MinnPost
Opinion: Ruthe Batulis and Jason George

When you measure job creation, Minnesota is doing better than most states today. If we wish to continue this trend for 2013 and beyond, we must always be working to attract industries that can generate good paying jobs for our citizens.

The International Union of Operating Engineers Local 49 represents 13,000 heavy-equipment operators, most of which make their living building the infrastructure of Minnesota. The Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce represents businesses of all kinds in the Southeast Suburbs of the Twin Cities. Business and labor don’t always agree, but when it comes to job creation, and specifically the jobs that will come with the mining of strategic metals in Northern Minnesota, we couldn’t agree more. 

Minnesota is fortunate to have an abundance of natural resources. We are literally, “by nature” an agricultural state, a timber state and a mining state. The jobs these industries have brought have raised families for generations here. We have an emerging prospect right now in Northeast Minnesota for the mining of strategic metals. Metals such as copper, nickel, platinum, palladium, cobalt and gold are known to be plentiful and now accessible. One of several deposits already has over 4 billion tons of these minerals identified.

Mesabi Daily News
Opinion: Bill Travis

In Northeastern Minnesota, jobs growth and long-term prosperity are tied to a thriving mining industry.

The current publicly reported estimates of the nonferrous mining opportunities suggest there are very significant deposits with a 50-year-plus project life, providing good jobs and career opportunities, significant tax revenues and long-term prosperity for our region.

Our governor, legislators and our president need to get fully behind the mining industry and demonstrate more leadership and can-do, will-do attitude to make sure the Minnesota nonferrous opportunities are capitalized upon.

Mesabi Daily News
Editorial

Two lawmakers — one in Washington and one in St. Paul — who have represented the Iron Range for considerably different length of tenures, but both with a strong passion for mining and jobs in the region, are no longer on the job as new sessions of the Legislature and Congress begin.

Former state Rep. Tom Rukavina, DFL-Pike Township, did not seek re-election in November and resigned after serving 16 terms. Former Republican 8th District U.S. Rep. Chip Cravaack, who stunned former Rep. Jim Oberstar in the heavily Democratic 8th District, was defeated in his re-election bid.

They were political parties apart on most issues. But when it came to mining and the jobs created and those that should have already been created, they were always solid in their support for taconite and copper/nickel/precious metals ventures.

Ely Echo

Private sector investment in non-ferrous leases and mineral exploration is up significantly in recent years. While exploration is active, non-ferrous metallic mining has not been permitted in Minnesota to date. The mineral royalty revenue potential to the school trust from non-ferrous sources is significant.

The DNR’s Division of Lands and Minerals currently estimates that three non-ferrous metallic mineral deposits identified as potential mines could generate $2.4 billion in added revenue to the Permanent School Fund over the life of the mines.

Pioneer Press
Opinion: Val Vargas

I applaud the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and the Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Council for coming together to promote economic growth and job creation in Minnesota (“Metals mining in Minnesota means a hundred years of jobs and revenue,” Nov. 16).

Together, they formed a coalition aptly titled Jobs for Minnesotans. When business and labor are able to partner on an issue, such as strategic metals mining, it’s one Minnesotans should pay attention to and support.

Mineweb
Lawrence Williams

In what must be a welcome development for prospective miners, PolyMet and Duluth Metals, Minnesota’s Chamber of Commerce and local mining unions will be mounting a combined campaign to try to ensure that mining of what has to be one of the world’s most significant mineral deposits, is given the go-ahead by state and federal bodies.  According to a report in the Duluth News Tribune, The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, the state’s largest business group, and the Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Council have formed “Jobs for Minnesotans” to promote development of the state’s first-ever massive base and precious metals mining operations on the Duluth Metallurgical Complex which hosts one of the world’s largest potential polymetallic orebodies and which could see large scale mining for the next century, with its associated employment and tax benefits for the state and federal economies.

The Duluth Complex hosts an enormous resource of relatively low grade polymetallic mineralisation, which in combination represents perhaps the world’s largest ever discovery of an orebody containing copper, nickel, cobalt, pgms and gold – and Polymet and the Duluth Metals 60:40 jv with Antofagasta – the Twin Metals project – are the two most advanced projects on the Complex at the moment.  However the area where these enormous deposits is hosted lies in an environmentally sensitive locality between the Boundary Waters recreational area and brownfields mining and processing sites left over from the still significant Minnesota taconite iron ore mines and process plants.

Duluth News Tribune
John Myers

Two groups often on opposing sides of heated issues have joined hands to promote Minnesota’s fledgling copper mining industry and other big construction projects.

The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, the state’s largest business group, and the Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Council have formed “Jobs for Minnesotans” to promote development of the state’s first-ever copper mining operations.

Hibbing Daily Tribune
Guest Commentary: Lory Fedo & John Grahek

As we’ve all seen in the recently concluded election, “jobs” was the primary subject driving conversations, and votes throughout Minnesota.

Even as they fought tooth and nail for votes, Democrats and Republicans agree on one thing — we need more Jobs.

We have good news: hundreds, even thousands of permanent new jobs can become reality for generations of Minnesotans. That’s why business and labor are founding partners of a unique alliance to work to support and assist major projects that will create jobs.

Pioneer Press
Opinion: Harry Melander & David Olson

Is there any doubt that “jobs” is the primary subject driving conversations throughout our country and our state? Even as they fought tooth and nail for votes, Democrats and Republicans agreed on one thing — we need more jobs.

In today’s economy, the creation of even a single new job can be newsworthy. Imagine the response if hundreds, even thousands of permanent new jobs become reality for generations of Minnesotans. That’s why business and labor are founding partners of a unique alliance to work to support and assist major projects that will create jobs. The initial focus will be to champion the development of critical and strategic metals (copper, nickel, platinum, palladium, cobalt and gold) mining in Minnesota — without question the most promising economic opportunity for our state that we’ve seen in many years — perhaps in our lifetimes.

The responsible development of these strategic metals in our state would be as significant for Minnesota as iron mining has been. This new industry would be productive for more than a century, bringing thousands of permanent careers to the state and providing economic success for Minnesotans for generations, in addition to new investments in technology and education — not to mention billions of dollars in royalties and tax revenue. And, 21st century technology enables us to meet and exceed our responsibility to protect Minnesota’s pristine air and water quality.

Labor and Business Form Alliance to Spark Job Growth Throughout Minnesota

ST. PAUL (Nov. 13, 2012) — Jobs for Minnesotans, a coalition co-founded by the Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Council and the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, was launched today as a coordinated effort to promote job creation in the state of Minnesota.

The coalition represents businesses, middle class workers, labor, local governments and those who support job creation in the state of Minnesota. Working together, labor and business created the group to educate and provide information to Minnesotans about significant job and economic opportunities facing our state.

“Jobs for Minnesotans brings a unique collection of businesses and organizations together to support job creation in the state,” said Harry Melander, president of the Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Council. “The construction industry in Minnesota continues to face high unemployment rates. Jobs for Minnesotans will work to support and assist major projects that will create jobs. The strategic metals mining industry has immense promise for our state and the coalition is targeting that opportunity to put thousands of Minnesotans back to work.”

With a mineral deposit of more than 4 billion tons, Minnesota holds one of the largest untapped source of strategic metals in the world, including copper, nickel, platinum, palladium, cobalt and gold. The strategic metals mining industry, once operational, has the potential to produce thousands of jobs across industry sectors. The coalition will be a platform for supporters to stay educated and learn how to get involved to support job creation in Minnesota.

“The Chamber supports clear opportunities to promote economic growth and job creation while protecting the great environment and natural resources that we all enjoy here in Minnesota, and that are themselves a significant part of our economic engine,” said David Olson, president of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce.  “We know all Minnesotans will benefit from this industry – from border to border and with that will come new revenue for the state, our schools and all of our priorities together as Minnesotans.” 

To get involved or find out more information about the Jobs for Minnesotans coalition please visit www.jobsforminnesotans.org.

About Jobs For Minnesotans
Jobs for Minnesotans was co- founded in October 2012 by the Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Council and the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce. This coalition represents businesses, middle class workers, labor, local governments and other supporters of job creation in the state of Minnesota.

Jobs for Minnesotans initial focus will be to champion the development of critical and strategic metals (copper, nickel, platinum, palladium and gold) mining in Minnesota and provide information about the direct and ancillary job creation that strategic metals mining can produce for the state. Minnesota has the opportunity to gain thousands of jobs for generations of Minnesotans by safely extracting strategic minerals from one of the world’s largest known, untapped source of copper, nickel, cobalt, platinum, palladium and gold located in northeastern Minnesota’s Duluth Complex.

In addition to providing information and resources, the coalition serves as a platform for jobs supporters to get involved and work together to promote job creation the state of Minnesota. 

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Media Contact:
Tony Kwilas
651-292-4668
tkwilas@mnchamber.com