Flaherty & Hood staffed the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities’ Fall Conference, Nov. 13-15 at Arrowwood Resort and Conference Center in Alexandria. More than 70 city leaders from throughout Greater Minnesota attended the conference, which featured numerous presentations, speakers and policy discussions.

Gary Evans, former president and CEO of Hiawatha Broadband Corporation, delivered a keynote address on the importance of high-quality broadband and the need to improve broadband access in Greater Minnesota. The conference also a featured a presentation by Dan Dorman, executive director of the Greater Minnesota Partnership; a meeting with Republican gubernatorial candidate Jeff Johnson; a panel discussion on how the state was able to entice Shutterfly to come to Minnesota; a legislative panel on the bonding; and presentations on transportation issues.

In preparation for the upcoming legislative session, Flaherty & Hood staff also provided presentations and led discussions on the CGMC’s 2014 legislative policy positions on the topics of annexation and land use, transportation, environment and energy, local government aid and property taxes, and economic development.