Stories From the Road: DFL-endorsed Kelliher Talks Jobs in Austin
AUSTIN, MN – DFL-endorsed candidate for Governor Margaret Anderson Kelliher continued her No Stone Unturned jobs tour today in Austin. State Reps. Jeanne Poppe and Robin Brown joined Kelliher on a tour of the Hormel Institute – a Minnesota-based research facility creating jobs and making life-saving discoveries.
“What is happening here at the Hormel Institute is the kind of cutting-edge, knowledge-based work that will grow Minnesota’s economy and produce good jobs for our state,” said Kelliher. “As Governor, I will do everything it takes to get Minnesota back to work. A key part of my jobs blueprint is making targeted investments in research and development – efforts like what I saw here in Austin today.”
The Hormel Institute has been a world leader in discoveries surrounding cancer, having discovered omega 3 and omega 6, as well as the cancer preventing properties of green tea. Since 2006, the Hormel Institute has added 70 highly skilled research jobs, while tripling their lab space.
“Private investments partnered with federal and state dollars have made these important discoveries possible,” said Kelliher. “That is the formula for job creation and success in Minnesota. And as Governor, I will work with everyone, and consider every idea to get Minnesota back to work – whether it creates 50 jobs or 5,000.”
The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development awarded a $512,000 grant to the City of Austin for the development of the Hormel Institute. That initial investment, partnered with federal funding secured by Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Congressman Tim Walz, with continued investments from Mayo Clinic, IBM, and other donors, has made the Hormel Institute successful.
“A small investment can go a long way,” said Kelliher. “That’s the kind of foresight and responsible leadership we have been missing in Minnesota for far too long. When I am Governor, that will change.”
As Speaker, Kelliher worked to revamp the state’s investment in research and development efforts. By developing a bipartisan Jobs Task Force, Kelliher ushered through a major jobs package that included an expansion of the Research and Development Credit, and implemented a new Angel Investor Tax Credit for startup companies.
DEED announced today that after only one month, 37 businesses, investors, and firms have applied for certification under the new Angel Investor Tax Credit.
“These are the kind of forward-thinking policies that can and will create jobs in Minnesota,” said Kelliher. “But Minnesota must and can do better. As Governor, I will leave no stone unturned to get Minnesota back to work. I will never quit – I won’t rest until 204,000 Minnesotans are back to work.”