Minnesota and the Commerce Department form a winning team to promote development and exports

Business America, Nov 9, 1987 by Marci Levin

The Initiative is Launched

The Minnesota Statistical and Economic Abstract was presented to Minnesota at a reception and press briefing Oct. 15, 1987, on Capitol Hill. It was conducted jointly by Senator Durenberger, Deputy Secretary Brown, Congressman James Oberstar, and, representing Governor Perpich, Minnesota Department of Trade and Economic Development Commissioner David Speer. At the press briefing, Deputy Secretary Brown formally announced the launching of the Commerce/Minnesota Initiative, calling this a "banner day . . . for Minnesota, for the Department of Commerce, and the whole concept of cooperation between the federal government and the various state governments.'

The Commerce/Minnesota Initiative is an experiment in intergovernmental relations. It should not come as a surprise that both Deputy Secretary Brown and Senator Durenberger have served on the Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Affairs--and in fact at one point, their terms overlapped (1981-83).

The Commerce/Minnesota Initiative is unique because it is using the resources of on entire federal agency to address the needs of a single state. The model, if successful, could be expanded to other states, as well as be adopted by other federal agencies.

Copies of the Minnesota Statistical and Economic Abstract will be available shortly through the Government Printing Office.

Photo: Deputy Secretary of Commerce Clarence Brown (left) and Senator Dave Durenberger are key players on the joint Commerce Department-Minnesota team that is carrying on the state's winning tradition.