A new multi-platform advertising and public relations campaign aims to draw both more tourists and permanent residents to Minnesota.
In launching the multi-million dollar Star of the North campaign, Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan put on her best Minnesota accent and told a roomful of industry pros it's time to crawl out of our shell and make some noise.
"And you might be thinking, 'oh geez, I dunno, it's hard for me to brag but I can say nice things about other people right?' So just pretend, right, that Minnesota is other people," Flanagan joked.
The ads are the first step in a $25 million campaign to both promote Minnesota and draw top talent to move here.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz says it's time to set aside our 'Minnesota modesty'.
"If you do something good and don't talk about it, it doesn't count," says Walz. "You know, the Minnesota Lutheran in us or whatever. Those days are past. We need to tell people about what's happening here, we need to continue to show them and we continue to make the reach across the state. Nothing drives me crazier than to see other states advertising here, knowing that what we have here can compete anywhere."
Several recent national rankings put Minnesota at the top of the list when it comes to livability, business-friendliness, and best states to raise a family.
Part of the campaign is a series of video travel stories showcasing some of the state's well known and not-so-well known treasures. It also involves a new advertising campaign set to run in 22 states.