business

General Mills, Cargill and Allianz will display a commemorative painting honoring the 125th anniversary of Washburn Center for Children, the Minneapolis institution that serves kids' mental health needs. The painting, by Plymouth artist Anthony Whelihan, features images of children, the Stone Arch Bridge and the legendary Gold Medal Flour sign.

Originally known as the Washburn Memorial Orphan Asylum, the Washburn Center for Children was founded with financial support from Cadwallader Washburn, owner of the Washburn Mill. Washburn became the Washburn Crosby Co., which eventually became General Mills.

The center's anniversary will be celebrated Oct. 25 at the Minnesota History Center.

The ribbon was cut, and the speeches made. Hopefully they had cake, too. By the end of Tuesday, ACIST Medical Systems Inc. had opened its expanded, 75,000-square-foot corporate headquarters and manufacturing facility in Eden Prairie. The company did not say what the expansion cost.

Part of the Bracco Group of Italy, ACIST makes contrast-delivery systems used in diagnostic and therapeutic imaging procedures.

First Lady Mary Pawlenty, one of the guests of honor, said, "Every day, ACIST products are helping to save lives around the world with advanced technology. But it all originates in Eden Prairie with some of the best and brightest people of our great state."

ACIST employs 135 people locally.

The operators of six Minnesota shopping malls were downgraded last week in connection with about $1.8 billion in debt that is due to mature in the next several months.

General Growth Properties Inc. and Rouse Co. were downgraded by Standard & Poor's and by Moody's Investors Service. S&P said General Growth "lacks a clearly articulated plan to address these debt maturities."

General Growth acquired Rouse in 2004. Both based in Chicago, they are among the largest mall operators in the nation, with 200 properties in 44 states. Their Minnesota malls include Eden Prairie Center, Knollwood Mall in St. Louis Park, Ridgedale Center in Minnetonka, Apache Mall in Rochester, Crossroads Center in St. Cloud and River Hills Mall in Mankato.

DAVID PHELPS, JANET MOORE, SUSAN FEYDER