“Considering the many hardships facing Minnesotans in this economy, it has never been more important to empower consumers of all ages with the knowledge and resources necessary to make responsible, informed financial decisions,” said Commissioner Rothman. “The Minnesota Department of Commerce, as one of the state’s consumer advocates, has a mission-driven responsibility to contribute what resources, expertise, and services we can to this important effort.”

The 12 initiatives are the result of a collaborative Financial Literacy Roundtable conversation hosted last April by the Minnesota Department of Commerce.

The steps include direct outreach to consumers, improving online tools for financial literacy, collaborating with the federal government and other state agencies, and more.

Click here to read more details about all 12 steps.

Right off the heels of Governor Dayton’s trade mission to South Korea, this week Lieutenant Governor Yvonne Prettner Solon departed for another economic development mission, this one to China and hosted by the National Lieutenant Governor’s Association (NLGA).

Joined by five other lieutenant governors from Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Iowa and Nebraska, Lieutenant Governor Prettner Solon is first attending the Canton Trade Fair in Ghangzhou. She will also have meetings in both Shanghai and Beijing with Chinese leaders in foreign affairs, aviation and education before the mission ends on Oct. 20.

On Oct. 14, the first day of the trip, the lieutenant governors were unexpectedly greeted by Wen Jiabao, the second-in-command to Chinese President Hu Jintao. Wen Jiabao joined Lieutenant Governor Prettner Solon and the other lieutenant governors for some of their scheduled meetings of the day, getting the trade mission off to a productive start. 

For more details about Lieutenant Governor’s Trade Mission to China, check out the full news release.

This Wednesday, Lieutenant Governor Yvonne Prettner Solon will join lieutenant governors from Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Iowa and Nebraska on an economic development mission to China.

The National Lieutenant Governors Association (NLGA) will host the mission October 14 – 20, 2011.  Delegates will attend the Canton Trade Fair in Ghangzhou then travel on to meetings in both Shanghai and Beijing.  From 2000 – 2010, China was the largest contributor to United States export growth of any major trading partner.  In that period, exports to China grew 468% while exports to the rest of the world grew at an average of 55%.