The Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities (CGMC) recognized our vice president, Scott Marquardt, with a 2019 “Friend of the CGMC” award during the Coalition’s three-day summer conference in Bemidji this July. The Friend of the CGMC Award recognizes individuals and organizations that have helped advance the interests of Greater Minnesota.
In addition to his role in helping to address economic development needs in southwest Minnesota, Scott also serves on the board of directors for the Greater Minnesota Partnership (GMNP), the CGMC’s economic development-focused sister organization. In recent years, he has emerged as a tireless champion when it comes to seeking solutions to the child care shortage in Greater Minnesota. This session, he was instrumental in advancing the CGMC and GMNP’s child care proposals by testifying at the Legislature in support of a bill to provide state funding to the six Minnesota Initiative Foundations (MIFs) to expand business training and assistance programs to more child care providers in Greater Minnesota. His advocacy helped secure $750,000 in funding for the MIFs, as well as an additional $750,000 for other child care grant programs.
“Scott logged serious miles this year traveling to St. Paul for nearly every legislative hearing, discussion and meeting about the child care shortage,” said Ron Johnson, a member of the Bemidji City Council and president of the CGMC, pictured with Scott. “He does an excellent job explaining the real-world economic impact that the child care crisis is having on Greater Minnesota, and he has been tremendously helpful in moving the needle forward on this issue.”
CGMC is a nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy organization representing 97 cities outside of the Twin Cities metropolitan area. The Coalition educates legislators about issues important to Greater Minnesota.
