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Published October 03, 2012, 10:20 AM

Business Classic promotes Woodbury, Twin Cities region

At the annual invitation only Business Classic in Woodbury, David Griggs said the Twin Cities region is a leader in economic development. “We just need to get out in the world and say that,” he said.

By: Riham Feshir, Woodbury Bulletin

  • David Griggs
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    Greater MSP vice president of business investment David Griggs speaks at the 8th annual Woodbury Business Classic at Globe University Thursday. Staff photo by Riham Feshir

At the annual invitation only Business Classic in Woodbury, David Griggs said the Twin Cities region is a leader in economic development.

“We just need to get out in the world and say that,” he said.

The vice president of business investment at Greater MSP spoke to a group of city officials, commercial developers and business owners Thursday, Sept. 27, at Globe University about how the organization has been reaching out to the world.

The company is a newly formed Minneapolis-St. Paul regional economic development partnership that has representatives from Woodbury and Washington County among others from 20 local Fortune 500 companies.

Griggs said the key to attracting jobs and retaining them is to go out and market the region.

Over the last year, the organization has had “21 wins” which are identified as companies staying here and growing or relocating to the Twin Cities.

The goal is to increase jobs to 100,000 in the next five years, he said, to make up for the losses seen from 2008.

Greater MSP representatives have reached out to various companies across the United States in addition to China, Saudi Arabia and Japan.

“Minneapolis-St. Paul is open for business and we want to talk,” Griggs said.

Griggs added that part of the initiative of Greater MSP is to look for early warning signs, whether it’s a big local business that’s seeing changes in leadership, or another in a neighboring state that could potentially relocate to Minnesota.

By doing that, Greater MSP is trying to either retain companies in the region or add new jobs by attracting them here.

The annual Business Classic is held every September. Mayor Mary Giuliani Stephens spoke to attendees about the city’s recent recognition by Money Magazine as the 11th best place to live in the country.

Woodbury Economic Development Manager Janelle Schmitz gave an update on key areas in the city that have been filled by businesses or are still available for commercial development.

The city also promoted Urban Village and the Bielenberg Garden, which is being planned by United Properties as a new commercial area where a grocery store is proposed to serve the southern part of Woodbury.

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