Posted: Saturday, August 9, 2014 10:30 am | Updated: 10:30 am, Sat Aug 9, 2014.Mark Ritchie

Many Minnesotans are thinking about heading out soon to our state fair. Me too. I am especially looking forward to it this year because it will include a special booth at the Grandstand — one that kicks off our state's bid to host the 2023 World's Fair here in Minnesota.

Rochester has led the way with bold thinking about the future. The Destination Medical Center is an investment Minnesotans a hundred years from now will remember as a turning point in the life of the state. It is an example of the kind of courageous leadership that inspires those of us who have come together in a citizen's committee to bring a World's Fair to Minnesota.

Why is Minnesota the perfect place to host a world's fair? For one thing, we are one of the most globally minded places on Earth. Our educational, civic and cultural institutions, as well as many of our businesses, large and small, are highly international.

But while we are a major world player, we are often too shy or polite to brag about our achievements and institutions. Hosting a world's fair is an opportunity to invite the world to our backyard — where we can comfortably share our remarkable stories about the Mayo Clinic, the Boundary Waters, our amazing colleges and universities and all the hardworking, creative people making Minnesota the most civically engaged and economically successful state in the nation.

Yes, this is a bold idea. It's a signal of our leadership in scientific and cultural innovation. It's about jobs and investment in our community.

Original Story Link http://bit.ly/Expo2023RochPB

www.expo2023.info

It's our time.

For more than 150 years, the United States, along with other major countries, have hosted a world's fair every few years. In my lifetime, the U.S. has hosted expos in Seattle, Spokane, San Antonio, Knoxville, New Orleans and, of course, in New York, where I was fortunate enough to visit as a 12-year-old in 1964.

But a few years ago, our federal government decided we didn't need any more world fairs in the U.S. Unfortunately, this short-sighted action took away an opportunity to connect America's communities, companies, universities and cultural institutions with millions from around the world. Since we stopped hosting expos, an astounding 126 million people have attended world fairs — but none in the U.S. Not only have we missed out on the economic benefits of hosting these events, but we also have lost opportunities to excite our young people about careers in science and technology and to expand the world's interest in the U.S. as a place to come for educational, recreational and cultural opportunities.

I am part of a group of Minnesotans that think it is time to get back in the game. We have formed an exploratory committee to prepare a bid to host in 2023. With support from thousands of Minnesotans, we have raised some of the initial funding needed, and we are engaged in a crowd-sourcing campaign to find the most inspiring ideas.

This will be Minnesota's 21st century coming out party.

Yes, we can handle 10 million to 15 million visitors over the span of three months in the summer of 2023. We host major sports and cultural events all the time and have built a global reputation as wonderful hosts.

Yes, we can put to good use the $4 billion to $6 billion in tourism spending this will generate. But much more important and lasting will be this opportunity to "brand" Minnesota on a global platform. We all know how hard it is for our colleges and companies to get folks to come here — but once they come here, they fall in love and never leave. This will change perceptions.

Why Minnesota? Because we're forward-looking and global-minded. Because we are passionate about tackling the world's most pressing issues. Health and wellness, food and nutrition, clean water, sustaining natural resources and modernizing manufacturing are just a few of the global challenges Minnesotans are tackling. We can share our experiences and innovations and learn from the more than 100 countries that would come and share as well. We can because we're that good.

Hosting Expo 2023, the Minnesota World's Fair, also can stimulate new thinking about our state's future — perhaps generating serious progress on much needed infrastructure and helping institutions and companies think into the future, like Rochester and Mayo are doing with the DMC

www.expo2023.info

If you are excited about this possibility you can find out more by visiting our exhibit at the state fair — on the ground floor of the Grandstand — and on our website at www.expo2023.info.

At the state fair this month, we will celebrate all that makes our state special. In nine years, with your help, we can invite the whole world to visit, and they see all we have to offer.

Mark Ritchie, Minnesota's Secretary of State, serves as chairman of Expo 2023's exploratory

committee.

www.expo2023.info