■ Local Business memos/ Company news

■ Schmidt Foundation

fanfare of a NFL training camp but brings in much more than $5 million a year to the community. In fact, a study done in 2017 showed MSU economic impact, directly or indirectly, to Mankato was $781 million, the largest contributor of any state university to any home city. MSU’s economic impact was $95 million more than the impact of St. Cloud State to its home community.

MSU’s investment was directly or indirectly related to 6,200 local jobs, the study estimated.

The best strategy for replacing Vikings Training Camp might involve investing in the assets we already have. The near 50-year old Blakeslee Stadium needs to be replaced, but private fundraising is necessary as state bonding money is almost never used for such purposes anymore.

Could a brand new football stadium draw other events in the summer? Some small cities in the south draw significant crowds from other parts of the country with high school, nine-man, no-equipment type touch football tournaments showcasing the best high school football teams in the country.

And we can’t forget other smaller contributors to the Mankato summer economy that may be growing. Some $3 million plus of investments in Franklin Rogers Park, now called also ISG Field, may continue to boost daily attendance at MoonDog games with special club seating areas and group offerings.

The bottom line: Vikings are gone and we’ll miss the name recognition, but Mankato is no ghost town without the Purple.

Joe Spear is executive editor of Minnesota Valley Business. Contact him at jspear@mankatofreepress.com or 344-6382. Follow on Twitter @jfspear.

■ Local Business

People/Company News

Citrowske joins True

Andrea Citrowske has joined True Real Estate as a real estate agent.

She is a native of Prior Lake and recently moved to the Le Sueur area after attending Minnesota State University.

Pantheon opens Mankato office

Pantheon Computers, an outsourced IT provider, has added a fully-staffed Mankato office location. Founded in 1997, Pantheon has been providing services out of their Waseca headquarters and has eight employees residing in Mankato and St. Peter. The new office is in Atwood Plaza.

Jon Stagman is CEO of Pantheon.