The Sun This Week (aka Hometown Source) posts a letter to the editor from Jon M. Althoff, chief mission officer at the Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce…

AI is already part of our daily lives. It helps physicians detect diseases earlier, enables manufacturers to reduce waste and downtime, assists farmers in maximizing crop yields, and allows small businesses to serve customers more efficiently. From local retailers to Fortune 500 companies headquartered in Dakota County, AI is becoming as essential to competitiveness as the internet was a generation ago.

Minnesota businesses understand this. According to recent surveys, 87% of Minnesota small businesses are optimistic about the role technology will play in their future growth. They recognize what history has repeatedly shown: The businesses that embrace innovation are the ones that survive and prosper.

The same is true for states (and foreign countries, too).

Across our great country, governors and legislatures are competing aggressively for AI investment, advanced manufacturing, research facilities, and the data centers that power them. These projects bring billions of dollars in private investment, local school and nonprofit grants, strengthen local tax bases, support construction and skilled trades, and create opportunities for suppliers ranging from electricians and engineering firms to restaurants, trucking companies, and local service businesses.

Some point out that data centers employ fewer permanent workers than traditional manufacturing facilities. That observation is accurate — but incomplete.

A modern airport doesn’t employ everyone who benefits from it. Neither does a highway, an electric grid, or a port.