July 2025 — The Twin Cities have seen a range of promising policies aimed at advancing equitable economic progress in recent years, but the true challenge lies in shifting from rhetorical commitments to tangible resource allocation. Equity can mean anything from access to capital, affordable housing, quality education, to inclusive workforce opportunities. According to speakers at the recent Invest: Minneapolis-St. Paul leadership and networking conference, determining how to prioritize these interconnected issues is central to shaping the region’s future.
“The Twin Cities have done a great job in moving from rhetoric to actual resource allocation. Organizations are coming together to work for a brighter future. Equity is not a political liability; we have to work together collectively in order to move the needle forward,” said Terrance Hopson, regional vice president for the Midwest region at Western Governors University.
Hopson was speaking as part of a panel titled, “Policy or Politics: What is holding back equitable economic progress in the Twin Cities – and what is being done about it?”…