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GMNP Update - August 2026 |
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GMNP UPDATE - August 2026 |
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Dear GMNP Members,
I hope everyone participated in the Minnesota primaries on August 11th. Minnesota again had strong voter turnout, particularly by DFL supporters. The DFL is working to achieve another trifecta this November, winning the Governor’s office, House, and Senate. The GOP is working to hold or expand their current balance of power in the state legislature and win the Governor’s office. Post-primary, the Governor’s race will be between Amy Klobuchar and Lisa Demuth. Notable in the primary is that the voter turnout was about twice that of DFL voters to GOP voters, with Klobuchar garnering 654,571 votes to total GOP votes of 313,966 for any GOP candidate. The biggest takeaway for me from the primary is whether DFL enthusiasm will remain high for candidates for the Governor’s office and House and Senate members into the November election.
Now is the perfect time to engage with candidates for the legislature and Governor to talk about key Greater Minnesota issues. I want to encourage you to connect with folks running for office in your region. We worked with our friends at CGMC to develop Candidate Materials – particularly the materials you’ll find around Housing and Economic Development. Please feel free to share these resources with candidates for office in your area.
Finally, I want to encourage you to complete the GMNP Member Survey today!
Best,
Darielle Dannen Executive Director, Greater Minnesota Partnership |
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MEMBER STORIES: Featuring Successful Collaborations |
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Do you have recent local projects or programs that you would like to share with other members? Send us a short story so that we can include it in the next newsletter!
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EVENTS & ACTIVITIES |
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Compeer Financial is hosting the Rooted & Rising: Rural Forum This forum will take place September 14-16 in Owatonna and will convene leaders from across Minnesota and the Upper Midwest. This in-person event will dive deeper into rural infrastructure, business needs, and community vitality. It’s a unique opportunity to connect with others who are equally passionate about supporting rural communities. For more details and to register, click here. |
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Economic Development Association of Minnesota (EDAM) Basic Economic Development Course This Basic Economic Development Course will be hosted by the Minnesota Economic Development Foundation from September 21–25 in Duluth. The target audience is people engaged in economic development in Minnesota, including economic development, rural city clerks, city administrators, EDA directors, and elected officials. There are a limited number of $500 scholarships available for those who need financial assistance and are available to Minnesota-based Students who work for public or non-profit organizations. You can register for the conference on the EDAM website. |
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Contaminated Cleanup & Investigation Grant Programs Info Sessions from DEED are scheduled this fall, including August 27th in Mankato; September 8th in Minneapolis; September 10th in Roseville; and September 17th in Chisholm. More details and registration can be found on the DEED website. |
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Brownfields and Beyond: 2026 Minnesota Redevelopment Conference The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) will host Brownfields and Beyond: 2026 Minnesota Redevelopment Conference on Thursday and Friday, October 22 and 23, 2026, at the Mayo Civic Center in Rochester, Minnesota. You can register for the conference on the DEED website. |
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Save the date! Economic development conference to focus on child care as a driver of community growth Mark your calendars! City officials, economic development professionals, and other community leaders are invited to the First Children's Finance (FCF) 2026 Foundations of the Future Conference on October 20-21, 2026. This two-day conference will be focused on one of the most difficult barriers to community growth: access to child care. Attendees will learn how to utilize child care as a critical economic development strategy and explore practical, locally driven solutions for communities of all sizes. If you are working to tackle child care challenges in your community, this event is for you! Registration is expected to open September 1. For more information and event updates, visit the event page on FCF's website. |
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Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities (CGMC) 2026 Fall Conference GMNP members are invited to join the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities (CGMC) for their annual Fall Conference on November 12-13, 2026, in Waite Park! This annual event is an excellent opportunity to connect with city officials and staff from throughout Greater Minnesota and learn from expert speakers.
Visit the CGMC website for more information and registration details. |
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FUNDING RESOURCES |
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Housing – Available Now
Economic Development – Available Now
MPCA Grants – Available Now
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CONTACT & CONNECT |
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Darielle Dannen, Executive Director (651) 259-1908
Emma Nelson, Membership & Operations (651) 259-1936
Emma Cliff, Membership & Operations (651) 259-1929
Alex Wildfang, Media & Communications (651) 259-1917
Visit us online at www.gmnp.org |
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The Greater Minnesota Partnership advocates for public policies and investments that stimulate prosperity throughout Greater Minnesota. |
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Copyright © 2026 Flaherty & Hood, P.A., All rights reserved. |