Mary Jo McGuire

Name: Mary Jo McGuire
Public Office Sought: Ramsey County Commissioner - District 2
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 774-279-4207
Website: mcguireforcountyboard.org
Twitter Handle: N/A
Facebook Page: Mary Jo McGuire for Ramsey County Board https://www.facebook.com/mcguireforramseycountyboard
Candidate Bio
I am a lifelong resident of Ramsey County, served for 16 years in the State Legislature, and have degrees in business, law, and public policy. I was first elected to the Ramsey County Board in 2012, and serve as the chair of the Legislative Committee and Active Living Ramsey Communities, Board Liaison to the Ramsey County Library Board and am a member of the Transportation Advisory Board. I am also on a number of outside boards and committees including Rotary, Optimist Club, and the Roseville Area Community Foundation.
I’m proud of the work we have done to help save money for residents across the county, enhance hours at our community libraries, make our roads safer for bikers and walkers, and expand recycling opportunities for businesses and residents.
While in office, I’ve worked hard to make sure that Ramsey County operates in a transparent, efficient, and cost-effective manner. We have restructured county government to make sure that our core services best support all our residents.
I build relationships. make connections, and have a proven track record of being an effective leader and advocate for those I serve. I would be honored to continue to serve in this role.
Why are you running for this seat?
Ramsey County is my home and I care deeply about the financial, environmental, and social issues that impact our lives here. Since being in office, I have been a part of many important decisions that have improved how the county functions. However, this work is not complete, and I am running for re-election to continue leading on the important issues currently facing the Board.
For example, we have restructured the county departments to better serve our residents, and are in the process of reviewing many of the County’s systems, including our continuum of care, juvenile justice, and solid waste system. We want to make sure we are effectively using resources to get the best outcomes for all residents. We want to work to break down barriers, encourage collaboration, and provide comprehensive services to give our residents the tools they need to survive and thrive.
I am proud of the work the County has done to find unique and sustainable solutions .to our systemic challenges. I truly believe it is a testament to the hard work we have done to focus on residents first, that allowed us to effectively continue providing services.
All of this has reaffirmed for me the decision to run for re-election this year. In a period of uncertainty and unknowns, consistent leadership will help us come out stronger on the other side. Now more than ever, we need candidates with experience and expertise, and I am that candidate.
What is the biggest challenge facing your district and how would you address it?
I continue to believe that one of the biggest challenges facing the district is balancing the need to provide core services to our residents with affordable property taxes. Public health, public safety, parks, roads, and libraries are all foundations of the community, and our residents have come to expect and rely on the county to provide them with these essential services. These all have costs, and the Board is consistently searching for ways to streamline these services and make them more cost-effective, while still reaching the largest number of residents. Our county re-alignment has identified and fixed many instances of non-collaborative processes so that the residents experience county services in a more cohesive way.
We are also facing continued underinvestment by the state and federal governments. While in the legislature, on the County Board, and as the Chair of the Board’s Legislative Committee, I am a strong advocate for fair, statewide funding, especially for mandated services. We also need to continue to look for ways to expand our tax base; including re-development of existing properties such as Rice Creek Commons. This will help to reduce the burden currently placed on residential property owners.
What do you believe is the biggest challenge facing Ramsey County as a whole and how would you address it?
The biggest challenge facing Ramsey County right now is surviving the COVID pandemic. Our already existing issues of food insecurity, homelessness, and economic instability are magnified during this time. The financial pressure of increased economic uncertainty will put an incredible strain on the county tax base. Demands are increasing on an already stressed county budget at the same time that revenue sources are diminishing. The ability to continue to provide the services necessary to care for our population without overburdening the limited tax base within the county will continue to be our greatest challenge in the years to come.
Related to this is the high level of unemployment and economic uncertainty caused by the pandemic. As of March, 30% of the workforce across the county had filed for unemployment due to the pandemic. We also have a large number of small businesses across our communities, and many of these are trying to navigate our “new reality” while still keeping afloat. Our Community and Economic Development and Workforce Solutions staff are working hard to step up and meet the needs at this time. This work will help us weather the current issues, and create a solid foundation for rebuilding once the pandemic has passed.[Text Wrapping Break]
I am in support of developing programs to keep the county’s economy as stable as possible during these times, for businesses, for workers, and for all our residents.
What would be your top three priorities if elected to the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners?
Should county government be actively involved in attracting and retaining jobs? Why or why not? If yes, please describe the role for the county in this process.
Yes, the county plays an important role in providing a solid foundation for a quality of life that makes our communities an attractive place for businesses to locate and employees to live. We also support the infrastructure for business development including, roads, public amenities, workforce support, etc.
Additionally, as the County Board makes budget decisions and evaluates how to best raise the revenue needed to provide county services, we can and should consider those decisions impacts on local businesses and job providers.
What role should county government play in economic development, and how should the county work with partner organizations?
Ramsey County must balance economic development with the needs of existing residents. While it’s important to bring new businesses and tax revenue into the county, we must always consider the impact on our residents, and act consciously so that our most vulnerable residents do not get displaced due to gentrification. It is essential that we build an equitable and sustainable tax base to fund our programs; this means supporting businesses who want to build or expand in the county, while paying attention to the impact these businesses will have on residents.
Smart development in Rice Creek Commons will be a huge benefit to the residents of Ramsey County, and increase business and visitors. We must make sure that with increased development, Ramsey County does not see an increase in displacement. This means seeking out partnerships with specific aims such as affordable housing to combat ever-increasing rent costs.
Ramsey County has a long tradition of strong partnerships in this area as well. During my time on the board, we have worked with the St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce, the Twin Cities North Chamber of Commerce, various developers, city planning and development staff, as well as non-profits to find unique solutions and further economic development in our communities. I have been an active participant in the Business Council meetings in both Roseville, and New Brighton so that I can stay connected to our business partners and their needs.
What do you believe are the most essential services provided by county government?
What is essential cannot be defined by the county; it is defined by our residents. We must make sure we are a place where all are valued and thrive and that the county government does it’s work with our residents, not to our residents.
For many, this means public health, public safety, parks, libraries, and transportation. We administer social service programs that support a continuum of care that starts with our youngest citizens and carries through to our seniors, including protecting children from abuse or neglect, helping developmentally disabled adults live lives of dignity, and supporting seniors in need of personal assistance. Counties protect and provide for the most vulnerable amongst us, especially at times like this
Our “No Wrong Door” initiative amplifies this idea. We are working to make it so that accessing services from the county is easier for residents, and does not depend on someone having the right number or showing up at the right office. All residents should be able to access what they need the first time they reach out.
Are there any services that the county does not provide that you believe it should?
I strongly believe that county government should be regularly reviewing the programs it manages and the services it provides in order to make them more efficient and effective, while providing the greatest good for our residents.
While many of the programs that the county manages are mandated by the state or federal government, it is nevertheless important to determine how they can be run as best as they can in service of our county. The county must be in a constant state of assessing and transforming our systems.
We must also look at the gaps in these mandated programs to be sure that our county isn’t leaving any of our vulnerable residents behind.
Are there any services currently provided by the county that you believe should be cut back or eliminated?
All county programs and services must be assessed and evaluated on a regular basis, for whether they should continue, and how they should continue.
We should always ask whether this is something that a county should do alone, or in partnership with other stakeholders.
Ramsey County uses outcomes based budgeting. We assess programs to be sure they accomplish what they were developed to do. This means that we are constantly reassessing each of our programs, and staff bring recommendations of how to optimize programs that fall short of expectations, or have outlived their usefulness, when possible given the high number of mandated programs the county implements. An example of this is the closing of Boys Totem Town; the county was able to shut down a residential juvenile criminal justice facility due to the success of other programs, saving the taxpayers' money, and providing better outcomes for program participants.
How would you characterize the business climate in Ramsey County? What, if anything, would you do to change it?
I think that - all things considered - the business climate in Ramsey County is good. Over the last few years, we have seen a number of businesses relocating or expanding into our communities, bringing new jobs and in many cases expanding our tax base. This does not mean that we don’t have challenges, but I am glad to see Ramsey County seeking to connect with other stakeholders to address these challenges and find ways to encourage development.
I am proud of my work to make sure that the process for new developments is clear and that all levels of government are communicating to make sure there are no unforeseen issues along the way. With recent changes, including the expansion of the Community and Economic Development team, we are seeing improvements in this area. One of the best examples of work in this area was the Access Management Summit that brought together planning and public works staff from communities across the county to discuss how to collaborate on road access issues.
Ramsey County is also looking at new ways to help with development. Excellent examples of this is our economic gardening program, OpenForBusiness partnership, and our Ramsey County Means Business website. At a time when businesses are turning to the county for guidance and funding because of the pandemic, we must have resources that are easily accessible to everyone.
What is the role of the Board of Commissioners in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses in Ramsey County?
The Board should play an active role as a part of our on-going work to undo years of systemic oppression and the impact it has had on our county. We are currently reviewing our internal processes to be sure that county contracts, subsidies, and purchases are going equitably to minority- and women-owned businesses. This work must also look at subcontractors and how larger contractors are seeking out minority- and women-owned businesses that can provide unique services to help make a project successful.
We also must make sure that the county is sharing information about opportunities beyond just the usual channels and seek out businesses that have traditionally not had a seat at the table, but have the ability to provide resources we need. One example of this is work my office does to amplify information across social media and in our newsletter. The RECERT Team, which was stood up as a part of our COVID response recently released a contract opportunity for thirty community agencies or individuals to make homemade masks for the A Mask for Everyone initiative. This is something that can and will be easily replicated beyond the COVID response to expand opportunities and is a real way for the County to invest in our community and its many minority-and women-owned businesses.
Many communities and government entities in the East Metro collaborate to provide services to their residents in an effort operate more efficiently and cost effectively. Do you believe that Ramsey County uses such partnerships appropriately, and can you identify any specific areas where more sharing of services should be used?
Yes, and I think there are more opportunities for collaboration that should be explored both in terms of collective buying and information sharing. In an era of tight budgets and overburdened property taxpayers, any efficiency of scale or benefit of collaboration should be closely examined. Ramsey County has a strong tradition of high quality services that it must protect while seeking opportunities for collaboration.
I am encouraged by discussions taking place between County and City staff in Ramsey County to look at how we can collaborate effectively on spending CARES Act funding from the state and federal governments. This is a reflection of our years of seeking partners in many things we do in order to expand the reach of our programs and projects and avoid duplicative efforts.
Another example of a unique collaboration is how Ramsey County staff worked with local seamstresses to sew reusable gowns for use at our Care Center. The Care Center was using 5,800 disposable gowns a month due to its response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These gowns will not only save money, but also will reduce the amount of trash generated, while also making sure staff is protected while providing care.
In your view, what is Ramsey County’s top transportation priority and how would you advance it?
Since taking office in 2013, we have made advancements in terms of transportation in Ramsey County with the opening of the Green Line and A Line BRT, new bus routes, increased service on other routes, managed lanes on I-35E along with many road projects to make our roads safer and accessible to bikers and walkers as well. However, we need continued investment into a comprehensive, multimodal transportation plan for Ramsey County and East Metro area that will best serve the needs of the community today and into the future.
It is important to also keep looking ahead at development of other transit corridors (Rush Line, Riverview, Gateway/Gold Line, Red Rocks) to connect the communities and businesses around Ramsey County and the East Metro.
I have also advocated for the second train to Chicago and high speed rail, since this would help make Ramsey County accessible to the greater region, both for business and leisure travel.
What further policies can Ramsey County adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
Due to COVID-19, our Community and Economic Development staff worked on not only sharing information about the PPP and SBA loans, but also created the Business4Business regional partnership to partner large businesses with small ones as mentors to help them survive this economic downturn. The County also launched a Small Business Relief Fund, providing much needed resources to the small businesses in our community and help avoid displacement of many BIPOC owned businesses as well. A major part of this was transitioning the recently launched ramseycountymeansbusiness.com to be more than just a tool for potential future developments in the county, to a one-stop-shop for businesses of all sizes to learn about opportunities for themselves and their employees as the pandemic continued. Our staff aggregated not only County specific programs, but also information from the state and federal governments, while also providing a point of contact for those with questions.
Beyond this, our Workforce Solutions department has also stepped up to create new ways to help connect people to jobs and other opportunities during the pandemic, including a newly redesigned JobsConnect website, and our Community Career Labs that will be opening across the county, providing services in a way that doesn’t jeopardize public health. Ramsey County also donated to a fund providing support to hospitality and entertainment sector employees that are especially hard hit due to many large events being cancelled in 2020 and beyond. This fund was a partnership between business owners, labor unions, and government - showing how important it is for everyone to come together to tackle our largest challenges.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as your County Commissioner and have made it a priority to manage the resources and responsibilities of County government in a fiscally prudent way. I would appreciate your support to continue this work.
Public Office Sought: Ramsey County Commissioner - District 2
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 774-279-4207
Website: mcguireforcountyboard.org
Twitter Handle: N/A
Facebook Page: Mary Jo McGuire for Ramsey County Board https://www.facebook.com/mcguireforramseycountyboard
Candidate Bio
I am a lifelong resident of Ramsey County, served for 16 years in the State Legislature, and have degrees in business, law, and public policy. I was first elected to the Ramsey County Board in 2012, and serve as the chair of the Legislative Committee and Active Living Ramsey Communities, Board Liaison to the Ramsey County Library Board and am a member of the Transportation Advisory Board. I am also on a number of outside boards and committees including Rotary, Optimist Club, and the Roseville Area Community Foundation.
I’m proud of the work we have done to help save money for residents across the county, enhance hours at our community libraries, make our roads safer for bikers and walkers, and expand recycling opportunities for businesses and residents.
While in office, I’ve worked hard to make sure that Ramsey County operates in a transparent, efficient, and cost-effective manner. We have restructured county government to make sure that our core services best support all our residents.
I build relationships. make connections, and have a proven track record of being an effective leader and advocate for those I serve. I would be honored to continue to serve in this role.
Why are you running for this seat?
Ramsey County is my home and I care deeply about the financial, environmental, and social issues that impact our lives here. Since being in office, I have been a part of many important decisions that have improved how the county functions. However, this work is not complete, and I am running for re-election to continue leading on the important issues currently facing the Board.
For example, we have restructured the county departments to better serve our residents, and are in the process of reviewing many of the County’s systems, including our continuum of care, juvenile justice, and solid waste system. We want to make sure we are effectively using resources to get the best outcomes for all residents. We want to work to break down barriers, encourage collaboration, and provide comprehensive services to give our residents the tools they need to survive and thrive.
I am proud of the work the County has done to find unique and sustainable solutions .to our systemic challenges. I truly believe it is a testament to the hard work we have done to focus on residents first, that allowed us to effectively continue providing services.
All of this has reaffirmed for me the decision to run for re-election this year. In a period of uncertainty and unknowns, consistent leadership will help us come out stronger on the other side. Now more than ever, we need candidates with experience and expertise, and I am that candidate.
What is the biggest challenge facing your district and how would you address it?
I continue to believe that one of the biggest challenges facing the district is balancing the need to provide core services to our residents with affordable property taxes. Public health, public safety, parks, roads, and libraries are all foundations of the community, and our residents have come to expect and rely on the county to provide them with these essential services. These all have costs, and the Board is consistently searching for ways to streamline these services and make them more cost-effective, while still reaching the largest number of residents. Our county re-alignment has identified and fixed many instances of non-collaborative processes so that the residents experience county services in a more cohesive way.
We are also facing continued underinvestment by the state and federal governments. While in the legislature, on the County Board, and as the Chair of the Board’s Legislative Committee, I am a strong advocate for fair, statewide funding, especially for mandated services. We also need to continue to look for ways to expand our tax base; including re-development of existing properties such as Rice Creek Commons. This will help to reduce the burden currently placed on residential property owners.
What do you believe is the biggest challenge facing Ramsey County as a whole and how would you address it?
The biggest challenge facing Ramsey County right now is surviving the COVID pandemic. Our already existing issues of food insecurity, homelessness, and economic instability are magnified during this time. The financial pressure of increased economic uncertainty will put an incredible strain on the county tax base. Demands are increasing on an already stressed county budget at the same time that revenue sources are diminishing. The ability to continue to provide the services necessary to care for our population without overburdening the limited tax base within the county will continue to be our greatest challenge in the years to come.
Related to this is the high level of unemployment and economic uncertainty caused by the pandemic. As of March, 30% of the workforce across the county had filed for unemployment due to the pandemic. We also have a large number of small businesses across our communities, and many of these are trying to navigate our “new reality” while still keeping afloat. Our Community and Economic Development and Workforce Solutions staff are working hard to step up and meet the needs at this time. This work will help us weather the current issues, and create a solid foundation for rebuilding once the pandemic has passed.[Text Wrapping Break]
I am in support of developing programs to keep the county’s economy as stable as possible during these times, for businesses, for workers, and for all our residents.
What would be your top three priorities if elected to the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners?
- Continue working with key stakeholders and partners on providing essential county services in a way that avoids duplication and streamlines the processes. This includes food, housing, and jobs, as well as parks, roads, and libraries.
- Increase our efforts at achieving racial equity in partnership with our residents and communities while working to make county information more accessible and increase proactive communication.
- Find opportunities to encourage development that will bring jobs to our communities while also adding to our local economy.
Should county government be actively involved in attracting and retaining jobs? Why or why not? If yes, please describe the role for the county in this process.
Yes, the county plays an important role in providing a solid foundation for a quality of life that makes our communities an attractive place for businesses to locate and employees to live. We also support the infrastructure for business development including, roads, public amenities, workforce support, etc.
Additionally, as the County Board makes budget decisions and evaluates how to best raise the revenue needed to provide county services, we can and should consider those decisions impacts on local businesses and job providers.
What role should county government play in economic development, and how should the county work with partner organizations?
Ramsey County must balance economic development with the needs of existing residents. While it’s important to bring new businesses and tax revenue into the county, we must always consider the impact on our residents, and act consciously so that our most vulnerable residents do not get displaced due to gentrification. It is essential that we build an equitable and sustainable tax base to fund our programs; this means supporting businesses who want to build or expand in the county, while paying attention to the impact these businesses will have on residents.
Smart development in Rice Creek Commons will be a huge benefit to the residents of Ramsey County, and increase business and visitors. We must make sure that with increased development, Ramsey County does not see an increase in displacement. This means seeking out partnerships with specific aims such as affordable housing to combat ever-increasing rent costs.
Ramsey County has a long tradition of strong partnerships in this area as well. During my time on the board, we have worked with the St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce, the Twin Cities North Chamber of Commerce, various developers, city planning and development staff, as well as non-profits to find unique solutions and further economic development in our communities. I have been an active participant in the Business Council meetings in both Roseville, and New Brighton so that I can stay connected to our business partners and their needs.
What do you believe are the most essential services provided by county government?
What is essential cannot be defined by the county; it is defined by our residents. We must make sure we are a place where all are valued and thrive and that the county government does it’s work with our residents, not to our residents.
For many, this means public health, public safety, parks, libraries, and transportation. We administer social service programs that support a continuum of care that starts with our youngest citizens and carries through to our seniors, including protecting children from abuse or neglect, helping developmentally disabled adults live lives of dignity, and supporting seniors in need of personal assistance. Counties protect and provide for the most vulnerable amongst us, especially at times like this
Our “No Wrong Door” initiative amplifies this idea. We are working to make it so that accessing services from the county is easier for residents, and does not depend on someone having the right number or showing up at the right office. All residents should be able to access what they need the first time they reach out.
Are there any services that the county does not provide that you believe it should?
I strongly believe that county government should be regularly reviewing the programs it manages and the services it provides in order to make them more efficient and effective, while providing the greatest good for our residents.
While many of the programs that the county manages are mandated by the state or federal government, it is nevertheless important to determine how they can be run as best as they can in service of our county. The county must be in a constant state of assessing and transforming our systems.
We must also look at the gaps in these mandated programs to be sure that our county isn’t leaving any of our vulnerable residents behind.
Are there any services currently provided by the county that you believe should be cut back or eliminated?
All county programs and services must be assessed and evaluated on a regular basis, for whether they should continue, and how they should continue.
We should always ask whether this is something that a county should do alone, or in partnership with other stakeholders.
Ramsey County uses outcomes based budgeting. We assess programs to be sure they accomplish what they were developed to do. This means that we are constantly reassessing each of our programs, and staff bring recommendations of how to optimize programs that fall short of expectations, or have outlived their usefulness, when possible given the high number of mandated programs the county implements. An example of this is the closing of Boys Totem Town; the county was able to shut down a residential juvenile criminal justice facility due to the success of other programs, saving the taxpayers' money, and providing better outcomes for program participants.
How would you characterize the business climate in Ramsey County? What, if anything, would you do to change it?
I think that - all things considered - the business climate in Ramsey County is good. Over the last few years, we have seen a number of businesses relocating or expanding into our communities, bringing new jobs and in many cases expanding our tax base. This does not mean that we don’t have challenges, but I am glad to see Ramsey County seeking to connect with other stakeholders to address these challenges and find ways to encourage development.
I am proud of my work to make sure that the process for new developments is clear and that all levels of government are communicating to make sure there are no unforeseen issues along the way. With recent changes, including the expansion of the Community and Economic Development team, we are seeing improvements in this area. One of the best examples of work in this area was the Access Management Summit that brought together planning and public works staff from communities across the county to discuss how to collaborate on road access issues.
Ramsey County is also looking at new ways to help with development. Excellent examples of this is our economic gardening program, OpenForBusiness partnership, and our Ramsey County Means Business website. At a time when businesses are turning to the county for guidance and funding because of the pandemic, we must have resources that are easily accessible to everyone.
What is the role of the Board of Commissioners in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses in Ramsey County?
The Board should play an active role as a part of our on-going work to undo years of systemic oppression and the impact it has had on our county. We are currently reviewing our internal processes to be sure that county contracts, subsidies, and purchases are going equitably to minority- and women-owned businesses. This work must also look at subcontractors and how larger contractors are seeking out minority- and women-owned businesses that can provide unique services to help make a project successful.
We also must make sure that the county is sharing information about opportunities beyond just the usual channels and seek out businesses that have traditionally not had a seat at the table, but have the ability to provide resources we need. One example of this is work my office does to amplify information across social media and in our newsletter. The RECERT Team, which was stood up as a part of our COVID response recently released a contract opportunity for thirty community agencies or individuals to make homemade masks for the A Mask for Everyone initiative. This is something that can and will be easily replicated beyond the COVID response to expand opportunities and is a real way for the County to invest in our community and its many minority-and women-owned businesses.
Many communities and government entities in the East Metro collaborate to provide services to their residents in an effort operate more efficiently and cost effectively. Do you believe that Ramsey County uses such partnerships appropriately, and can you identify any specific areas where more sharing of services should be used?
Yes, and I think there are more opportunities for collaboration that should be explored both in terms of collective buying and information sharing. In an era of tight budgets and overburdened property taxpayers, any efficiency of scale or benefit of collaboration should be closely examined. Ramsey County has a strong tradition of high quality services that it must protect while seeking opportunities for collaboration.
I am encouraged by discussions taking place between County and City staff in Ramsey County to look at how we can collaborate effectively on spending CARES Act funding from the state and federal governments. This is a reflection of our years of seeking partners in many things we do in order to expand the reach of our programs and projects and avoid duplicative efforts.
Another example of a unique collaboration is how Ramsey County staff worked with local seamstresses to sew reusable gowns for use at our Care Center. The Care Center was using 5,800 disposable gowns a month due to its response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These gowns will not only save money, but also will reduce the amount of trash generated, while also making sure staff is protected while providing care.
In your view, what is Ramsey County’s top transportation priority and how would you advance it?
Since taking office in 2013, we have made advancements in terms of transportation in Ramsey County with the opening of the Green Line and A Line BRT, new bus routes, increased service on other routes, managed lanes on I-35E along with many road projects to make our roads safer and accessible to bikers and walkers as well. However, we need continued investment into a comprehensive, multimodal transportation plan for Ramsey County and East Metro area that will best serve the needs of the community today and into the future.
It is important to also keep looking ahead at development of other transit corridors (Rush Line, Riverview, Gateway/Gold Line, Red Rocks) to connect the communities and businesses around Ramsey County and the East Metro.
I have also advocated for the second train to Chicago and high speed rail, since this would help make Ramsey County accessible to the greater region, both for business and leisure travel.
What further policies can Ramsey County adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
Due to COVID-19, our Community and Economic Development staff worked on not only sharing information about the PPP and SBA loans, but also created the Business4Business regional partnership to partner large businesses with small ones as mentors to help them survive this economic downturn. The County also launched a Small Business Relief Fund, providing much needed resources to the small businesses in our community and help avoid displacement of many BIPOC owned businesses as well. A major part of this was transitioning the recently launched ramseycountymeansbusiness.com to be more than just a tool for potential future developments in the county, to a one-stop-shop for businesses of all sizes to learn about opportunities for themselves and their employees as the pandemic continued. Our staff aggregated not only County specific programs, but also information from the state and federal governments, while also providing a point of contact for those with questions.
Beyond this, our Workforce Solutions department has also stepped up to create new ways to help connect people to jobs and other opportunities during the pandemic, including a newly redesigned JobsConnect website, and our Community Career Labs that will be opening across the county, providing services in a way that doesn’t jeopardize public health. Ramsey County also donated to a fund providing support to hospitality and entertainment sector employees that are especially hard hit due to many large events being cancelled in 2020 and beyond. This fund was a partnership between business owners, labor unions, and government - showing how important it is for everyone to come together to tackle our largest challenges.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as your County Commissioner and have made it a priority to manage the resources and responsibilities of County government in a fiscally prudent way. I would appreciate your support to continue this work.