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Minnesota was hit with some unwelcome news recently when Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins announced he would not continue his career here, signing a contract with the Atlanta Falcons. While the big payday appears to be good for Cousins, it is an unfortunate loss for our state (Kirk’s playoff record notwithstanding).
The Cousins family’s decision echoes what has become a familiar pattern here in Minnesota, even when four-year, $180 million contracts are not at stake. Too often talented individuals and thriving businesses leave our state, or don’t come at all, in favor of greener pastures elsewhere.
A recent report by the Minnesota Chamber Foundation shed light on the shortcomings of Minnesota’s competitiveness and economic edge when it comes to business growth and retention. Due to our state’s lengthy and overly onerous regulatory processes, our state is falling behind in the race to attract job-creating new industry opportunities in Minnesota.
According to the report, Minnesota’s regulatory permit review times for air permits, which are vital for all large industrial projects, are 1.5 to 6 times longer than those of our Midwest counterparts. These air permits have the same federal requirements, meaning the standards are the same, but the time to get a permit decision isn’t. The same report makes clear that this isn’t an issue of staffing shortages, as other states process these permits more quickly with lower or similar staffing levels than Minnesota agencies.
This unnecessarily long permitting process is negatively impacting our economy and is one of primary reason businesses are choosing to grow elsewhere.
This should alarm all Minnesotans, and it has. Sensible leaders in the business and labor communities are coming together to streamline our regulatory processes. Reforming Minnesota’s environmental permitting process doesn’t mean compromising on quality, either. Other states have similar high environmental standards but have efficient permitting systems, and we can do the same.