2005 Action Team Report

IDC/Jobs 2020: Action Team Report
June 8, 200511:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Blandin Foundation Board Room

Present: Matt Romanik, Jeff Stampohar, Wade Fauth, Bud Stone, Peter McDermott, John Ward, Jeff Deihl, Lucy Flessner

The second 2005 Action Team Report Back meeting was held June 8 th at the Blandin Foundation. Oral or written reports were provided for nine of the twelve Action Teams.

Air Service

Matt Romanik reporting

• Establish economically viable passenger air service to the Grand Rapids/Itasca County (GPZ) airport

Matt reported that the Air Service Action Team is at a crossroads and have run out of reasonable options to restore scheduled air service to GPZ. Team members have concluded that service cannot be restored without an ongoing subsidy. They are looking at two remaining options which will be discussed at their meeting later this month. The options are:

1. Regional Airport Concept. Regional airports include Hibbing, Duluth, Bemidji and Brainerd. Team members recently met with representatives of the Hibbing Airport and they expressed an eagerness to work together to develop a stronger regional market for Mesaba/Northwest Airlines. A stronger market would mean better service levels for the region and less dependence on subsidies in the future.
2. Political Lobby. Team member Sarah Copeland recently discussed rural air service issues with Governor Pawlenty and was referred to Northeast Minnesota’s Economic Development Specialist Heather Rand. A follow-up to the visit with Heather was a request for the Action Team to present their findings on the affect of lost of air service to local communities with a focus on how the state can help promote air service to rural Minnesota.

It was noted that a private led initiative to return scheduled air service is still active and being supported by the Team.

Art Resources

David Marty Reporting

• Develop and implement specific strategies to utilize arts resources to expand and support the Itasca area’s economy

Chairman David Marty reported via email that the Art Resources Action Team is in the process of surveying the community to develop data on arts-related jobs in the area to determine the economic impact the arts and cultural resources have on the region.

Blandin Paper Expansion & Retention

Peter McDermott reporting

• Help position the Blandin paper Mill as a preferred expansion site for UPM

The Blandin Paper Action Team has been actively working on several key issues significant to Blandin Paper Mill.

• Certification of Itasca County forest land
• Passage of the Railroad competition and reauthorization act of 2005
• Options on property acquisitions
• Public hearing on EIS
• Warehouse options

Early Childhood

Mary Kosak submitted written report

• Support the Itasca Area Early Childhood Initiative as it relates and connects to the business community

Letters have been mailed to all 22 major employers who participated in the survey to determine employees’ needs, specifically in relation to child care needs. Team members will make follow-up visits to each employer to discuss the information learned from their employee’s surveys. The visits are anticipated to take one to two months to complete.

Healthcare

Jeff Stampohar reporting

• Create alignment and improved value in the Itasca region’s health care delivery system

The Healthcare Action Team met with the Itasca Partners for Quality Healthcare (IPQH) group in a joint meeting on May 26 th. A 2004 Healthcare Action Team carry-over goal was to develop a consortium of health care leaders in the area. This goal is in line with IPQH’s role and mission within the county. As the leadership consortium is an ongoing objective, the Healthcare Action Team agreed to formally request IPQH to assume responsibility for the leader’s forum.

Additional collaborative efforts include primary care coverage and E-Health through Itasca County’s IMcare Program and Itasca County Networking grant.

Minnesota Steel Industries

Peter McDermott reporting

• Revitalize the local economy by providing community support to Minnesota Steel Industries’ use of ore reserves to produce hot rolled sheet steel near Nashwauk

The Minnesota Steel Industries project is moving forward with environmental permitting./ The company intends to go public with the permitting results around mid July. A public open house is scheduled from July 19 th from 3:00 – 7:00 p.m. in Nashwauk to display information on the project and receive comments on the infrastructure planning being done by S E H.

The Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) is expected to be completed by the end of June. The Environmental Impact Statement required for the Minnesota Steel project is anticipated to start in November.

Poverty Reduction

Jeff Deihl reporting

• Develop a plan to reduce poverty in the Itasca economic region that shows a public/private partnership

The Poverty Reduction Action Team developed six questions to take to community groups and organizations to help determine what people think about poverty in the area. Team members tested the six questions out during the Chamber’s Business After Hours event at Second Harvest North Central Food Bank and decided to narrow the questions down to three:

1. What affect does poverty have on our community as a whole?
2. Have you seen the affects of poverty among your employees?
3. What are some of the ways that you as an employer can do, or have done, to alleviate your employee’s poverty experiences?

The Team members’ goal is to collect information from 12 community discussions with business people, local workers and human service staff. A $1,600 grant received from the Northland Foundation will be used for tape recording the sessions, child care for participants, meals and incentives for low wage workers to attend the focus groups.

A sub-committee was formed to begin developing a used car loan program for area workers at competitive interest rates. Surveys have been sent to area businesses to determine if workers would take advantage of the program. Reliable, affordable transportation is a major issue for people living in poverty and trying to get to work.

Retiree

Wade Fauth reporting

• Tap the assets of area retirees to drive quality job growth in the Itasca area

The Action Team has identified four major assets that retirees bring to a community:

1. Knowledge
   • The Action Team will try to recruit mentors with relevant skills that can be coordinated with local businesses
     
2. Time
   • Team members will work with existing non profits (such as RSVP) to recruit and place volunteers effectively
     
3. Purchasing Power
   • Businesses will be identified that serve retirees. Goods and services that are in demand by retirees will be identified.
     
4. Capital
   • The Team’s goal will be to increase awareness of investment opportunities and mechanisms

Youth Retention

• Attract and retain young individuals and families to the Itasca Area

The Youth Action Team is considering renting a booth for the duration of the Itasca County Fair if they can find enough volunteers to man it. An invitation was extended to other Action Teams at the April Report Back meeting to participate in hosting the booth. To date, no interest from other Action Teams has been expressed.

There were no reports from the Community Vision, Housing, or Lakes Management Action Teams.

The July 13 th Report Back meeting was cancelled. The next meeting is scheduled for August 10th from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Blandin Foundation.