GreenSeam Rural Forum Dec. 4

GreenSeam is a Mankato-based organization which works to market southern Minnesota to ag-based businesses and organizations as an ideal region for them to locate in with remarkable resources and versatility. GreenSeam sponsored a regional “Rural Forum” at the Mayo Civic Event Center in Mankato attended by 280 people the evening of Thursday, Dec. 4. 

 

GreenSeam leader Sam Ziegler told the crowd, “The Rural Forum provides an opportunity for ag and community leaders to gain perspective on how business innovation and state policy intersect to shape the industry.” Among dignitaries present were Cameron Addington, Minnesota FFA president, and an array of elected representatives who offered their responses to questions regarding Minnesota’s small business climate. Among the politicians were Representative Dave Baker (R-Willmar), Senator Nick Frentz (DFL North Mankato), Senator Rich Draheim (R-Madison Lake). Keynote speaker for the evening was Jacqueline McCloskey, director of business development of Fair Oaks Farms of Indiana.

 

GreenSeam leader Sam Ziegler stated in his opening comments, “The Rural Forum provides an opportunity for ag and community leaders to gain perspective on how business innovation and state policy intersect to shape the industry.”

 

The business climate panel consisted of Baker,  Frentz and Draheim; the discussion was moderated by Executive Vice President of Greater Mankato Growth, Andy Wilke, who also took questions through text during the panel. Wilke asked Frentz, “The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce released its 2026 business benchmarks report. Minnesota ranks 44 in overall tax competitiveness, and we have the second highest corporate tax rate. How do you balance the revenue needs to create a more competitive business environment?” Frentz responded, “Some states have a better regulatory environment. Not everyone on my side of the aisle agrees with that. There are families who are really fighting to make ends meet. It’s a tax competitiveness standpoint; we can do some things to make it more competitive but one of the hardest things setting tax policy is your budget must balance.” Draheim elaborated, “What I’m hearing from the business community when I’m out touring is a lot of people are choosing to go across the border. They can get the permitting process done in a tenth of the time, not two or three years. That’s something that we can do that doesn’t cost money, we can work on permit process reform and cutting the red tape.” Baker’s response was, “All these places that have their headquarters here in Minnesota, they're telling us they don’t want to move out of the state, but their research and development is moving out, and their expansions are moving out. We have one of the smallest job growth rates in the nation when just five years ago we were in the middle of the pack. These businesses are just going to slowly and quietly walk away.”  

 

Wilke presented a question regarding the paid family leave plan for Minnesota which is set to go into effect Jan. 1, 2025. Frentz responded, “My concern about this paid family medical leave, that my party pushed through, is that it did not have the support of the small business owners.”

 

Wilke asked, “Sen. Frentz, Minnesota is facing a housing shortage which is driving up costs and eliminating the ability to attract new residents. What policies do you support to expand housing in places like Wilmar and Mankato ?” Frentz replied, “We do not need to put restrictions on developers that cause them to build less housing. I’m from North Mankato; I love St. Paul but the rent control they tried up there was a disaster. One thing government can do is get out of the way.” Draheim observed, “We have a basic numbers problem, we don’t have enough houses. How you accumulate wealth is to buy a home, support your family, buy your house. I push hard for less regulation for housing; we’re chasing perfection on housing. Every building code change costs builders tens of thousands of dollars. The cost savings on energy over a ten-year period is less than $200. We need to ask ourselves, are we okay with a $2000 building code. We have way too many apartments, we need more single-family homes. The rents are going up and we’re not doing any young families any good putting them in an apartment.” Baker’s response was, “If we don’t look at the reality of building differently in greater Minnesota versus metro, we have plenty of demand for single family homes. We have plenty of builders but there’s no incentive for them to build. There’s no way they can make it work, hiring workers and making a profit, so back to all the other things we’re doing, it’s all about mandates, all about the rules, the permitting. Why are the cities telling them what they can and can’t do? If we don’t look at our rules and regulations it’s not going to happen, to me it’s the philosophy of growth, expansions. Builders are there, they’ll find the employees and they will build if it’s priced right.”

 

In another section of the evening, FFA President Addington said, “Minnesota has close to 16,000 members of the FFA and there are countless success stories. I know people raising and showing livestock who get involved in an FFA contest, and then I watch as they enter college aimed at getting a degree in animal science. I have close friends who have written and delivered national level speeches on agricultural issues in front of huge audiences placing them highly on the national level. Each year FFA hosts events like the Washington Leadership Conference which helps students make nationwide connections and grow as servant leaders. We offer 24 competitive events exposing students to different careers in agriculture, food and national resources. FFA is priming students for futures as agronomists, equipment techs, sales reps, farmers, educators and countless other careers represented here today.”