6.0. EDSR 05-09-2005 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

0 April 22,2905 THE BUSINESS JOURNAL I 1 Shop Talk Do you think Minnesota's JOBZ program needs to be revamped or broadened? • fi , Clifford Anderson CEO, Nil `�: :'' Crown Iron Works Co. �� *,�� As a longtime manufacturer in the Twin Cities,I think we are taxing old busi- �"�' �� nesses awayto subsidize new ones.Our core cities are sufferingfor lack of high-paying manufacturing jobs.Our transportation system is inadequate because the good jobs are all in the suburbs or beyond,instead of near the underutilized existing housing in the cities.The companies that get big sub- sidiesare pretty much disasters because these are the results of political $,� decisions,not financial business decisions.Good businesses happen with- "4 1 out subsidy.Poor ones get help,but fail anyway. Mark Lofthus ,,,,, Director, Office of Business Development, , 4� MN Department of Employment and Economic Development JOBZ has been an incredibly vibrant tool for the state and communities to promote development.We must keep it if we are to remain strong in our ru- - - xr 7 ., ral and Greater Minnesota communities.The essentials of a strong economy F . are the work force,infrastructure and supportive business environment,and a' JOBZ by itself can't replace those if they are not present;but JOBZ can be a the missing element that keeps Minnesota competitive when companies are i faced with many choices on where they invest. Tim Mahoney State representative, , DFL St. Paul f r , � The JOBZ Program is a bad idea with no upside.It is a tax s bsidy that 47, r - t gives to the new guy at the expense of established neighbo ood business- r r �? "F es.There's little evidence that it creates new jobs.It simply moves jobs i t ; around the state,with a huge government subsidy for each job.The govern- i.,, oda ment should be creating policies that would help all busines-es.This money rip „, should be used to lower,overall business costs,bring more v-nture capital 3 y,''''''''''14' into the state and increase investments in state services that improve the - AE{W.,,,'° business climate,such as better education and job training s stems. • Rich. Enochs, President, Wenonah Canoe From the viewpoint of Wenonah Canoe,we find the JOBZ legislation to have worked well for our situation.We were looking for a U.S.location for our business,which we had decided to relocate from Canada When we be- gan talking to the economic development group here in Winona,they made us aware of the JOB' opportunity. Everybody worked together to get this 40,000-square-foot facility located in Winona,and the pla t is now up and running with 50 new jobs for the local economy,to say nothing about the local contractors w o erected the new building. Would we have made the relocation to Winona without the JOBZ benefits?I cannot answer that I uestion,be- cause it was never raised.I will say that other communities/states were very aggressive with pro•osals when we discussed our options with them. . On the topic J Shop Talk features responses from industry insiders to questions posed by The Minneapolis/St Paul Bus ess Journal.For more information,contact Focus Editor Kim Johnson at kkj@bizjoumals.com Get more national news about various industries delivered to your desktop via e-mail every week.Sign up or a specific industry at bizjoumals.com/industries/