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Page 1 of,~'2 <br />I~VF`®;@M~TI® <br />Mehelich, Catherine <br />From: Enterprise Minnesota [reply@enterpriseminnesota.org] <br />Sent: Friday, January 09, 2009 9:15 AM <br />To: Mehelich, Catherine <br />Subject: eTrends Newsletter <br />A PU BLJ CATI G7N fJF ~NTEPiPR`1S~ <br />0411 N ~+I E S4TFt <br />hterp+r7g hAz~nutr~ctui~in~ ~nterprr5es~ Grp~.u !-'ratit~tsly <br />January 9, 2009 <br />Growth Acceleration Program Fuels Stories of Success Newst~ <br />for Minnesota Manufacturing Acquisition: Elk Riv <br /> based Cretex <br />The Star Tribune recently published "Growing Up In a Down Economy,' highlighting C...o....mpanies <br />announces <br />companies that are thriving despite the current difficult economy. purchasing the assets <br /> of Meer_Tool, a <br />"It's a truly outstanding look at a number of Enterprise Minnesota's manufacturing precision metal <br />clients -that are finding success," according to Bob Kill, President & CEO of stamping company in <br />Anoka. Cretex's <br />Enterprise Minnesota. commercial Products <br /> Group currently <br />What are these companies doing? They're being creative, investing in their people, provides contract <br /> <br />and improving their competetive advantage. manufacturing <br /> services requiring <br /> heavy gauge metal <br />Several featured companies in the article qualified for help through the Growth machining and <br />Acceleration Program (GAP), astate-funded matching grant program for smaller fabrication, precision <br />manufacturers to make changes that improve their business. machining, metal <br />stamping and <br /> fabrication, and plastic <br />GAP provides small manufacturing and manufacturing-related companies with molding. <br />needed help to compete and continue their commitment as employers, job creators, <br /> <br />and contributors to local community life. Award: Imaton Corp„ <br />of Oakdale, <br /> announced that its <br />Authorized in 2007 by the Minnesota State Legislature, the Growth Acceleration Apollo Expert UX 2.5- <br />Program (GAP) allows manufacturers with fewer than 100 employees to receive up inch external hard <br />to $25,000 per year toward projects intended to help the company grow. The drive was awarded the <br />" <br />business must match an GAP mone awarded. That means a maximum of $50,000 <br />Y Y Art of <br />prestigious <br />Storage" award at the <br />per company, per year, including a 50 percent match. More than 50 companies 2009 Storage Visions <br />statewide have received GAP grant monies in just the last year. conference (partner <br /> program to the 2009 <br />GAP fundin is makin an im act on Minnesota manufacturers, Kill sa s. "We are <br />g g P y International CES) in <br />Las Vegas. <br />seeing a return of $15 for every $1 invested in the program," Kill said. "That's a huge <br />impact in terms of job retention and job creation for the communities where these Best Places to Sell: <br />companies are located." St. Paul's Ecola....b..._I..n.c. <br />was named to Selling <br /> Power magazine's list <br />"Small manufacturers are the backbone of Minnesota's economy, and GAP is of "The 50 Best <br />another tool for them to grow," Kill said. Companies to Sell <br /> For" for the fifth <br />Read More: consecutive year. <br />Companies that made <br /> the Selling Power list <br />Growing UP_ in a„Down Economy scored well on <br /> average starting <br />1 /9/2009 <br />