Action Team Meeting Minutes

IDC and JOBS 2020: Taking Action Meeting
Tuesday, February 18th, 2003
St. Joseph’s Church

Steering Committee member John Rajala led participants in a discussion
of the top issues that the region should be working on to create jobs and diversify the economy.

Review: Four topics were addressed at the January 30, 2003 Taking Action Meeting:

Based on the feedback heard at the industry forums held to date, the JOBS 2020 Steering Committee identified a list of top issues for the participants of Taking Action to evaluate. The issues were discussed and, in some cases, revamped or eliminated. Meeting participants were asked to sign up for the issue they were most interested in and willing to work on with an Action Team.

Participants divided up into Action Teams according to their interest and were asked to 1) identify a Chairman, 2) agree on their Team’s purpose, 3) identify other key stakeholders who should be involved on their project, 4) set a next meeting date, time and place, and 5) report back to the whole group.

ACTION TEAM REPORTS

TEAM 1: Reduce production costs to keep National Steel and other businesses competitive.

Chair: Doug Learmont (interim, until other major industries are included in the group.)

Team Members: Doug Learmont, Milt Latvala, Jerry Miner

Purpose: Develop ways to reduce costs of major production factors to improve competitiveness of existing business and make area more attractive for major investment by new manufacturers.

Stakeholders: Major manufacturers, government, private sector leaders

Next Meeting: TBA

TEAM 2: Implement a countywide lodging tax for promotion of the region’s tourism economy.

Chair: Kelly Hain

Team Members: Cheri Bialke, Scott Thompson, Len Salmela, Craig Bender, Ron Oleheiser, Jerry Miner(?), Tony Serratore, Mike Ives

Purpose: Broaden the financial base for Itasca tourism. (immediate focus: 2003 legislation)

Next Meeting: TBA

TEAM 3: Create healthcare degree program through Itasca Community College that supplies highly qualified workforce to support the delivery of healthcare in the Itasca region.

Chair: Mike Johnson, Mary Ives, Steve Feltman

Members: Steve Feltman, Rick Salmela, Paul Olson, Mary Ives, Judy Pittack, Jean Jacobson, Dan Margo

Purpose: To become a regional healthcare center- emphasize rural setting -include incentives with the healthcare programs at ICC to encourage people to stay in the region.

Next Meeting: TBA

TEAM 4: Work with Blandin Paper Company to prepare the environment for No. 7 paper machine.

Chair: Tom Osborn and Steve Arbour

Members: Ed Treska, Tom Osborn, Steve Arbour, Mark Hawkinson, Dave Kellin, Lowell Pittack, Doug Hanson, John Ward, Peter McDermott, Garret Ous, Bob Dunnell, Melissa Roberts

Purpose: Work with Blandin Paper Company to create an environment favorable to future expansion at the Mill.

Next Meeting: 2/26, 7:30 a.m., Bixby’s Café

TEAM 5: Align the skills of the workforce in our region to match the needs of regional employers.

Chair: Kirk Bustrom

Members: Kirk Bustrom, John Rajala, Paula Cleveland, Kathleen Blake

Purpose: Determine what local employers need; inventory and assess skills; identify current workforce training efforts.

Stakeholders: All key sectors represented at the forums plus education

Next Meeting: Feb. 27^th, 9:00 a.m. (location TBA)

TEAM 6: Gather information necessary to make a recommendation regarding creation of a tax-free zone in our region.

Chair: Sholom Blake

Members: Sholom Blake, Drew Prochazka, John Skrbec, Mary Ives (want to add city and county officials to committee)

Stakeholders: County, City, School District

Next Meeting: 3/06/03, Noon, Perkins

TEAM 7: Create efficiency, accountability and reduce costs in public services.

Chair: Steve Wilcox

Members: Larry Bondhus, Tarry Edington, Marian Barcus, Doug VanArkel, Steve Wilcox

Purpose: Identify measures to accomplish goal.

Stakeholders: Intergovernmental Planning Board, Taxpayers, Government, Other public agencies

Next Meeting: 3/6/03, GRSB Financial Services Building, 4:00 p.m.

TEAM 8: Create a new community-wide event

Chair: David Marty

Members: David Marty, Terry Lawler, Bernadine Joselyn, Mike Iaizzo

Purpose: Create a 2-day trade show and exhibition to be held in Grand Rapids this fall focused on Special Forest Products, tentatively titled: "The ABCs of SFPs": the Art, Business and Careful Harvest of Special Forest Products" (This group will align with a volunteer effort already underway to develop this event — September or October, 2003?)

Next Meeting: 3/12, 11:00 a.m. — 2:00 p.m., North Central Research

Elmer Cone, Marla Beaty and Dave Latvala, worked on a separate issue concerning developing synergies among natural resource and tourism industries. In their discussions they decided the issue should not be a top priority at this time. They were invited to work with one of the other Action Teams of their interest.

Taking Action participants signed up for the issue they were most interested in
and willing to work on with an Action Team.

Community leaders divided into Action Teams and planned their course of
action to reach their Team’s goal.