AGP Executive Report

Mass Timber & Climate-Era Building: Michael Green Architecture won a Planet Positive Visionary Award for pioneering mass timber design, spotlighting wood construction as an Earth-grounded climate strategy. Road & Construction: MnDOT scheduled an overnight Highway 169 closure in Jordan (Oct. 8-9) for bridge interchange cement pours, with detours in both directions. Cannabis Equity: Minnesota’s cannabis social equity push is framed as “repair,” citing enforcement disparities that hit Black residents far harder under prohibition. Food Waste & Local Action: Hennepin County’s Food Waste Prevention Week urges residents to cut waste with “food hero” habits and local business plastic-reduction efforts. Retail Development: Maple Grove approved plans for a Dick’s House of Sport concept with interactive play areas, plus proposed adjacent tenants. Manufacturing/Steel Watch: Lawmakers on both sides of the border are reacting to Mesabi Metallics’ planned $15B Iowa steel mill, with Range skeptics pointing to Essar’s earlier Minnesota setbacks. Energy Costs at the Pump: GasBuddy price reports show localized lows across Minnesota counties for regular, E85, and diesel, underscoring ongoing fuel volatility. STEM for Rural Schools: Nicollet Public Schools launched a no-cost rural STEM partnership bringing robotics and engineering instruction to up to 60 students per semester.

Healthcare & Biotech: Celcuity says REVTORPYK™ (gedatolisib) is now commercially available in the U.S. for eligible HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer patients, expanding treatment options. Clinical Research Tech: Minneapolis-based Trialynx won DPHARM Idol Disrupt for its hub-and-spoke “single source of truth” model aimed at speeding real-time FDA-style trials. Data & AI in Life Sciences: OneMedNet signed a seven-figure multiyear deal to deliver de-identified multimodal real-world data via its iRWD platform for AI precision medicine. Manufacturing & Local Growth: Armor Equipment plans to expand its Arnold facility after buying Dakota Truck Co., adding bays and hiring technicians. Energy & Consumer Impact: Xcel Energy billing errors are under scrutiny after a Minnesota Public Utilities Commission investigation found rising complaint trends and costly late fees tied to incorrect credits. Ag & Food Safety: Minnesota leads the U.S. in avian flu cases as the virus returns to turkey flocks; meanwhile, a flash flood forced Neighbor’s Meats to discard thousands of pounds of product. Business Deals: Webster Equity Partners agreed to take Lifecore Biomedical private for up to about $663.7 million, with milestone-linked payments. Public Transit: Wadena is moving ahead with a $3.18M Friendly Rider facility replacement to address long-standing mold and structural issues.

Steel & Jobs: The White House and Mesabi Metallics unveiled a $15B (later framed as up to $18B) lower-carbon steel plant in Iowa’s Lee County, with iron ore sourced from Minnesota and projections of 5,000–6,000 construction jobs plus at least 1,750 permanent roles. State Politics & Incentives: Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds called a special session to approve incentive terms, while Minnesota leaders and candidates debated whether the opportunity should have stayed on the Iron Range. Energy Costs: Diesel hit record highs nationally, with analysts pointing to refinery rules and the Iran-linked shipping squeeze as key drivers—keeping pressure on trucking, farming, and construction. Local Energy Prices: GasBuddy reported some of the week’s lowest Minnesota prices in multiple counties (including premium at $4.89 in Olmsted County and $4.09 regular in Steele County), showing how uneven the market remains. Health Care Fraud: Minnesota AG Keith Ellison charged nine Medicaid providers in a $3M alleged fraud scheme, including a Duluth therapist accused of $2.2M in false claims. Workforce: Minnesota State University, Mankato set an Oct. 8 career and internship expo with 280+ employers and 1,400+ opportunities. Data Centers: Minnesota-based Geronimo Power filed for a conditional use permit for a Harmony Township data center near Fargo, targeting up to 540 MW at peak.

Steel Investment: Mesabi Metallics says it will invest $18B to build a fully integrated steel operation, linking its Minnesota Mesabi Iron Range mine to a new Iowa plant—$15B for the steel complex plus about $3B to finish the mine—aimed at creating thousands of jobs and boosting U.S. manufacturing. Local Industry & Growth: Hawkins, Inc. completed its acquisition of Texas distributor Eagle Labs, expanding water-treatment facilities across the Dallas–Fort Worth area. Policy & Safety: Minnesota lawmakers and a sheriff are pushing clearer e-bike rules after rising ER visits and confusion over bike classes. Energy Costs: Minnesota gas averages fell—regular down 6 cents to $4.32; diesel down 9 cents to $6.26—while national prices rose. Legal/Consumer: Minnesota AG Alan Wilson urges consumers to file claims tied to multistate settlements over inflated generic drug prices. Infrastructure Planning: Alexandria approved parking restrictions and a 2027 Sixth Avenue East resurfacing plus separated trail, funded partly by a carbon reduction grant. Business Leadership: nVent named Courtney Nelson Wills as General Counsel, based in St. Louis Park.

Steel & Mining: Trump unveiled a $15B Mesabi Metallics steel plant in eastern Iowa, billed as the largest in U.S. history, tied to Minnesota iron ore supply and expected to create thousands of construction and permanent jobs—an election-year push that also spotlights Mesabi’s Minnesota mine ramp-up. Local Energy Costs: GasBuddy reports the lowest Hennepin County midgrade price at $4.39/gal for the week ending Sept. 19, with Minnesota averages edging up. E-Bike Safety: Minnesota lawmakers and law enforcement are urging clearer rules for electric bikes and faster e-motos after reports of injuries and young riders, including calls for better labeling and helmet requirements. Ag Tech & Exports: A locally made fertilizer “plant in a box” from Easy Environmental Solutions is set to ship to Kenya, aiming to turn plant waste and nutrients into microbe-based fertilizer for large-scale farmland use. Food Safety Politics: Food safety is becoming a midterm talking point as outbreaks and recalls drive public anxiety and political blame over public health funding. Data Centers: Mapletree Industrial Trust plans to sell a Minnesota data center property in Eagan for about US$9.8M. Infrastructure: MnDOT begins prep work Oct. 5 on a Highway 15 overpass bridge project in Sauk Rapids, with major reconstruction slated for spring 2027.

Highway & Construction: MnDOT adjusted the Hwy. 52 detour at the I-90 interchange southeast of Rochester to Sept. 28 and Oct. 1-2 after wet weather, with full closures near the interchange and detours routing northbound and southbound traffic via nearby state roads. Local Infrastructure: Monticello broke ground on a roughly $45M drinking water treatment plant to address manganese levels and support future growth. Agriculture & Risk Management: Southern Minnesota crop insurance agents and farmers urged USDA to move crop insurance premium due dates back to ease cash-flow pressure, and to revisit audit triggers. Food Safety & Politics: A major foodborne outbreak and recalls are turning food safety into a midterm campaign issue, with debate over federal public health funding and what’s safe to eat. Biotech & Health: Lifecore Biomedical agreed to be acquired by Webster Equity Partners in a deal valued up to $663.7M, while Achieve Life Sciences plans to present 52-week cytisinicline efficacy data for smoking and e-cigarette cessation at CHEST 2026. Business Moves: Winnebago Industries named Simone Silva VP for aftermarket and enterprise customer experience, and Draganfly announced a $10M strategic investment to expand its U.S. defense footprint. Public Input: North Dakota DOT will hold an Oct. 1 meeting in Grand Forks on the Northern Red River Flood Study, partnering with MnDOT and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Energy & Fuel Prices: GasBuddy reports show sharp local swings across Minnesota for the week ending Sept. 19, with E85 lows like $2.29/gal in Yellow Medicine County and $3.04/gal in Waseca County, plus diesel lows such as $5.64/gal in Stevens County and $5.99/gal in Lyon County; statewide averages for E85 and diesel were up week over week. Agriculture: USDA says U.S. hog inventory fell 2% year over year to 74.3 million head, with Minnesota holding the second-largest inventory at 9.3 million. Food Safety: A recall of nearly 1.7 million pounds of brown and powdered sugar in eight states—including Minnesota—was issued over possible undeclared wheat kernels; people with wheat allergies should avoid affected batches. State Economic Development: Gov. Tim Walz is traveling to Denmark, Sweden and Iceland through Oct. 3 to promote Minnesota investment in healthcare innovation, agriculture, clean tech and advanced manufacturing. Utilities Regulation: Minnesota’s AG and consumer watchdog are challenging Xcel Energy’s allowed return on equity increase in a rate case, arguing it could add tens of millions to customer costs annually.

Agri & Food: Minnesota farmers are bracing for another early wave of highly pathogenic avian influenza, with confirmed cases now spread across multiple commercial and backyard flocks after a Wright County outbreak in early September. Energy & Industry: A Minnesota agrivoltaics project in Big Lake is making solar pay for farmers too, with cucumbers growing between rows of panels under long-term leases. Construction & Infrastructure: The Green Line Extension to Eden Prairie is set to open June 12, 2027, linking Minneapolis, St. Louis Park, Hopkins, Minnetonka and Eden Prairie with 16 stations. Healthcare Business: Health system marketing veteran Chris Bevolo launched ServingOverSelling, urging hospitals to shift promotional spend toward patient-focused priorities. Public Health & Policy: A proposed Minnesota Health Plan forum in Nisswa will feature Sen. John Marty, pitching universal coverage with income-based premiums and no deductibles or co-pays. Labor & Metals: USW says Cleveland-Cliffs steelmaking contract talks resume Oct. 1, with progress on economic issues but “significant work” still ahead. Local Business Growth: Finnginuity in Grand Rapids is turning handcrafted steel into long-lasting kitchen tools, from baking steels to custom grill plates.

Steel Contract Talks: United Steelworkers says bargaining with Cleveland-Cliffs’ steelmaking side will resume Thursday, Oct. 1, after progress on economic issues but “significant work” remains; mining-side talks restart Sunday, Oct. 4. Transit & Construction: The Metro Green Line extension is set to open June 12, 2027, adding 14.5 miles and nearly $3B in service across Minneapolis-St. Paul suburbs. Fuel Costs: Diesel prices are squeezing Minnesota’s trucking and farm supply chain, while GasBuddy updates show wide county-by-county swings for regular, midgrade, premium, E15, E85 and diesel. Food Safety: FDA recall covers 1.7M pounds of light brown and powdered sugar sold in eight states, including Minnesota, due to possible wheat contamination; Target’s Good & Gather brands are included. Local Industry & Community: Kids Building Minnesota introduces youngsters to the building trades; Park Rapids chamber awards spotlight tourism and local businesses. Energy Policy: Minnesota’s Permanent School Fund question heads to voters, with the endowment tied to land and mineral revenue that supports public schools.

Energy Prices at the Pump: GasBuddy data shows regular gas hit a low of $4.09 in Kittson County (week ending Sept. 19), while Ramsey County’s E85 bottomed out at $1.99 and Hennepin County premium gas reached $4.59—another reminder that Minnesota fuel costs are still swinging. Education Funding Vote: A pro-amendment push argues Minnesotans should vote “yes” for constitutional school-funding changes tied to the Permanent School Fund, saying it could deliver millions to districts without new taxpayer costs. Fusion Tech Spotlight: Sandia’s Z machine drew attention with a behind-the-scenes look at the world’s largest pulsed-power facility and its push toward commercial fusion. Biofuels & Farm Policy: Rep. Brad Finstad met with farmers and biofuel leaders to back domestic energy production and press for year-round E-15 sales and a new Farm Bill. Road Construction Impacts: MnDOT scheduled a Hwy. 52 closure at the I-90 interchange in Rochester starting Monday, with detours via Hwy. 63 and County Rd. 7. Local Clean Energy Projects: Little Falls is moving ahead with a Solar for Schools-funded array at its high school and got state approval for a $17.5M indoor air quality/mechanical upgrade. Outdoor Participation Trends: Minnesota’s outdoor recreation summit highlighted a shift toward more “casual” participants since the pandemic. Product Safety Recall: FDA says a Minnesota-linked recall pulled nearly 1.7 million pounds of sugar products due to possible wheat allergen contamination. Diesel Squeezes Northern Work: Northern Minnesota loggers and truckers report diesel prices around $6.15–$6.29 are forcing some to park equipment.

Energy & Regulation: The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission is launching an investigation into whether electric and natural gas rates are becoming less affordable, with recommendations due early next year. Data Centers & Power Costs: The U.S. House passed the Ratepayer Protection Act, aimed at making large-load customers like data centers cover electricity upgrade costs; Minnesota already has a 2025 data-center bill. Mining & Water: U.S. Steel’s Minntac Mine draft industrial wastewater permit heads to a public meeting in Virginia, with an estimated $150M wastewater treatment facility proposed. Labor Talks: United Steelworkers says it made “significant progress” in Cleveland-Cliffs mining contract talks, but wages and healthcare remain unresolved. Local Government & Housing: Plymouth set its 2027 preliminary levy at 3.9%, while Brooklyn Park’s large affordable apartment complex rebranded as Noma One after renovations and affordability conditions. Business Costs: Rising fuel prices are forcing some Minnesota-area owners into painful rate hikes. Community Support: Minnesota storm victims got face-to-face help at an Insurance Village in Rochester to sort claims and coverage questions. Agriculture: Rain-delayed soybean harvest is tightening supplies and pushing processors to pay big premiums for immediate beans.

Energy & Grid: A new argument says retired coal sites could be the fastest way to add capacity as load growth from data centers, manufacturing, and electrification outpaces new generation and transmission. Ag & Food Supply: Soybean processors are offering big premiums for immediate deliveries as rains delay harvest and tighten supplies, while Cargill earned recognition for farmer and regenerative agriculture efforts. Minnesota Education & Workforce: Compeer Financial’s Next A.C.R.E. grants are funding hands-on agriculture education, including in Minnesota. Public Health & Tech: The FDA cleared Marani Health’s remote maternal monitoring system, aiming to expand care for maternity “deserts.” AI Policy: Minnesota AG Dana Nessel joined a bipartisan push for federal AI guardrails, warning unchecked development threatens critical systems. Consumer & Local Economy: GasBuddy reports Freeborn County premium gas hit $4.79 in the week ending Sept. 19. Community Services: Crow Wing County approved a partnership to help veterans with transportation and logistics via Veteran Valor Farm. Health Coverage: The Trump administration moved to remove 760,000 people from the ACA marketplace over fraud claims, raising concerns for low-income Minnesotans and others.

M&A in biotech: Bio-Techne shareholders approved an $11.3B merger with German Merck KGaA, combining lab-made protein and antibody work across research to commercial production, with closing targeted for late 2026 or early 2027 pending regulators. Energy costs at the pump: GasBuddy reported multiple Minnesota price lows for the week ending Sept. 19, including regular at $3.99 in Hennepin County and $3.99 in Anoka County, plus diesel lows like $5.69 in Mower County. Cannabis rules in focus: Minnesota’s adult-use market is entering year two as federal changes loom; one Lanesboro operator opened a dispensary and on-site consumption lounge, while owners weigh what new federal THC limits could mean. Rural health pressure: A University of Minnesota study links low birth volume to higher odds of rural hospital obstetric unit closures, raising access concerns for prenatal and perinatal care. AI regulation push: Minnesota AG Raoul joined a bipartisan call for Congress to regulate AI to protect infrastructure and national security. Livestock support: The Minnesota Department of Agriculture opened applications for livestock grants, including equipment upgrades and avian-influenza risk-reduction purchases.

Local Governance & Infrastructure: Waconia is moving to reuse or redevelop its 46-year-old former fire station, seeking proposals until Oct. 23 with a target developer selection by year-end. Workforce Development: Willmar hosts a workforce community conversation on Sept. 24 to connect employers with Minnesota’s Dual-Training Pipeline. Energy & Grid Buildout: South Dakota regulators review two major transmission proposals totaling about 160 miles, with segments tied to Minnesota power needs. Clean Energy Finance: Clean Energy Fuels completed a $30.7M sale of federal RNG tax credits, including projects in Minnesota and across the region. Building Products Distribution: Westlake Royal expands PVC trim and siding distribution through an expanded BlueLinx partnership. Policy & Regulation: Minnesota AG William Tong joins bipartisan efforts urging Congress to regulate AI and to keep federal vaccine guidance science-based. Elections & Local Business Climate: Candidate Q&As in Carver County and Chanhassen highlight competing priorities on growth, public safety, and hyperscale data center oversight. Road & Construction Impacts: Roseville/Arden Hills crews continue Highway 51/Snelling Avenue resurfacing with lane closures and a weekend southbound shutdown.

Cannabis & Local Policy: North Mankato is moving toward revised cannabis buffer-zone rules after council members heard a brewery owner’s case that current city code blocks a sale to a cannabis manufacturer near a daycare. Agriculture: Wet September weather is delaying harvest in south-central Minnesota, but farmers report generally strong corn and soybean yields where conditions stayed favorable. Minnesota Cannabis Industry: Legacy Cup returns to Surly Festival Field as the state’s first licensed cannabis event marks its one-year anniversary, highlighting legal onsite sales and a growing regulated supply chain. Health Tech: Galway medtech firm Luminate Medical is pushing tech that aims to reduce cancer-treatment side effects and shift some care from hospitals toward home settings. Energy & Fuel Prices: GasBuddy reports show E85 and midgrade prices varying across Minnesota counties in the week ending Sept. 12, with E85 as low as $2.84 in Brown County and midgrade as low as $4.04 in Meeker County. Infrastructure & Safety: Minneapolis crews responded after a car crashed into a construction-zone hole and man-made water pipe opening, with the driver escaping without injuries. Public Works: MnDOT scheduled an I-94 eastbound closure (Sept. 25-28) for bridge repairs, with detours in place. Business: H.B. Fuller posted third-quarter 2026 results, including net revenue of $938M and record adjusted EBITDA margin of 19.9%.

Food & Consumer Goods: General Mills reported fiscal 2027 first-quarter results, with net sales down 3% to about $4.4B but organic sales roughly flat, as the company leans on innovation and cost savings. Retail Tech & Advertising: Best Buy and Amazon expanded their Fire TV partnership, adding Fire TV ad inventory to Best Buy Ads starting Feb. 2027 using Amazon Ads programmatic tools. Manufacturing & Finance: Winnebago Industries set its Oct. 21 earnings call for fourth quarter and fiscal 2026 results, underscoring ongoing demand in outdoor recreation manufacturing. Energy & Infrastructure: Regulators are weighing major transmission-line plans tied to the PowerOn Midwest project, with a South Dakota-to-Minnesota buildout aimed at long-distance power delivery. Mining & Industrial Output: Iron Range iron ore pellet shipments fell nearly 1M tons at the Port of Duluth-Superior through August, linked to idled mines and lower expected 2026 production. Local Governance & Broadband: Cities pushed back against an FCC bid to override local broadband permit authority, warning that strict timelines and fee limits could disrupt safe construction. Public Sector Data Security: Optery and Carahsoft partnered to bring personal data removal to government buyers via major procurement contracts. Environment & Compliance: Minnesota’s MPCA fined a St. Cloud recycling facility over stormwater and industrial waste permit violations after a leaking tank and missed required inspections.