Minnsights Blog

As Small Business Week greets us again, I am thrilled that so many of the finer qualities of small business people are being celebrated. But as a member of this grand fellowship, I know that one quality, above all others, allows us to stay on this side of the sod. We believe we will succeed even when there isn’t a dollar on the horizon and misfortune is building a permanent basecamp in our lobby.

Pay transparency is when an employer is open and clear about pay for jobs at the organization and why people are paid what they’re paid.

Recently, the Minnesota Waste Wise Foundation celebrated it's 30th anniversary by united current and former team members, board members and community partners. Since its inception in 1994, starting with the 'It’s in the Bag' program and a focus on blue wrap in healthcare, the industry has evolved significantly. 

Despite the many changes that Minnesota’s economy experienced over the past two years, its labor market has remained remarkably stable. Minnesota ended December 2023 with a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 2.9%. The December before that in 2022, the state’s unemployment rate was also 2.9%. And the December before that in 2021, it was nearly identical at 3.0%. At the core of this stable job market lies two factors: one positive and one negative. 

Gruber Pallets Inc. (GPI) was looking for ways to reduce their energy bills and brighten their dark production area when they connected with Energy Smart. GPI is a family-owned business in Lake Elmo, Minnesota that builds, repairs and supplies pallets.