Category Archives: economic development

Meta pays $70 million for land in Rosemount for new data center

Posted on by
Reply

The Pioneer Press reports…

A subsidiary of Facebook parent company Meta Platforms Inc. has closed on over 200 acres of land near the company’s $800 million data center in Rosemount.

Jimnist LLC, a company that was previously linked to Meta while the data center was still operating under the code name Project Bigfoot, purchased eight different parcels along County Road 42 for $70 million last week, according to records filed with the Minnesota Department of Revenue.

So, what will the land be used for? The explanation given on the sale records states just two words: data center.

“We occasionally purchase available land in the event that our future business needs may require it,” said Stacey Yip, a spokesperson for Meta, in an email on Wednesday. “We currently have no plans to build on this land.”

Rosemount Community Development Director Adam Kienberger confirmed via email that as of Wednesday, the city had not received any development applications for the recently acquired land.

The purchase, which was split into two sales and includes parcels north of County Road 42 and west of Blaine Avenue, closed Feb. 12.

The sellers, listed as RGA Holdings LLC and RADS Land Co. LLC, both have ties to Ames Construction in Burnsville. Ames did not respond to a Pioneer Press request for comment.

There is a bill in the MN legislature (being discussed at 12:30 today) to put limits on new data centers.

Bill introduced to MN House: HF653 transferring money into the agriculture research, education, extension, and technology transfer

Posted on by
Reply

MN House of Representatives hears a new bill…

Nelson; Anderson, P. H., and Frederick introduced:

H. F. 653, A bill for an act relating to agriculture; transferring money into the agriculture research, education, extension, and technology transfer (AGREETT) account; appropriating money for the agriculture research, education, extension, and technology transfer grant program and farm business management challenge grants; requiring reports.

The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Agriculture Finance and Policy.

While not necessarily directly to broadband, it does sound like a potential for increased use of rural broadband…

A bill for an act
relating to agriculture; transferring money into the agriculture research, education,
extension, and technology transfer (AGREETT) account; appropriating money for
the agriculture research, education, extension, and technology transfer grant
program and farm business management challenge grants; requiring reports.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. TRANSFER; AGRICULTURE RESEARCH, EDUCATION, EXTENSION,
AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER GRANT PROGRAM.

$11,102,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $11,102,000 in fiscal year 2027 are transferred from
the general fund to the agriculture research, education, extension, and technology transfer
(AGREETT) account in the agricultural fund under Minnesota Statutes, section 41A.14,
subdivision 3. The base for this transfer is $11,102,000 in fiscal year 2028 and each year
thereafter.

Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION; AGRICULTURE RESEARCH, EDUCATION,
EXTENSION, AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER GRANT PROGRAM.

(a) $11,102,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $11,102,000 in fiscal year 2027 are appropriated
from the agriculture research, education, extension, and technology transfer (AGREETT)
account in the agricultural fund under Minnesota Statutes, section 41A.14, subdivision 3,
to the commissioner of agriculture for the AGREETT grant program under Minnesota
Statutes, section 41A.14. To the extent practicable, money expended under Minnesota
Statutes, section 41A.14, subdivision 1, clauses (1) and (2), must supplement and not supplant
existing sources and levels of funding. The commissioner of agriculture may use up to one
percent of this appropriation for costs incurred to administer the program. Of the amount
appropriated for the AGREETT grant program under Minnesota Statutes, section 41A.14:

(1) $600,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $600,000 in fiscal year 2027 are for the Minnesota
Agricultural Experiment Station’s agriculture rapid response fund under Minnesota Statutes,
section 41A.14, subdivision 1, clause (2);

(2) up to $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2026 and up to $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2027 are for
research on avian influenza, salmonella, and other turkey-related diseases and disease
prevention measures;

(3) $3,000,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $3,000,000 in fiscal year 2027 are for grants to
the Minnesota Agriculture Education Leadership Council (MAELC) to enhance agricultural
education with priority given to farm business management challenge grants. In awarding
grants, the MAELC shall prioritize funding for faculty with expertise in farm transition
planning, rural mental health, and growing specialty crops in urban areas;

(4) $350,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $350,000 in fiscal year 2027 are for potato breeding;

(5) $802,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $802,000 in fiscal year 2027 are to fund the Forever
Green Initiative and protect the state’s natural resources while increasing the efficiency,
profitability, and productivity of Minnesota farmers by incorporating perennial and
winter-annual crops into existing agricultural practices. The base for the allocation under
this clause is $802,000 in fiscal year 2028 and each year thereafter. By February 1 each
year, the dean of the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences at the
University of Minnesota must submit a report to the chairs and ranking minority members
of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over agriculture finance and policy and higher
education detailing uses of the funds in this clause, including administrative costs, and the
achievements these funds contributed to;

(6) $200,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $200,000 in fiscal year 2027 are for research on
natural stands of wild rice; and

(7) $250,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $250,000 in fiscal year 2027 are for the cultivated
wild rice forward selection project at the North Central Research and Outreach Center,
including a tenure track or research associate plant scientist.

(b) The base for this appropriation is $11,102,000 in fiscal year 2028 and each year
thereafter.

Imagine an aerospace research center in Rosemount. North Wind and U of M are planning on it.

Posted on by
Reply

Finance & Commerce reports…

St. Paul-based North Wind is teaming with the University of Minnesota on a plan to build an aerospace research center in Rosemount, a project that supporters say will bring one of the top facilities of its kind to an existing polluted site in the UMore Park area.

North Wind, which has an existing facility in Plymouth, would do aerospace research, development and testing at the new complex in partnership with the University of Minnesota’s College of Science and Engineering, David Meier, North Wind’s president and CEO, told Rosemount’s Planning Commission on Tuesday night.

“We want this to be kind of the latest and greatest, the premier aerospace testing complex site,” Meier said. “We see this creating jobs, creating other businesses around us. It’s going to be a pipeline for the educational-industrial skill base.”

The Planning Commission recommended approval of a rezoning request and a preliminary and final plat for the project, which will go before the City Council in February. The city expects to see a submittal for site plan review sometime this spring, said Anthony Nemcek, Rosemount senior planner.

A preliminary site plan reveals multiple buildings with a combined 245,000-plus square feet of space, including an 80,500-square-foot Aero-Thermal Tunnel, a 60,000-square-foot U of M engineering facility, and a 46,500-square-foot Aerodynamic Tunnel Building. Also included are maintenance and storage facilities, a heating and cooling plant and more.

Meier said the U of M’s College of Science and Engineering will be responsible for the “modeling and simulation piece” at the complex, while North Wind will design, build and operate the test facilities.

More on mega data centers in Minnesota: Looking at power, water, noise pollution

Posted on by
Reply

Last week I wrote about the reaction some Dakota County residents had to a proposed data center. So I was easily pulled in when I saw a recent another article on the data centers (Mega data centers are coming to Minnesota. Their power needs are staggering). There are a lot of moving pieces on something that seems wonky but also likely to have a big impact on Minnesota…

Facebook’s parent company is building Minnesota’s first mega data center in Rosemount to house its fast-growing need for computing muscle.

Amazon and Microsoft bought land for large data centers near Xcel Energy’s soon-retiring coal plant in Becker. A Colorado company called Tract has advanced a project in Farmington and is eyeing colossal sites in Rosemount and Cannon Falls. Other companies want to build data centers in Chaska, Faribault, North Mankato and Hampton.

If built, this crop of data centers could demand as much electricity as every home in Minnesota.

State and local officials as well as electric utilities are grappling with how to manage this explosive growth while keeping the lights on and complying with laws for a transition to clean power.

Lagging power supply on the 15-state regional grid has spurred warnings of blackouts starting this summer. The data centers are already raising concerns about whether they will prolong the burning of fossil fuels for electricity even as Minnesota requires a carbon-free grid by 2040.

You need only think of how many pictures or videos you have on your own phone compared to 5 years ago, or 10 or 20, to get an idea of the increased need for data. It’s a growing industry. There are tax incentives for companies to come to Minnesota…

Helping to draw these data centers are state tax breaks on energy sales, equipment and software enacted in 2011. It started as a relatively small program worth about $7.3 million a decade ago. It has since grown to often more than $100 million annually — before the arrival of colossal data centers.

About three dozen states have tax breaks for equipment and are “table stakes” to attract big data centers, said Tract’s chief investment officer Graham Williams.

Minnesota has been working on developing clean energy…

Xcel is building one of the nation’s largest solar farms in Sherburne County, a project seen as a landmark for carbon-free progress in Minnesota. That can generate only enough electricity for 150,000 homes.

Even before the data center boom, utilities were preparing for higher demand as people switch to electric vehicles and home heating systems.

Minnesota in 2024 made it faster to permit and build clean energy. Still, it can take several years to build wind and solar projects and as much as a decade for large transmission lines to carry electricity.

The question is – how will Minnesota’s power grid handle the extreme growth…

If built, this crop of data centers could demand as much electricity as every home in Minnesota.

There are many points of view…

Still, some believe data centers — and the deep pockets of their owners — will ultimately help the switch to carbon-free power.

Google told the PUC in October it’s buying the power from a geothermal plant in Nevada, and the tech industry has purchased a tremendous amount of renewable electricity across the country.

Beyond wind and solar, some data center companies are paying to revive nuclear plants such as Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania or investing in emerging technology for smaller reactors.

And what is the impact on water…

The spread of data centers brings other challenges. Some use huge quantities of water. People don’t want to live near them. They can be noisy.

In Farmington, residents sued the city in an effort to stop Tract’s sprawling data center campus. In Hampton, home to 700 people, dozens packed the small city council chambers Tuesday night, poring over maps and pressing for more information about the 140-acre project.

And there are folks looking at economic development…

And even with the risks of data centers, many welcome the jobs and revenue they bring.

Farmington residents have concerns about proposed data center (Dakota County)

Posted on by
Reply

Pioneer Press reports on a data enter in Dakota County…

A group of Farmington residents is suing the city in an attempt to stop a cluster of data centers from being constructed near their neighborhoods.

An injunction filed Nov. 29 has paused negotiations between the city of Farmington and data center developer Tract, but residents hope to put a permanent stop to the data center park.

The Farmington City Council recently approved a final plat and planned-unit development for Tract to build up to 12 data center buildings spanning more than 2.5 million square feet across 340 acres. At full buildout, Tract expects the project to approach $5 billion.

It’s interesting to see the community’s reaction to the proposed data center…

The lawsuit alleges that if the project moves forward, it will negatively impact the physical and mental wellbeing of nearby residents, worsen air quality and noise pollution and result in “unprecedented water usage and electricity,” according to court documents.

Represented by Chris Renz of Minneapolis law firm Chestnut Cambronne, the plaintiffs in the suit include a handful of Farmington residents and the Coalition for Responsible Data Center Development, a group of more than 350 nearby residents who are “concerned about the proposed technology park,” according to the group’s Facebook page.

One of the main points in the lawsuit alleges that Farmington officials were prohibited from rezoning the parcels without consent from Castle Rock Township due to the Orderly Annexation Agreement.

DEED Commissioner Matt Varilek on various optics including broadband

Posted on by
Reply

Capital Analytics Analysts report…

In an interview with Invest:, Matt Varilek, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Employment & Economic Development, praised the state’s strong economic performance, highlighted its $200 million investment in workforce programs, and efforts to address critical challenges, including childcare access and broadband connectivity.

Here’s What he said about broadband…

What are the primary challenges facing the labor market and economic landscape in Minnesota, and how is the department addressing them?

The economy intersects with various issues like childcare, broadband, and housing, which all impact the labor market. While DEED has resources to address some of these challenges directly, we often collaborate with other state agencies and partners.

For instance, broadband access is critical. Businesses rely on it for operations, and workers need it for training or remote work. Our Office of Broadband Development has bipartisan support, and we recently announced $52 million in grants to connect 8,000 more homes and businesses.

U of M talks about tech industry in Minnesota

Posted on by
Reply

The University of Minnesota did a Q & A with Colin Miller, faculty director for Information Technology Infrastructure programs in the College of Continuing and Professional Studies on the state of the tech industry in Minnesota. Here are just three questions…

Information technology is a rapidly changing field that impacts every industry in Minnesota. Colin Miller, faculty director for information technology infrastructure programs in the College of Continuing and Professional Studies, answers questions about the changes and trends Minnesotans can expect to see in the tech industry. 
Q: What is the state of the tech industry in Minnesota? 
Miller: The IT field in Minnesota is thriving, with strong demand across various sectors, including healthcare, finance, manufacturing and retail. Home to at least 16 Fortune 500 companies, Minnesota offers numerous opportunities for IT professionals across a range of roles, from software development to cybersecurity and data science. The competitive pay scale and opportunities for specialization make it an attractive field. Additionally, the rise of remote work has broadened access to tech jobs statewide. However, there is a need for greater diversity within the industry to foster innovation and address complex tech challenges with a wider range of perspectives.
Q: What tech skills are the most valuable today?
Miller: As technology evolves rapidly, there’s a growing demand for expertise in cloud computing, data analytics, cybersecurity and AI. Additionally, professionals need to understand how to manage and integrate these technologies into existing systems. Beyond technical skills, there is a need for knowledge in areas like data privacy, ethical AI and digital transformation strategies. In addition, soft skills have become indispensable in IT— the era of working in isolation and simply handing off code is long gone. Skills like communication, teamwork, problem-solving and adaptability are now critical to success. Addressing these gaps requires a commitment to lifelong learning, interdisciplinary knowledge and adaptability to keep pace with the constantly shifting technological landscape.
Q: How can rural communities remain competitive in the tech industry?
Miller: Investing in robust digital infrastructure, such as high-speed internet, is critical for rural communities — from supporting remote work and digital education to telehealth services. For example, initiatives like Minnesota’s Border-to-Border Broadband Development Grant Program are actively working to close the digital divide by expanding internet access in underserved rural areas. Additionally, rural communities can foster local talent by partnering with educational institutions and tech companies to provide training in emerging technologies like AI, cybersecurity and cloud computing. Encouraging a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship can attract tech firms and remote workers, enhancing the community’s economic resilience and global competitiveness.

$5 billion data center park in Farmington moves forward – not all residents are happy (Dakota County)

Posted on by
Reply

I wrote about the possibility in October but St Paul Pioneer Press reports on the update…

Farmington is on its way to being the home of a sprawling $5 billion data center park following a recent vote by the Farmington City Council that came as a disappointment to some residents.

The Farmington City Council recently approved a final plat and final planned unit development for Tract, a data center development company, to build up to 12 data centers across some 340 acres.

Denver-based Tract plans to build the Farmington Technology Park at the Fountain Valley Golf Club property at 2830 W. 220th St. and two nearby properties that were annexed into the city of Farmington from Castle Rock Township and are now owned by Independent School District 192, according to city documents.

Here are some of the objections…

Residents like Cathy Johnson who live near the property where the data centers are to be located have been making their presence and their negative feelings about the project known.

A Facebook group called Environmental Coalition of Farmington Minnesota has garnered more than 250 members with the goal of objecting to the data center park.

Johnson, who is part of the group, said she has concerns about electrical usage, water usage and potential sound pollution from the data centers.

“Noise is a major issue with data centers; it’s not so much the decibels, it’s a whirring hum that the fans make,” Johnson said.

Another concern of residents who live in the area is the proximity of the technology park to existing neighborhoods.

“I’ll look out my bay window and it’ll be right there,” Johnson said, referring to the 250-foot setback outlined in the proposal.

EVENT April 12: GigaZone Gaming Championship & TechXpo in Bemidji

Posted on by
Reply

Fun news from Paul Bunyan Communications…

The GigaZone Gaming Championship and TechXpo, a Paul Bunyan Communications event, will return on Saturday, April 12, 2025 at the Sanford Center in Bemidji. The event is now one of the largest rural gaming and technology expositions in the United States and recognized nationally within the broadband industry for its innovative way to showcase the cooperative’s all-fiber optic network while engaging with the gaming community and anyone interested in technology.
“Last year was another awesome experience. We had close to 4,000 come out and experience this one-of-a-kind event. There were more gaming opportunities than ever before, Danielle Feinberg from Pixar Animation Studios was our special guest and over 25 exhibitors were on hand demonstrating their use of technology to thousands of potential students, customers, and employees. It was an amazing day and we are excited to bring it back again on April 12.” said Gary Johnson, Paul Bunyan Communications CEO/General Manager
The GigaZone Gaming Championship will feature free gaming on various console and arcade games, numerous tournaments, door prizes, and more. There is no cost to enter the tournaments or for any of the gaming. Tournament details will be posted on the GigaZone Gaming Discord, Twitch channel, and Facebook page as well as http://www.gigazonegaming.com New this year will be the GigaZone Gaming High School Invitational, a Rocket League tournament exclusively for High School esports teams. Schools interested should contact Fenworks at https://fenworks.com/contact-us/
The GigaZone TechXpo will expose a growing regional audience to technology innovation and help them turn their technical skills and enthusiasm into successful careers right here in northern Minnesota. Start-ups and companies creatively leveraging technology will be able to demonstrate their innovation to a large group of tech-savvy potential employees. Educators and educational institutions can have their tech-oriented students show off projects and promote the technology training programs they have to offer. There is no cost to be an exhibitor but space is limited and the exhibit must creatively display the use of technology. Applications will open January 3 with a deadline to apply by February 28, 2025 at www.gigazonetechxpo.com
This one-of-a-kind event showcases Paul Bunyan Communications’ IT and web development team, which custom-built and integrated much of the online technology being used and leverages the speed of the GigaZone, one of the largest rural all-fiber optic gigabit networks in the country. The entire gaming event is run off a single residential GigaZone Internet connection.
“Our cooperative continues to expand our advanced fiber network that brings many advantages to our members including extreme speed and low latency, which are critical for the best online gaming experience. The GigaZone Gaming Championship showcases just that,” added Leo Anderson, Paul Bunyan Communications Chief Technology Officer.
“It is the biggest rural gaming event I’m aware of and the TechXpo makes a lot of connections to potential careers. Many of the exhibitors were able to attract new employees, students, and/or customers through the event. I don’t think people realize just how innovative our schools and businesses are and how they implement the latest technology into their operations or education curriculum. The TechXpo is a showcase for that in a personal, interactive, and exciting way,” added Brian Bissonette, Paul Bunyan Communications Marketing Supervisor.
This Paul Bunyan Communications event includes the talents of many local partners, including NLFX, Accidently Cool Games, Northern Amusement, and the Sanford Center, as well as support from several regional and national partners.
Paul Bunyan Communications has one of the largest and fastest rural all-fiber optic networks in the United States, with over 6,000 square miles throughout most of Beltrami County and portions of Aitkin, Cass, Hubbard, Itasca, Koochiching, and St. Louis Counties. The Cooperative provides GigaZone Internet with speeds up to 10 Gig, digital and high-definition television service

Report shows broadband can transform a rural community with a MN example

Posted on by
Reply

Route Fifty reports…

New research shows a more than 200% growth rate for businesses in rural areas with high broadband utilization rates.

The article highlights many examples, starting with Minnesota…

One of the biggest rural gaming events in the country, the GigaZone Gaming Championship and TechXpo, is supporting young people to explore technology and all it offers in Bemidji, Minnesota.

“We had started to see nationally some very large events that were selling out quickly, all about eSports,” Gary Johnson, CEO of Paul Bunyan Communications, told the Daily Yonder in a Zoom interview. “And we thought, what a better way to deliver a new, exciting opportunity for our region and leverage the network that we have built and our members have invested in.”

And they give some general stats and perspective…

“What we find is when you expose young kids to broadband, what research has shown is you actually get higher broadband adoption rates,” Weinstein said. “And it’s not the kids who are using their allowance to get broadband subscriptions for the household – it’s the adults. That exposure that kids have in various ways actually gets their parents exposure as well and gets you those higher broadband adoption rates in communities.”
The report also found that in areas with high adoption rates of broadband, self-employment increased by 10% or more.
“Counties that effectively utilize broadband are seeing marked improvements in local economic dynamism, suggesting that broadband can help mitigate the economic disadvantages often faced by rural areas,” the report concluded.

 

Land O’Lakes’ Teddy Bekele talks about precision agriculture

Posted on by
Reply

Minneapolis Star Tribune reports on digital aspects of farming with Land O’Lakes and their CTO (and chair of the MN Broadband Task Force) Teddy Bekele…

Land O’Lakes appointed Bekele the company’s first tech executive in 2018 amid a growing need to connect agriculture with big data and insights. Six years on, it’s still in Bekele’s job description to “lead digital transformation” at the 103-year-old cooperative, especially as artificial intelligence unites a common theme tech and ag share: optimization.

“For the amount of inputs you’re putting in, you’re getting the maximum outputs,” he said. “That’s the core of where our insights and AI come into play.”

Bekele’s team of about 250, plus another 750 consultants and contractors, are dispersed throughout the cooperative’s business units: dairy foods, WinField United crop inputs, Purina animal feed and Truterra, in addition to areas like supply chain. Some of those employees even report to other leaders, giving tech a seat at many tables.

“We’re going to help them get smart about data and analytics,” Bekele said. “As a technology organization inside Land O’Lakes, we’re only successful if Land O’Lakes businesses are successful, and the business is only successful if the retailers and farmers are successful.”

The shift to technology has been strategic…

A Purdue report found as the global population rises, it could take a “miracle that dramatically shifts the annual rate of corn yield improvement” to feed everyone.

“We’ve proven [corn yields] can push over 800 bushels per acre, yet the average is way below that” at around 180 bushels of corn per acre, said senior R&D manager Eric Spandl. “So how do we bring that up and be more efficient with the acres that we have?”

IRRR funds and Minnesota North College hosts 1500 students for STEM career day

Posted on by
Reply

Hometown Focus reports…

Approximately 1,500 fifth and sixth grade students from 22 area schools attended the Iron Range STEM Showcase in Hibbing earlier this month. Students had hands-on experiments led by Range Engineering Council volunteers, local businesses and 25 colleges showcasing STEM opportunities on the Iron Range. A Workforce Development grant from the Department of Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation (IRRR) helped offset bus transportation costs.

Local businesses included Cirrus, Cleveland Cliffs, Jasper Engineering, L&M Radiator, Minnesota Power and NewRange Copper Nickel. Other organizations present included Hibbing Police Department, Minnesota Discovery Center, Minnesota Department of Transportation, The North St. Louis Soil and Water Conservation District, Range Astronomy Club/ Paulucci Space, Science Museum of Minnesota, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, St. Louis County, STARBASE and Northern Minnesota Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration.

IRRR awarded a $75,000 grant to Minnesota North College (True North Stars Perkins Consortium). It is a program established to help area students in the middle grades and beyond make informed career and education choices. The consortium offers career exploration and development activities that encourage students to consider factors such as salary, job growth, work environment and flexibility when considering a career path.

Iron Range STEM Showcase in Hibbing introduces students tech opportunities

Posted on by
Reply

The Ranger, a publication of Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation, talks about programs in Northern Minnesota that promote technical training and workforce encouragement…

Approximately 1,500 fifth and sixth grade students from 22 area schools attended the Iron Range STEM Showcase in Hibbing earlier this month. Students had hands-on experiments led by Range Engineering Council volunteers, local businesses and 25 colleges showcasing STEM opportunities on the Iron Range. A Workforce Development grant from IRRR helped offset bus transportation costs.

Local businesses included Cirrus, Cleveland Cliffs, Jasper Engineering, L&M Radiator, Minnesota Power and NewRange Copper Nickel. Other organizations present included Hibbing Police Department, Minnesota Discovery Center, Minnesota Department of Transportation, The North St. Louis Soil & Water Conservation District, Range Astronomy Club/Paulucci Space, Science Museum of Minnesota, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, St. Louis County, STARBASE and Northern Minnesota Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration.

IRRR awarded a $75,000 grant to Minnesota North College (True North Stars Perkins Consortium). It is a program established to help area students in the middle grades and beyond make informed career and education choices. The consortium offers career exploration and development activities that encourage students to consider factors such as salary, job growth, work environment and flexibility when considering a career path.

The IRRR grant helps transport the students to the annual STEM Showcase and to other events including school field trips to tour local businesses, meetings with professionals to learn about careers and hands-on trade exploration events to better educate students and job seekers about the variety of career paths in the region.

Learn more about Range Engineering Council.

Email Danae Beaudette or call her at 218-735-3022 for Workforce Development grant information.

Data Centers looking to move to Farmington MN: movement forward but some concern from residents (Dakota County)

Posted on by
Reply

Twin Cities Pioneer Press reports…

Up to a dozen data centers could be coming to Farmington, despite objections from some residents.

Nearly 343 Dakota County acres have caught the attention of Tract, a data center land acquisition and development company, to be the potential site of the Farmington Technology Park, but the project hinges on rezoning three parcels of land.

Based in Denver, Tract is looking at the Fountain Valley Golf Club property at 2830 W. 220th St. and two nearby properties that were recently annexed into the city of Farmington from Castle Rock Township and are now owned by Independent School District 192, according to city documents.

The parcels, located near the intersection of Minnesota 50/220th Street West and Minnesota 3/Chippendale Avenue West, are currently zoned as a mixture of agriculture, highway business, park/open space and low- and medium-density residential and would need to be rezoned as mixed-use commercial industrial for the project.

The current site plan, which is subject to change as an end-user has not been identified, includes up to 12 data center buildings spanning more than 2.5 million square feet and two administrative buildings, according to city documents.

The company expects to invest $50 million to $100 million to develop the infrastructure required for the technology park, said Graham Williams, chief investment officer for Tract, in a written statement. “We expect $5B+ to be invested into the data centers themselves as the sites are built out,” Williams added.

The proposal passed but not without some concerns from neighbors…

The Farmington Planning Commission voted 5-0 last month to recommend the rezoning and preliminary plat to the Farmington City Council.

Residents who spoke at the Sept. 10 planning commission meeting raised a variety of concerns including the potential noise emitted from up to 12 data centers, the height of the buildings that would be constructed between two established neighborhoods and the end-user of the site abiding by the site plan that Tract and the city would agree to.

 

AI in healthcare a game changer and MN is paving the path

Posted on by
Reply

Minnesota Monthly reports…

Unlike traditional AI, which analyzes data to make predictions or classifications, generative AI can create novel outputs such as text, images, and unique insights. This is opening up new horizons of possibility for health care, from developing new drugs and personalizing treatment plans to interpreting medical imaging and streamlining administrative tasks.

New applications of AI are becoming more visible and pervasive at health systems across the state. These advances are not only pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in health care, but also making AI an integral part of the patient experience. In Minnesota, leading health systems such as Mayo Clinic, Allina Health, Hennepin Healthcare, and M Health Fairview are at the forefront of integrating AI into their medical practices. Read more about how Dr. Mark Lobanoff, of OVO LASIK + LENS, is shaping the future of ophthalmology with cutting-edge AI solutions.

The article paints a fun picture of what health care might look like in 2045.