Hometown Focus
Jan Saxhaug

It’s no secret that mining is a critical industry to the economy of Northeastern Minnesota which is home to the Iron Range after all. Sitting atop vast deposits of iron ore and precious metals and strategically located near the Port of Duluth, the region has been able to develop the highly specialized infrastructure and workforce needed to take advantage of these rich natural resources.

Read more: http://www.hometownfocus.us/news/2014-02-21/Mining_Features/MINING_FOR_GROWTH.html

TPT Almanac

A Political Panel
Republicans Andy Brehm and Fritz Knaak sat on our couch alongside Democrats Javier Morillo-Alicea and Sarah Walker.

St. Paul, Minn. (Feb. 10, 2014) – On Tuesday, Feb. 11 in St. Paul, Minn., Jobs for Minnesotans, a business-labor partnership, will attend the Natural Resources and Agriculture Finance Committee hearing about financial assurance for proposed copper-nickel mining projects in Minnesota. Members of Jobs for Minnesotans will be joined by allies who support the strong financial assurance laws already in place in Minnesota and the process that will adequately address financial assurance during permitting.

Minnesota has the opportunity to prosper from the world-class deposit of precious metals in northeastern Minnesota and generate economic benefits for decades. The more than 55,000 union members and the 2,500 businesses that are part of Jobs for Minnesotans trust the process in place during the permitting phase of project development to ensure maintenance costs for the project after closure are funded appropriately.

“We have the strongest financial assurance laws in the country. These laws were developed in collaboration with environmental organizations and will ensure taxpayers have bankruptcy-proof protection. Taxpayers will not only be protected, but will see significant financial gains from PolyMet and other proposed copper-nickel mining projects,” said Harry Melander, Jobs for Minnesotans co-founder and president of the Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Council.

“We’re confident that the multiple state and federal agencies currently managing the review of PolyMet’s SDEIS will regulate and protect Minnesota’s treasured natural environment and trust the DNR and our existing laws to address financial assurance as the project moves into permitting,” said David Olson, Jobs for Minnesotans co-founder and president of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce.

“We stand to gain hundreds of jobs from PolyMet in addition to two million construction hours before any ore is produced. Our members see this project as an economic opportunity that will sustain families long into the future. These laws are already on the books, so let’s keep this project moving and strengthen the economy,” added Melander.

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Jobs for Minnesotans was co-founded in October 2012 by the Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Council representing 55,000 workers and the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce representing 2,300 companies and 500,000 employees. This coalition represents businesses, middle class workers, labor, local governments and other supporters of job creation in the state of Minnesota. Jobs for Minnesotans was created to educate and provide information about the direct and ancillary job creation that the strategic metals mining can produce for the state.

Media Contacts:
Harry Melander
612-865-3585
harstpbt@mtn.org

Nancy Norr
218.590.6978
nnorr@mnpower.com

St. Paul, Minn. (Jan. 16, 2013) – Today in Duluth, Jobs for Minnesotans, a business-labor partnership, will show its support for the PolyMet mining project and encourage the environmental review process to move forward in order to create hundreds of new jobs in the state. Attending the first of three public hearings about the copper-nickel mining project’s Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS), members of Jobs for Minnesotans praised the thorough and exhaustive environmental review done by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and other lead and cooperating agencies.

Minnesota is home to one of the largest copper-nickel deposits anywhere in the world and is poised to become one of the leading producers of minerals used in everything from smart phones to hybrid car batteries to wind turbines. Projects like PolyMet will result in high quality, good paying jobs for years to come, revitalizing significant portions of the Iron Range economy. The more than 55,000 union members and the 2,500 businesses that are part of Jobs for Minnesotans trust the DNR’s process and are eager to move to the mine permit phase.

“The DNR’s review has been lengthy and thorough. The SDEIS adequately takes into account potential impacts to the environment. Now it’s time we get this project moving forward so we can benefit from a world-class copper-nickel deposit that is right below our feet,” said Harry Melander, Jobs for Minnesotans co-founder and president of the Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Council.

“The PolyMet project alone could provide 360 full-time mining jobs once it becomes operational, in addition to two million construction hours before it even begins to mine ore,” said David Olson, Jobs for Minnesotans co-founder and president of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce.

“Our members see this project as an opportunity to breathe new life into Minnesota’s economy. In addition to hundreds of jobs, copper-nickel mining will provide millions of dollars in local and state taxes to support our communities and education system. Jobs from the project will provide families with a sustainable future and children with opportunities for good careers. The DNR has done its job, now let’s put Minnesotans to work,” added Melander.

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Jobs for Minnesotans was co-founded in October 2012 by the Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Council representing 55,000 workers and the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce representing 2,300 companies and 500,000 employees. This coalition represents businesses, middle class workers, labor, local governments and other supporters of job creation in the state of Minnesota. Jobs for Minnesotans was created to educate and provide information about the direct and ancillary job creation that the strategic metals mining can produce for the state.

Media Contacts:
Harry Melander
612.865.3585
harstpbt@mtn.org

Nancy Norr
218.590.6978
nnorr@mnpower.com

St. Paul, Minn. (Dec. 6, 2013) – Today’s release of PolyMet’s Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement is an important milestone for all Minnesotans. The more than 55,000 union members and business leaders who are a part of Jobs for Minnesotans are encouraged that this important public process is being led by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to not only seek public input, but to ensure that a project of this scope and magnitude is thoroughly studied. Our members join all Minnesotans in placing their trust in the DNR to provide the public with the most up-to-date factual information and environmental analysis of the proposed PolyMet project and to continue this ongoing public dialogue to bring thousands of new jobs to our state.

“Copper-nickel mining can and will revitalize and sustain the Iron Range economy. The release of the Supplemental Draft EIS is an incredibly important step in the public process. We believe the document will demonstrate that the project is both environmentally sound and economically viable,” said Nancy Norr, director of regional development for Minnesota Power and chair of Jobs for Minnesotans.

“Minnesota has the strictest environmental standards in the world. The process encourages us to talk openly and honestly about how copper-nickel mining can be done right for our environment. Before we say no to bringing solid, high-paying jobs to the state, we should have an open dialogue about how projects like PolyMet’s can benefit all of us,” stated Harry Melander, Jobs for Minnesotans co-founder and president of the Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Council.

“Minnesota has a chance to be a world leader in copper and nickel mining. Benefits from these proposed copper-nickel mines extend beyond long-term, good paying jobs. They are key elements in revitalizing our communities and generating revenue for our schools. This is a great step forward in beginning a new era of mining in Minnesota,” added David Olson, Jobs for Minnesotans co-founder and president of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce.

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Jobs for Minnesotans was co-founded in October 2012 by the Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Council representing 55,000 workers and the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce representing 2,300 companies and 500,000 employees. This coalition represents businesses, middle class workers, labor, local governments and other supporters of job creation in the state of Minnesota. Jobs for Minnesotans was created to educate and provide information about the direct and ancillary job creation that the strategic metals mining can produce for the state.

Media Contacts:
Harry Melander
612.865.3585
harstpbt@mtn.org

Nancy Norr
218.723.3905
nnorr@mnpower.com

Tony Kwilas
651.292.4668
tkwilas@mnchamber.com