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ECONOMIC OUTLOOK wouldn't say there's been growth,"says one economic developer,but he doesn't mention suffering,either. Manufacturing in his area has not been stellar,just steady. And like many around the Twin Cities and the state. he's trying to figure out ways to improve the prospects for manufacturing. Local squalls and doldrums in certain sectors aside.during the past five years Minnesota's manufacturing climate has been sunny and better than the nation's as a whole.From 1990 In a to 1995,while manufacturing employment dropped 1.2 percent nationally and 24 states recorded decreases,Minnesota's manufactur- ing employment increased 6.2 percent,accord- ing to the U.S.Bureau of Labor Statistics. The forecast?Changeable,but mostly fair. Although unanticipated irreversible shifts— as from mainframe to personal computers— and the existence of long-time underemployed people can seem as inevitable as thunder- storms in August,manufacturing is not like the Be assured that manufacturing will continue steady weather;it can respond to efforts to improve n nurture fa control it. Participants in growth in Minnesota.What exactly gets produced, Minnesota Manufacturers Weck,October 14 however,Is still up for discussion. through 18,certainly will be trading experi- ences and sharing advice.Technical school/pri- vate business partnerships can train better By Allison Campbell workers.Government regulations may help or hinder. Regional developers try to recruit thoughtfully and productively. Recruiting and clustering "You can't really plan to specialize,but once You start attracting companies in certain areas, they tend to cluster,"says Gene Donley,consul- tant with Project 20011,the economic develop- ' ment arm of the city of Fergus Falls.In his west- `' - central Minnesota city,Banner Engineering,an FrB electronic sensor manufacturer,uses circuit hoards from nearby Quality Circuits."With a n strong wind and a good arm,you could throw a rock from one to the other."he says.'thoughl- ful recruitment will nurture more connections. ........... .;,: says Donley,who is trying to bring into Fergus s4n Falls a laser-cutting and punch operation that w! would work with at least four companies. Fergus Falls is just one of many localities out- `t'%'" side the Twin Cities area that have experienced growth in manufacturing during the past five years."[Nlearly two of every three new and cx- oY._,`9 �i pansion jobs in manufacturing occurred in greater Minnesota"during the third quarter of 1994,according to the"Business Tracking Sys- tem"published by the Minnesota Department The Minneapolis Community Development Agency points to Seward place as a model of Trade and Economic Development.People rehabilitation project that now centrib,tes to the state's msnutactaring sector. in greater Minnesota,says DIED Commission- t 42 OCTOBER 1995 TWIN CITIES BUSINESS MONTHLY - PHOTOGRAPH BY JAMEY GUY •