The Sunset of a Civic Giant: Inside the Dissolution of the Itasca Project
MINNEAPOLIS — For more than two decades, the Itasca Project served as the quiet powerhouse of the Twin Cities’ civic and economic engine. It was a unique, cross-sector alliance where CEOs of Fortune 500 companies sat shoulder-to-shoulder with university…
The Silicon Prairie of Power: How Minnesota Became a Global Epicenter for Microgrid Innovation
In the suburban landscape of Bloomington, Minnesota, just northeast of the busy I-494 and Highway 100 interchange, stands a building that defies traditional corporate architecture. With its sharp angles and metallic sheen, the headquarters of Open Access…
Leadership Continuity in the North Star State: Eric Taubel Appointed Permanent Director of Minnesota’s Office of Cannabis Management
ST. PAUL, MN — In a move signaling a desire for stability and regulatory momentum, Governor Tim Walz officially appointed Eric Taubel as the permanent Executive Director of the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) on Wednesday. Taubel, who has…
The Return of the Commuter: Target’s Mandate and the Fragile Resurgence of Downtown Minneapolis
MINNEAPOLIS — On a recent Monday morning at Corner Coffee, the atmosphere was a stark departure from the quietude that has defined the downtown core for much of the last five years. For store manager Mia Pariseau, the shift was immediate and visceral.…
From Weeds to Wonders: The Resurgent Market for Native Plants in Urban Landscapes
In the quiet, humid air of the Kilbourn Park greenhouse on Chicago’s North Side, the sound of a rusty pulley system signals the start of a seasonal transformation. Renee Costanzo, the Chicago Park District’s sole full-time employee at the facility, works…
Bridging the Opportunity Gap: The Evolution and Uncertain Future of Minneapolis Step Up
MINNEAPOLIS — In 2019, Jordan Dotson was a standout graduate of Minneapolis South High School, a young woman from a working-class household on the city’s North Side who balanced rigorous academics with a passion for theater. Today, at 25, Dotson is an…
Transparency or Turmoil? Minnesota’s Legislative Battle Over Private Equity in Eldercare
As the silver tsunami of an aging population approaches Minnesota, a contentious debate has taken root in the halls of the State Capitol in St. Paul. At the center of this storm is the role of private equity firms in the state’s nursing homes and…
The Iron-Nitride Revolution: Niron Magnetics and the Transformation of Minnesota’s Industrial Landscape
For over a century, the Iron Range of Northern Minnesota has been the backbone of American steel production, fueling the industrialization of the 20th century. However, as the global economy pivots toward a decarbonized future, the region stands at a…
The Sunset of a Civic Giant: Analyzing the Dissolution of the Itasca Project
MINNEAPOLIS — In a move that has sent ripples through the Upper Midwest’s corporate and philanthropic circles, the Itasca Project, a cornerstone of Twin Cities civic engagement for more than two decades, has announced it will cease operations as a…
Minnesota’s Cannabis Transition: From Tribal Pioneerism to a Statewide Retail Reality
At the bustling intersection of West 25th Street and South Lyndale Avenue in Minneapolis, the Loon Smoke Shop serves as a neighborhood anchor. It is a place where the air is often thick with the scent of tobacco and vape clouds, and where a steady stream…
