Why Apple owes a huge debt to Minnesota & why its second HQ will be located there.

First, the Debt:

In 1978, just two years after it was founded, Apple won a contract with the Minnesota Education Computing Consortium (MECC) to supply 500 computers for Minnesota schools. Through what InfoWorld described as an “enviable showcase” for its products, Apple sold more than 5,000 computers to MECC by 1983, making MECC, Apple’s largest reseller.

As Steve Jobs said in an interview with The Computerworld Smithsonian Awards Program, “One of the things that built Apple II’s was schools buying Apple II’s.”

Cray Research made Minnesota the super computer capital of the world from the 1960s-80s. Without Seymour Cray’s pioneering technology developed when he created the fastest computers ever made, the personal computing revolution could never have happened.

Why Apple will build HQ2 in Minnesota:

1)    Highly educated and extremely productive workforce.

2)    High quality of life attracts top talent. Home to 17 Fortune 500 companies.

3)    Best Buy, headquartered in Minnesota is currently Apple’s largest reseller.

4)    Innovation is the key to growth for any company and Minnesota is a leader in retail & technological innovation. Think Target, 3M and Medtronic.

As the founder of another Minnesota original, Geek Squad, Robert Stephens explained; “Why is Minnesota such a great place to do business and how did so many creative people end up here? Because it’s cold. There’s nothing to do but sit by the fire, read books and strategize against your competition.”

So is Minnesota the odds on favorite for Apple HQ2?

You betcha!