The Number: 7.5 percent
That was the unemployment rate among black Minnesotans at the end of 2017, according to DEED, which is 1.3 percent lower than it was at the end of 2016. That's still more than twice the rate for white residents, which was 2.9 percent in December. There are no current numbers for Duluth, but Census data shows between 2012-16 the average unemployment rate for black residents was 27 percent, while 12.4 percent of Native American residents looking for a job did not have one. "There is still room for improvement in the employment situation in the state," DEED says.
The Word
"Verso Corp. ... has, at the direction of the board, expanded its evaluation of potential transaction alternatives to include other alternatives, including but not limited to, a potential sale or merger of the entire company," the papermaker wrote in an SEC filing last week - just as it was asking the city and state for help upgrading the Duluth plant.
The Lead
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We didn't offer to eat Tide Pods for breakfast, so Amazon has decided not to build a second headquarters in Minnesota. Republicans were quick to lambast our tax environment, and that may play a role, but with nearly full employment across the state and good-paying jobs already awaiting those who can get more training or education, those 50,000 jobs Amazon promised would not have gone to 50,000 Minnesotans. Plenty of people would have to move here to take those jobs, intensifying an already tight housing market. And how could we compete with Fresno, which was offering Amazon near-control over how its tax money is spent (really) and still wasn't among the 20 finalists?
The Happy Hour
A recent Craigslist ad was seeking a kitchen manager for Duluth Grill as it "is expanding into a third location." Spoilers: That's Corktown Taphouse and Delicatessen, friends, right near Frost River. More news to come on that front.
The Meeting: Check the DECC
Now that we're remembering to right 2018 and not 2017 more often, let's start getting back to our other routines. Like the six Fuse Duluth experience-based luncheons coming this year. On Wednesday it's a field trip to the DECC with new executive director Chelly Townsend. Sign up at www.duluthchamber.com .
The Memo is a weekly roundup of things to know, ya know? Send business news of all kinds to biz@duluthnews.com and give experience-based reporter Brooks Johnson a call every now and then at 218-723-5329.
