The Minnesota Geospatial Information Office, known as MnGeo, was established in May 2009 (SF 2082) as the first state agency with legislatively defined responsibility for coordinating GIS within Minnesota.
It was created based upon a recommendation made by the Drive to Excellence Sub-Cabinet to pursue an enterprise strategy to implementing GIS within the state. Drive to Excellence is a high-level state-government reform program that recommends government reforms that improve government services.
The MGIO, also known as MnGeo, was assigned broad responsibilities to fulfill its mission, including those previously assigned to the Land Management Information Center (LMIC), which was sunset through a repealer provision in SF 2082. The Land Management Information Center was created in 1978 as the first state agency exclusively devoted to providing GIS services within state government. LMIC's role evolved from a project-oriented program to Minnesota's "ad hoc" GIS coordinating organization. With the passage of legislation to create MnGeo, LMIC ceased to exist. However, all of LMIC's functions essential to MnGeo's coordination responsibilities, along with LMIC's resources, were transferred to the new office.