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Who needs Amazon!
The online-commerce giant recently snubbed the Twin Cities' low-ball offer amid communities offering subsidies to host a regional headquarters for the Seattle-based online-commerce giant. What the heck, the Twin Cities already hosts about 2,500 Amazon jobs in distribution and a Minneapolis software center.
The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, champion of grow-your-own economic development, has launched MN Supplier Match, a database that seeks to highlight "Minnesota's robust supply chain and increase business-to-business activity in the state." The initiative is a program of Grow Minnesota!, the chamber's business retention-and-assistance program. Grow Minnesota! operates through 70 local chambers and economic development organizations.
"MN Supplier Match creates value for Minnesota businesses that want the advantages of sourcing from local suppliers – customization, accessibility, rapid delivery, shared networks and trusted quality," said Vicki Stute, a chamber vice president. "It creates value for suppliers looking for new business opportunities with Minnesota-based customers."
Grow Minnesota, created in 2003, visits up to 900 Minnesota businesses annually to offer assistance. Many are links in the supply chains of other companies from the next county to around the world. The Grow Minnesota! partnership has visited 7,000-plus Minnesota businesses including more than 1,600 manufacturers. Many have added sales and employees by serving other local businesses.
"We want to…make it easier for Minnesota companies to find local partners," Stute said. "And many Minnesota-based companies increasingly want to find suppliers close to home. We have been working with some of the state's Fortune 500 companies to help expand their local supply chains."
A MN Supplier Match event, "Supplier Match Roundtable: Connecting Minnesota's Manufacturers," will be held on March 7 to showcase the new program. Sheri Henck, vice president of global supply chain at Medtronic, will kick off the event, followed by a panel and roundtable discussion.
Kevin McKinnon, deputy commissioner at the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, said in a prepared statement: "Hardworking people and a diverse range of businesses have long been the twin pillars of Minnesota's economic success…. MN Supplier Match will build on these efforts. We look forward to partnering with Minnesota Chamber of Commerce…"
To be listed as a supplier in the database, companies must either be a Minnesota Chamber member, or complete a Grow Minnesota! visit. More information: www.mnchamber.com or contact Soneil@mnchamber.com.