AGP Executive Report

Manufacturing & Distribution: Thief River Falls-based DigiKey plans to invest $100 million over 18 months to expand its global distribution operations. Arden Hills’ Micro Control Company has also opened a new headquarters at Rice Creek Commons. Northland Energy: Pulsar Helium selected a Two Harbors industrial site for a proposed $90 million rare-gas hub, which would process helium from its Babbitt-area project and create 20 to 30 direct jobs. The company still needs a final site agreement with the city. Agriculture: Wet weather is slowing Minnesota’s fall harvest, while producers face pressure from fuel costs, drought and delayed farm-bill action. Cannabis: Minnesota’s hemp THC deadline is prompting layoffs in an industry estimated at $200 million, though some liquor stores may be allowed to continue sales. Utilities: Xcel Energy proposed a two-year pause on electricity rate increases, subject to regulator approval; Minnesota Power customers are also set to receive more than $100 million in bill credits starting in January. Healthcare: HealthPartners and Essentia Health announced plans to merge.

Data Centers: Lino Lakes officials are reviewing zoning as data center proposals draw more attention across the Twin Cities; a new toolkit is also helping Minnesota cities prepare. Hemp Industry: The Dec. 11 federal deadline is weighing on Minnesota’s $200 million hemp-THC market, with layoffs and weaker orders reported. Some liquor stores plan to keep selling hemp drinks under state rules. Farm Economy: Wet weather has slowed harvest: 68% of soybeans and 25% of corn were in, both behind five-year averages as of Oct. 11. Manufacturing & Energy: Micro Control Company opened its headquarters at Rice Creek Commons in Arden Hills, while a helium processor is planning a rare-gas hub in Two Harbors. Minnesota Power says customers will receive more than $100 million in bill credits starting in January. Health Care: HealthPartners and Essentia Health announced plans to merge.

Agricultural Technology: Minneapolis-based Pivot Bio CTO Travis Frey spotlighted microbial technology’s potential to deliver nitrogen to crops in a new TEDxFargo talk. Semiconductor Manufacturing: Bloomington’s Polar Semiconductor will add imec-developed gallium nitride technology to its 200mm wafer production plans, targeting power devices for data centers, vehicles and industry; production milestones remain unannounced. Data Center Planning: A University of Minnesota-led toolkit aims to help cities assess data center proposals and weigh their local impacts before approving projects. Energy Costs: Minnesota regulators are reviewing rising utility bills, while Minnesota Power plans to provide customers more than $100 million in bill credits starting in January. Northeast Minnesota Development: Pulsar Helium is planning a processing hub in Two Harbors and has discussed financing with state economic development agencies. Industrial Real Estate: Sealy & Company acquired Twin Cities industrial properties for $34.4 million.

Energy Costs: Minnesota regulators are taking public input on utility affordability after hearing that customers’ past-due balances have roughly doubled since before the pandemic. Minnesota Power customers are also due about $122 million in bill credits, including roughly $55 per residential customer in January and February. Food Business: Minneapolis-based Crisp & Green plans to acquire 33 restaurants, a move that would bring the chain closer to its 100-location goal. Northeast Minnesota Development: Pulsar Helium plans a processing hub in Two Harbors and is discussing financing with state economic development agencies. Advanced Manufacturing: SkyWater Technology and D-Wave extended their quantum manufacturing partnership in a multi-year agreement. Agriculture: As harvest picks up, Minnesota’s corn crop condition index edged higher, while soybean ratings held steady.

Senior Care: Minnesota-based Lifespark appointed Kathy LeVee to lead senior living as it scales its model; the company says it has grown more than 25% this year and now serves nearly 60 communities in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Food and Retail: Minneapolis-founded CRISP & GREEN agreed to buy 33 restaurants, putting it on track to reach 100 locations by year-end. Clean-Energy Manufacturing: Mountain Iron solar-module maker Heliene completed its third sale of federal manufacturing tax credits through U.S. Bank, supporting its U.S. production and supply-chain plans. Semiconductor Manufacturing: Bloomington’s SkyWater Technology extended its manufacturing partnership with quantum-computing firm D-Wave in a multiyear deal. Data-Center Infrastructure: nVent is teaming with AMD to integrate its cooling systems into AMD’s AI rack platform. Agriculture: Minnesota had 9.3 million hogs on Sept. 1, second among states, even as the national herd fell 2% from a year earlier. Utility Costs: Minnesota Power customers are slated to receive about $122 million in bill credits, including roughly $55 per residential customer in January and February 2027.

Helium Investment: Pulsar Helium is pursuing debt and public-sector financing for its proposed northeastern Minnesota Rare Gas Hub, with talks involving IRRR, DEED, USDA Rural Development and University Bank. The company aims to limit reliance on new equity. Data Center Growth: Monticello’s planning commission advanced recommendations for a proposed 547-acre campus that could hold up to 3 million square feet of data center buildings. Questions remain about power demand, the project’s operator and protections for nearby residents. Energy Costs: Minnesota Power customers are set to receive $122 million in bill credits in 2027, offering some relief as electricity demand and affordability concerns grow. Oil and Gas: Minneapolis-based Northern Oil and Gas reported a clean operational quarter, closed deals for about 1,060 net acres and 2.8 wells, and expects third-quarter capital spending of $250 million to $253 million. Farm Support: The Minnesota Department of Agriculture awarded grants to 91 beginning farmers.

Clean Energy: Orono is one of three Minnesota finalists for CenterPoint Energy’s networked geothermal pilot, which could begin construction in 2027 and start operating in 2028 or 2029. Workforce Development: Alexandria Technical & Community College named its 44,000-square-foot transportation training center for Central Specialties, recognizing a major gift and partnership focused on truck-driving and diesel careers. Biofuels: Edina has launched the state’s first municipal B100 fleet, converting 10 heavy-duty vehicles to use fuel made from Minnesota-grown soybeans. Construction: Hastings businesses are preparing for a two-year Highway 61 reconstruction in 2028 and 2029, with related work expected to stretch across five years. Manufacturing Careers: The Arrowhead Tour of Manufacturing brought students from 34 schools onto factory floors, connecting young people with regional employers.

Manufacturing Pipeline: The Arrowhead Tour of Manufacturing will bring students from 34 schools into 40 northern Minnesota factories, with about 70 tours showcasing careers in production, engineering, robotics and more. Dairy Leadership: Midwest Dairy named sales and partnerships chief Beth Bruck-Upton interim CEO as Corey Scott moves to Dairy Management Inc. New Investment: Cohasset cannabis grower M.N. Technology is harvesting its first crop and plans a roughly $25 million facility expansion, with employment projected to reach 60–70. Energy and Data Centers: A proposed Owatonna community solar garden could serve up to 1,500 homes, while Rochester’s chamber is backing a major data center. Steel and Agriculture: Iowa is offering $1.36 billion to attract a steel factory and 1,750 jobs from Minnesota; meanwhile, CHS has broken ground on a soybean-processing plant.

Manufacturing Workforce: The Arrowhead Tour of Manufacturing will bring students from 34 schools to 40 northern Minnesota factories, showcasing careers and modern production technology. Cannabis Production: Cohasset grower M.N. Technology is completing its first harvest and plans a roughly $25 million facility expansion, with employment projected to rise from about 12 workers to 60–70. Data Center Investment: The Rochester Area Chamber backs Google’s proposed Pine Island project, citing 700 construction jobs and just over 100 permanent positions; residents and environmentalists have raised concerns. Agriculture: U.S. farm debt has reached a record $605 billion, and USDA says growing use of supplier and other nontraditional credit may leave official figures short. Minnesota also awarded $723,200 in grants to 91 beginning farmers. Steel and Mining: Essar-backed Mesabi Metallics’ planned $18 billion integrated steel investment is headed to Iowa, renewing debate over why the project did not land in Minnesota. Clean Energy: Owatonna’s new community solar garden aims to serve up to 1,500 homes and cut subscribers’ monthly bills by 12% to 15%.

Community Solar: Owatonna’s new solar garden aims to serve up to 1,500 homes, with subscribers projected to save 12% to 15% on electricity bills. Renters, schools and nonprofits can participate, and the site includes pollinator-friendly plantings. Steel and Mining: Essar-backed Mesabi Metallics announced an $18 billion integrated steel venture linking Minnesota iron-ore mining and processing with a proposed $15 billion steel complex in Iowa. Agriculture: Minnesota awarded $723,200 in grants to 91 beginning farmers. Separately, lawmakers urged federal officials to preserve biofuel requirements, warning that delays could hurt farm markets and rural manufacturing jobs. Regional Business and Energy: More than 1,000 grants have now been awarded to Iron Range small businesses, while Minnesota Power customers are slated to receive $122 million in bill credits in 2027.

Iron Range Investment: The IRRR board reviewed more than $14.7 million for business, housing and community projects, including funding to rehabilitate Hibbing’s former Minnesota Twist Drill site for industrial use and assess a Hoyt Lakes manufacturing expansion. Steel & Manufacturing: Essar-backed Mesabi Metallics plans an $18 billion investment in an integrated U.S. steel business, a major potential boost for the region’s industrial base. Agriculture: Minnesota brothers are pressing a dispute over payments for farm-generated solar power as they work with the University of Minnesota to test agrivoltaics. Separately, USDA is issuing $1.8 billion in conservation payments to farmers and landowners nationwide. Energy & Costs: Minnesota Power customers are set to receive $122 million in bill credits in 2027, while state lawmakers are urging diesel-tax relief for businesses, farmers and truckers. Clean Energy: Cargill is expanding its renewable electricity portfolio in the central U.S., and Minnesota agencies have released a toolkit to help fleets use more biodiesel.

Energy Costs: Minnesota Power customers are set to receive $122 million in bill credits in 2027, offering relief as utility affordability draws growing attention. Agriculture: USDA’s October outlook surprised grain markets, lifting its U.S. corn yield forecast to 181.1 bushels per acre and production to 16.034 billion bushels, figures Minnesota growers will watch as harvest progresses. Transportation: Winona has until mid-November to weigh in on MnDOT’s $6.3 million Highway 43 reconstruction plan for 2028, including proposed sidewalk and traffic-signal changes. Mining: Minnesota DNR says proposed changes to the NorthMet copper-nickel project require a supplemental environmental review, adding another step before the project can advance. Farm Production: A new University of Minnesota guide aims to support baitfish producers, a resource for the state’s aquaculture sector.

Housing and Construction: Hopkins approved a revised plan for an all-electric housing development on a city parking lot, with 10 single- and two-family groupings and 21 enclosed parking spaces. Life Sciences: Minneapolis-based Bio-Techne opened a 10,000-square-foot GMP manufacturing facility in Bristol, UK, expanding its supply of materials for cell-therapy developers. Agriculture: Minnesota awarded $723,000 in grants to 91 beginning farmers as national farm debt hit a record $605 billion; USDA says growing use of supplier and equipment credit may mean the true burden is higher. Mining and Steel: Iowa expanded tax incentives for Mesabi Metallics’ proposed $15 billion steel mill, which is expected to use ore from the company’s Nashwauk mine; the plant and its planned 1,750 permanent jobs would be in Iowa. Separately, Minnesota regulators called for a supplemental environmental review of the NorthMet copper-nickel project. Energy Costs: Minnesota utility regulators are holding public meetings on affordability as communities weigh how data-center power demand could affect electricity costs and the grid.

Utility Costs: Minnesota’s Public Utilities Commission will hold three public meetings as it investigates rising energy bills and develops recommendations for state leaders. Mining: The DNR says NorthMet needs another environmental review after its owner proposed changes, adding a new step for the long-delayed copper-nickel project. Manufacturing: Minnesota-made Bair Hugger warming system won the 2026 “Coolest Thing Made in Minnesota” award. Cambria, the state-based quartz maker, is also challenging California’s proposed ban, arguing its surfaces are safe when fabricated properly. Food Processing: CHS has broken ground on a soybean processing plant, bringing new investment to the farm supply chain. Data-Center Infrastructure: Hermantown delayed a vote on a power line for Google’s proposed data center, keeping questions about electricity infrastructure in focus.

Steel Investment: Iowa approved $1.36 billion in tax incentives to draw an Essar-backed steel complex and 1,750 jobs from Minnesota, sharpening competition for major industrial projects. Grid Reliability: A $1.6 million state-federal upgrade at East Central Energy’s Milaca substation adds capacity and resilience for about 70,000 members. Forest Products: Minnesota loggers remain squeezed by diesel averaging $6.11 a gallon; temporary higher-weight permits have yet to deliver meaningful relief. Agriculture: The state awarded $723,000 in grants to help 91 beginning farmers get established. Manufacturing: Minnesota-made Bair Hugger warming system won the state’s “Coolest Thing Made in Minnesota” contest. Minneapolis-based Bio-Techne also opened a GMP manufacturing facility in Bristol, U.K., expanding supply for cell-therapy developers.

Manufacturing: Solventum’s Bair Hugger warming system won the 2026 Coolest Thing Made in Minnesota contest, topping 63 products in public voting. Otter Tail County is also opening local factories to visitors this month; manufacturing supports more than 3,800 county jobs and paid $248.9 million in wages last year. Agriculture: Minnesota awarded $723,200 in grants to 91 beginning farmers across 51 counties for equipment and infrastructure, including tractors, livestock facilities and greenhouses. Energy: Cedar Creek Energy completed a 5-megawatt solar project beside the Anoka-Ramsey closed landfill. Connexus Energy will buy its output under a 30-year agreement; the array is expected to power about 750 homes annually. Mining & Small Business: Iron Range Resources and AEOA marked their 1,000th small-business grant, funded by taxes on Minnesota taconite production. Steel Investment: Essar-backed Mesabi Metallics plans an $18 billion integrated steel complex in Minnesota, described as the largest single investment in a U.S. steel complex.