Mark Steffenson, Mayor, City of Maple Grove

In an interview with Invest:, Maple Grove Mayor Mark Steffenson said Maple Grove is thriving as a medtech city. He added that the city is prioritizing community amenities, youth programs, and sustainable growth, and outlined Maple Grove’s future goals, including fostering biotech innovations for long-term economic prosperity.

What have been the main highlights and key milestones for Maple Grove in the last 12 months?

The main milestones have been a series of new and continuing developments in the community, particularly in what we call our gravel mining area. This area is situated in the downtown part of Maple Grove along two major freeways. Over the past year, we have seen significant investments from prominent companies. These investments have led to the construction of new research facilities, executive headquarters and other developments. In total, about 2 million square feet of new development has been added to the city.

What are your immediate and medium-term goals and priorities for the city? 

Our priorities are twofold. First, we aim to continue developing the gravel mining area. Additional companies are planning to establish themselves there. For example, one company is bringing in a new biotechnology concept that currently does not exist in the area. Another company is expanding, bringing about 1,000 new jobs, primarily for executives and researchers. These high-paying jobs contribute significantly to the city’s growth. Second, we are focusing on our community center. We recently purchased the portion of the facility that we did not previously own from Life Time Fitness. We are now in the process of a three-phase redevelopment project. The first phase, which involves adding an ice rink, is already underway. The second phase will refurbish and redesign the central part of the building. Finally, the third phase will transform the former Life Time Fitness area into fitness and activity-oriented spaces, including a re-imagined indoor playground and teen center uses.  

What are the main industries and sectors driving growth, and where do you expect growth to occur in the future?

The medtech industry remains the primary driver of growth in Maple Grove. Along with a community in the Boston area, we are one of the two principal hubs for medtech in the United States. For instance, Boston Scientific is building new research and executive facilities in the gravel mining area. It is also expanding its existing facilities. Once completed, it will employ between 5,000 and 6,000 people in Maple Grove. We also host several other significant medtech companies, including Nextern and Abbott. Additionally, we are seeing growth in a new bio-cellulosic industry with the addition of BioMADE, a company that converts crop materials, such as corn stalks, into products like rubber and plastics. This emerging sector has exciting potential for the future.

What makes Maple Grove an attractive place to live, work and play?

Maple Grove is a hub for high-tech and high-business communities. This means that jobs here tend to be well-paying and provide an excellent quality of life for our residents. Our housing stock reflects this, offering a wide variety of options. These range from affordable housing to upscale condominiums and single-family homes, including larger, more luxurious properties.

As for recreation, Maple Grove boasts some of the best facilities in the country. Our parks are extensive, with the Elm Creek Park Reserve alone covering between 3,000 and 5,000 acres. The park offers a wide range of activities, including skiing, snow tubing and cross-country skiing with man-made snow. The city also prioritizes youth sports and activities. We have state-of-the-art facilities for soccer, football, lacrosse, baseball, and basketball. Our basketball facility, for example, features five courts and attracts tournaments from across the country. Additionally, our high school sports teams have excelled, with the large-class school team winning the state championship two out of the last three years. This success reflects the community’s investment in youth sports and arts programs, which often lead to college scholarships for our students.

How does the city work with county and state officials to promote economic growth and attract investment to the region?

We generally approach this by having a capable economic development staff that understands the various options available. We have demonstrated this through recent developments where we collaborated with the state. The state has a series of economic development programs that can be utilized to help generate business growth within the community. For example, these programs have been instrumental for about five different businesses recently, helping them justify why they should locate here instead of elsewhere. A notable example is Boston Scientific. In conjunction with the Minnesota Department of Economic Development, we created a package that provided sufficient subsidies for the company to choose Maple Grove as its location over another viable option, which was Macon, Georgia. 

How do you maintain a balance between preserving the local community feel while at the same time embracing modernization and growth?

Maple Grove is a third-ring suburb, and when I first became mayor, a significant portion of our city was farmland. Today, most of that land has been transformed into housing or businesses. As the community continues to grow, we focus on ensuring that our development is smart, sustainable, and economically sound. The value of land has significantly increased over the years. Many farmers, for instance, are excited to sell their land due to the high returns. As one farmer pointed out, owning 80 acres and selling it for $20 million is hard to pass up. That said, there is little opposition to development in general. The community’s primary concern is that development is done in a way that stands the test of time and serves both current and future needs. We evaluate projects thoroughly to ensure they make sense not just for today but also for the long term. 

How is Maple Grove working to enhance its appeal as a destination for new residents, especially in terms of amenities, services, and quality of life?

We work to ensure that we offer current and new amenities that make the city attractive. For example, our Central Park is a key attraction. It spans approximately 40 acres and features a large lawn for events such as concerts. It also includes a well-known outdoor skating oval that is refrigerated during winter, allowing several hundred people to skate at any given time. During summer, the park offers beautiful water fountains and play areas, including a splash park for children. By developing such amenities, we create a community where families can enjoy themselves and raise their children in a productive and enjoyable environment. 

What are the primary challenges facing the city, and how is your office working to address these?

One of the main challenges is ensuring that development occurs in a smart and controlled manner. We need to avoid developing too quickly and ensure that our transportation system can support the growth. Additionally, we must provide the necessary services that our residents require. As we continue to grow, maintaining control over the type and pace of development is critical to prevent the city from becoming unmanageable.

In the next two to three years, I would like to see continued progress in attracting significant medtech- and biotech-related developments to the gravel mining area. Another critical goal is the expansion of our hospital. The hospital, built about 15 to 20 years ago, needs to double in size. Plans for this expansion exist, but it depends on the hospital group’s financial capacity to move forward. Supporting the hospital’s development plans is a priority, as it would greatly benefit our residents. If there is one key project I would like to see move forward in the next few years, it is this hospital expansion.