>> I WILL JUST SAY THAT WE ARE HAVING BIG INVESTMENTS IN OUR BUSINESSES AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR SMALL BUSINESSES ARE SUPPORTED, BUT ALSO PUTTING A LOT OF WORK INTO DEFENDING OUR LABOR UNIONS AND MAKING IT EASIER TO START AND JOIN AND GROW A LABOR UNION.

WORKER POWER IS REALLY WHERE THE FUTURE IS GOING AS WE FEND OFF AI THAT IS BARRELING FORWARD IN MINNESOTA AND CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THE WEALTH INEQUALITY AND RACIAL WEALTH GAPS IN MINNESOTA.

TONY: THANK YOU TO ALL THREE OF YOU.

KEN: THANK YOU, REPRESENTATIVES.

FOR COMING UP ON THE SHOW AND SHARING YOUR PERSPECTIVE OF THIS YEAR’S LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AND THANK YOU, TONY, FOR HOSTING.

I'M KEN BUEHLER.

THANKS FOR WATCHING "IN BUSINESS."

IF YOU MISSED ANY PARTS OF TONIGHT'S SHOW, YOU CAN ALWAYS WATCH IT AT PBSNORTH.ORG OR LISTEN ON MONDAYS AT 5:30 P.M.

ON THE NORTH 1033.

AND IF YOU HAVE AN IDEA FOR A FUTURE STORY ON "IN BUSINESS," WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU.

EMAIL US AT ASK@PBSNORTH.ORG THANKS AGAIN FOR WATCHING AND, UNTIL NEXT, TIME LET'S TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER.

♪ ♪