The Development Corporation of Austin is hoping a presentation from a Minnesota business expert spurs collaboration and ideas among local business leaders.

The DCA held its annual meeting Tuesday, which was highlighted by keynote speaker Bob Kill, president and CEO of Enterprise Minnesota. Kill, an advocate of the Minnesota manufacturing industry, talked about that sector’s importance for cities’ vitality.

“Without manufacturing, Main Street quickly deteriorates,” he told business leaders and DCA members at the Austin Country Club. “It’s like not having a high school.”

Kill also discussed findings in an annual State of Manufacturing poll, which asks the state’s manufacturing executives for their economic outlook and top issues. More than 50 percent of respondents said the state’s manufacturing industry is not on the right path, and they cited health care costs and uncertainty in Washington D.C. as their top issues.

John Garry, DCA executive director, told the crowd that initiatives like Vision 2020 are a perfect example of collaboration, and that project will get “an awful lot done” by the end of the decade.

“In seven years we’ll look back, and ‘Wow,’ is what we’ll be saying,” he said.

He said the business friendly committee — which works to finance and support existing and new business — epitomizes Vision 2020’s mission.

The DCA also elected nine to the board of directors — Scott Aakre, Mark Coffey, Steve Drennan, Sandy Forstner, Jerry McCarthy, Chuck Moline, Bill Snyder, Nate Toland and Carter Wagner — recognized outgoing executive committee members Steve Drennan and Bill Snyder, and presented a financial report.

Enterprise Minnesota consults with small- and mid-sized Minnesota manufacturers. Go to enterpriseminnesota.org for more information.