Deal with Caterpillar means jobs for Superior
January 24, 2012 at 6:00 pm in Duluth News Tribune
A global alliance between an industry giant in heavy equipment manufacturing is helping a Superior-based company grow.
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Deal with Caterpillar means jobs for Superior
27 Comments
2 major companies expanding into Superior- what is Superior or Wisconsin doing right that Duluth Minnesota isn’t?
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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It’s simple. Superior went out of it’s way to support these businesses. Duluth , mired in it’s local old boy’s club, does not. As a specific example, back in 1999, a local fabricating shop called Demco (and Clyde Iron as well) was struggling against foreign competition. Demco was renting space down at the Duluth Port Authority. A local contractor was developing a mobile crushing apparatus for concrete recycling. Sitting in the office of business development at the the Port, you could look out one window and see the Demco building. Looking out the other window you would see the contractor at work on his new machine. As a business developer, wouldn’t you connect these two and help make something happen? Sure you would. They didn’t, and in fact because of conflicting business interests of the Port attorney, pulverized the contractor and sat by while Demco went out of business. Clyde Iron is gone now as well. Within two years a German company was producing these machines and importing three of them per month to the US. At roughly $450,000 each that’s $23.5 million dollars a year that should have been produced locally but was now imported.
That’s why businesses that do their homework locate in Superior, not Duluth.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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Think about this. When President Bush came to the DECC for an event, Duluth mayor crazy Herb Bergson particapated in an anti-President Bush protest outside the DECC.
That pretty much sums up what is wrong with Duluth.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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Maybe someone could point these stories out to Mayor Ness and show him that is what a Mayor is supposed to be doing rather than pandering to the occupiers, casino’s, etc….. Jobs Donny jobs!
That is how you start to increase the population. Someone please point out one of his success stories.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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It is due to the city, business and banking all working together to make something work. Not non profits but for profits to create jobs for long term. This is the best of business in the Twin Ports. However, Superior the overlooked and mocked may be on to something.
Business is not evil but what sustains a growth driven community. You can not sustain a city on non profits, casinos and tax free enterprises. Just common sense.
Congratulations to Bruce Bacon and his risk taking attitude.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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If you think Ness is not doing a good job -then why didn’t you run against him? He ran un-opposed for his 2nd term, so it appears that most people think he’s doing just fine.
Also – what’s good for Superior is good for Duluth. Those 300 jobs will be available to residents of Duluth as well as those of Superior. People that may move to Superior to take the jobs at Exodus and also the Kestral jobs that were just announced may purchase/rent homes in Duluth or Superior, will shop and dine in Duluth and Superior, etc. The only negative that I can see is that Duluth does loose out on the long term tax revenue.
Overall, a nice win/win for the Duluth/Superior area in my opinion.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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Because who can afford to run against the Great Union Machine & whoever they trot out as their puppet?
And even when you do have the cash to run against a puppet, such as Charlie Bell, then you’re villified as a “racist” because heaven forbid, you speak the truth about Duluth’s condition.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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Duluth will NEVER elect a pro-business Republican. The unionists and government employees run the city.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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Nearly a thousand potential jobs added, largely as a result of Scott Walker’s economic policies, and the local leftists still want to recall him?
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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The wacko libs are afraid of Walkers successes and the way he is improving the state of Wis. His successes weaken the wacko libs traditional control of the populace so Walker must be destroyed.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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I was in a very nice manner trying to mention that this success in Superior was due to the finesse of business, banking and city working together. We are business owners in Superior and have some knowledge of the subject. If you want to thank Mayor Ness then go right ahead but Superior had this one. It was the hard work and risk that people took to put this together. Duluth may benefit from those jobs but why not let the little city that could over the bridge have their due. It is what is done behind the scenes quietly that has more impact then all the bit noise in the media.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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squirrelgardens: Was your reply directed to me? I admire what is happening in Superior and the way Walker is smothing the way for even more to happen. I wish on this side of the pond our politicians would learn from your successes, but deadly blue states like MN only know tax and spend, not business development. I hope you did not misunderstand my comment, sorry.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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Did scott walker help make exodus produce a product good enough for cat be interested in buying. No, this product stood on its merit. Honestly both of you calm down. Exodus makes a better product. Walker can take credit for doing no harm, but not creating these jobs. These jobs are what will bring America’s economy to where it was before our financial meltdown.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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We own some of that equipment and it is a fine product. Why not focus on the fine folks at Exodus and Genesis in your comments.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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No Ulysses. I actually like your comments. You are the voice of common sense.
))
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Duluth is well on its’ way to becoming nothing more than a bedroom community for Superior. With MN and Duluth politicians screwing up and chasing away every opportunity at jobs, Duluth will continue to wither and dry up to nothing more than a faded shadow of what it once was. Thanks Dems.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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I’m agreeing with you Exodus has made a great product and is expanding because of that. They started when people from Barko left and started their own business in Superior, where Barko is also located. The expansion is not something that depended on tax incentives, but that they forecast an increase in demand. It’s a very good sign for the country and for the Twin Ports Area. Superior goes as Duluth goes and viseversa, To say that exodus is expanding because of Scott Walkers economic policy would be at best questionable. Exodus was making a good product when Governor Doyle was in office and continued to do so when Walker took office. So lets all be happy that these are jobs that are not going to China or Mexico but staying here.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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Duluth, keep voting DFL and liberal and you will see more businesses leave for Wisconsin and North Dakota.
Liberals keep drinking that union kool-aid.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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It’s more great news for Superior but this really isn’t something new. Too many from Duluth cannot find their way off of Tower Avenue at night to take a look around Superior and what has been happening for years. Murphy Oil now Calumet, Enbridge, Field Logic, Swanstrom Tools, Charter Film (not the cable company) just to name a few. I think our signs say it all “Wisconsin Open for Business”.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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Kestrel will help transform Superior with all those good paying jobs. I’m really happy for Superior.
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Not sure if I should comment on the comments or the article.
The news is great and the Twin Ports will benefit. I could be wrong but I believe Kestrel’s design team are based in Duluth. Win:Win.
I rather like Tansey’s comment – the first comment on here. Duluth needs to approach Wells Fargo and US Bank, for instance and try to convince them to locate divisions of their businesses here. Duluth needs to talk to Georgia Pacific and incentivise their expansion or purchase new equipment for the automotive hardboard plant. Duluth needs to ask Maurice’s if they are interested in consolidating their ever expanding corporate offices functions spread across several sites downtown into a new HQ and offer them TIF or enterprise credits of something through the state of MN. Essentia is bandying about the idea of a new St Mary’s hospital and they will be running out of office space for their multi-state healthcare co (Montana, ND, MN, WI, Michigan) that’s based in Duluth. I wish the business community, city, etc were more proactive and energetic about driving growth. Start growth by supporting your existing business backbone and then go out of town, state looking for others!
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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For USBank/WF, part of the problem is the banking regulations. That’s why so many banking institutions have operations in South Dakota (especially Sioux Falls. Duluth REALLY screwed the pooch in comparison to that city).
Now 30+ years ago Duluth could have pushed/pulled to get the same laws enacted and woo banks, especially considering the high amount of quality business students coming out of UMD, but today? Ha. They wouldn’t do so in the first place (EVIL 1%), and even if they did they’d get laughed at.
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I love all the people who read the paper and think they know enough to lecture the world. Especially republicans who say on one hand that the public sector doesn’t “create jobs,” and then turn around and give credit to the WI governor. And then there’s the people who think Superior’s success is Ness’ failure. That sounds like the good ol days where one community fights against another with no sense of regional impacts. The best thing Ness did for the Kestrel project is NOT fight to have it locate in Duluth and turn the process into a VIkings stadium debacle. And it isn’t like nothing is happening in Duluth, with the second major foundry expansion in as many years.
We really need to start questioning the motivations of people on this blog and elsewhere who benefit from casting every issue as us vs. them – Duluth vs. Superior, DFL vs GOP, and on and on and on. I don’t know what role any of the public officials had in making this project happen, but I know the people typing on this blog had NOTHING to do with any of the success we see on both sides of the bridge. Just complain, complain, complain. Fault everyone for not trying, then bemoan all the reasons why it won’t work when they do try; if they succeed, give credit to your side alone, and if they fail, blame the other guys 100%. What a bunch of whiners and nut jobs.
And to Blighty, with all the actions you say should be taken… What evidence do you have that these activities and discussions aren’t already happening? Because you didn’t read it in the paper. Grow up, log off, and get back to work. Leave the visioning and execution to people who see beyond the tired old black and white, us vs. them dicotomies of the sour little baby boomer generation that should just plain retire.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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The government cannot create jobs, but it can create an atmosphere where wealth creators can thrive.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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Like the environment in China? Labor isn’t threatening strikes there – they are threatening mass suicide. Google it. And Sioux Falls? Of course you have to offer the moon to lure businesses when no one would want to live there otherwise. And God forbid those workers have children with severe limitations which prevent them from holding a job let alone becoming “wealth creators.” No gov’t handouts for them, that would raise taxes and spoil the “environment.” who has more Fortune 500 companies – MN or SD? MN = 20+ SD=ZERO. Google it.
I’m not posting this in support of more regulations for MN – I couldn’t agree more with efforts to streamline the process. What I’m talking about is promoting balance, not extremism on either side, and a valuation of facts over erroneous sound bites. You know, what America used to be about?
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Dear Chet: I was all cozy with your post until you went on the attack. Bear in mind this is a blog posting and inherently limits how articulate and comprehensive one can be. I did not cost:benefit / pro:con the entire GDP of Duluth and Twin Ports.
I certainly did not contribute or encourage polarization of opinion and never pitted Sup v Dlth – quite the contrary. I, too, have been vocal about that subject in other blogs on DNT. The beauty of CAT and Kestrel is that they will design + manufacture VALUE ADDED finished industrial consumer products and that means that the investment and revenue will flow INTO Twin Ports; not out.
That said, I grant you,,,, I don’t know whether there have been talks with GP, banks, Maurices, Essentia, etc but I have studied local economy for 30+ yrs and have witnessed missed opportunities, relocations (Enbridge/Lakehead) out of Duluth and too much time/money spent on hospitality/tourism projects (motels) when there are FINITE resources.
And YES, I am critical of the Duluth establishment at times. That doesn’t mean that I don’t think Ness is a breath of fresh air but selling Tiffany windows and proclaiming Trail City as the big manifesto of his mayoral term and growing Dlth to a measly 90k pop are not the kind of aspirations I had hoped for.
You may disagree but I believe our thinking is prob not that far apart.
Dlth Spock: I know about usury laws and agree with you for most part.
Chet: let’s put this into perspective. The “bank” jobs in Sioux Falls are not hedge fund managers, investment bankers and currency traders so not Wall Street or City of London blue chip jobs with 6-figure bonuses at Goldman Sachs. They’re worthwhile jobs in financial services not all glamorous (and that doesn’t mean that I am “bigging up” Wall St, etc.) Duluth would love to have those jobs in SF.
I think Bruce Hagen worked very hard with multiple stakeholders to land those two developments. I don’t think for one second that he is 100% responsible for it and didn’t work in isolation. Gov Walker’s participation and support was indispensible and the Twin Ports existing infrastructure, customer base, workforce and geographic location had much to do with the decisions, too. I have written about synergies/industry clusters already. Of course,,,,, the companies made the final decision,,, Duh!!
Put that in your pipe and smoke it!
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Notice that these are jobs making some pretty high tech stuff via skilled laborers…..not the low-buck dollar store labor that Merv likes to say will save the country.
It’s about time we started expecting more out of our workforce.
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