Report: Mining Will Remain a Driving Force
Hibbing Daily Tribune
Kelly Grinsteinner
There’s no doubt that mining is a major contributor to the Iron Range.
It’s also to the state economy.
A recent report concludes that mining is poised to remain a major player and has the potential to more than double its impact in the next few years.
The University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) Labovitz School of Business and Economics released the findings on the mining industry’s economic impact on the state as well as the significant opportunity for its growth earlier this month.
Mining Matters to You, Too, Twin Cities
Pioneer Press
Opinion: Chris Dahlberg
St. Louis County benefits significantly from the Iron Range’s mining industry. Thousands of manufacturing and service jobs exist based on the Range’s 100+ year taconite (ferrous mineral) mining industry. These jobs are good-paying jobs through which men and women have provided for their families. Mining matters to them. I’d like to explain how mining matters to you, wherever you live in Minnesota.
Today, precious metal (non-ferrous) mining has the potential to greatly expand on the Iron Range. Precious metal projects currently planned have the potential to contribute $2.29 billion annually and 5,600 jobs to the state’s economy. Additionally, construction associated with these projects significantly raises this economic impact. The first anticipated precious metal project, Polymet, is anticipated to created 360 permanent mining jobs and 600+ spin-off jobs. Initial capital construction for the project, $475 million, would create the equivalent construction labor force required to build the Twins Stadium.
Growing ‘Jobs for Minnesotans’ Coalition Excited About the Thousands of New Jobs and Billions in Economic Development Projected in Minnesota
St. Paul (Feb. 7, 2013) – In light of the increased jobs estimates released in a study of the Minnesota mining industry this week conducted by the University of Minnesota Duluth Labovitz School of Business and Economics, the Jobs for Minnesotans Coalition reaffirms its enthusiasm for the immense opportunity for Minnesota presented by the Strategic Metals industry.
“We’ve now learned that the construction alone of new Strategic Metals projects could mean 1,000 to 2,000 jobs per year and thousands more permanent jobs across Minnesota” said Harry Melander, Minnesota Building and Construction Trades President and President of Jobs for Minnesotans. “It is absolutely critical that regulators and policy makers understand how important these jobs are to our members and their families.”
Minnesota has the opportunity to gain thousands of jobs – potentially for hundreds of years – 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.
“Our company is excited about the economic shot in the arm that these strategic metals projects represent” said Dan Hagen, Business Segment Leader, PaR Systems. “The sales of our mill liner products are up substantially over the past few years, and we definitely see long-term growth potential here, which could translate into more employees when more of these types of businesses are up and running” Dan concluded.
“The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce is committed to working with Policy Makers and stakeholders, including businesses and labor organizations, to make Minnesota a world class place to do business,” said David Olson, President of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce. “The Jobs for Minnesotans Coalition is a growing statewide coalition of business, labor, educators, environmental interests and others interested in capitalizing on the tremendous economic opportunities outlined in the Labovitz School of Business and Economics recent study.”
“The billions of dollars in economic impact of the amazing number of direct jobs, and the additional 1.8 spinoff jobs that are created for every direct job, means Strategic Metals mining will be a jobs and economic development boon for every part of Minnesota,” said Matt Kramer, President of the St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce.
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 includes businesses and business associations, middle class workers, labor organizations, 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 will produce for the state, once permitted to begin operations.
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
Labovitz School Report Reiterates Mining’s Huge Economic Impact
A report outlining Minnesota’s mining industry determined the combined economic impact of iron ore mining and non-ferrous minerals development was more than $3.2 billion statewide.
The report, based on findings during 2010, was developed by the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) Labovitz School of Business and Economics.
It concluded mining has the potential to more than double, supporting more than 27,000 jobs and producing $7.7 billion for the state’s economy if all projects currently under consideration move forward.
According to the report, proposed expansions to existing iron mines and new mining projects under consideration, both iron and non-ferrous, would support an additional 15,500 Minnesota workers and contribute an additional $4.5 billion to the state’s economy if all move forward. These numbers reflect annual operations only and do not include the jobs or economic impact of construction of new facilities.
A Full House of Employment Opportunities
Hibbing Daily Tribune
Tony Potter
Hundreds of avid job seekers and students huddled around potential employers in search of information that could land them the career of their dreams.
The inaugural Mining Industry Day, which is designed to allow mining industry companies to scout talent, had more than 370 attendees within the first hour Friday at Minnesota Discovery Center (MDC), according to Tammy Jensen, visitor services and sales manager for MDC.
“A nice, full house,” she said, noting she didn’t expect that good of a turnout.