Action Team Year End Report
Air Service Action Team
- Establish an economically viable scheduled air service at the Grand Rapids/Itasca County Airport.
Team Members: Matt Romanik, Chair, Ed Treska, Gale LeCompte, Dan McCormick, Peter McDermott, Steve Arbour, Phil Swenson, Robert Stacey, Terry Detjen, Melissa Roberts, John Schroeder, Mike Gorham, Jan Smith, Tom Osborn, Wade Fauth, Mark Hoyne, Sarah Copeland, Laurie Passard, Rusty Eichorn, Britta Arendt, Robert McElfatrick, Carolyn McElfatrick
Key Activities and Results:
- Conducted discussions with Northwest Airlines (NWA) regarding resumption of NWA service provided through Mesaba Aviation
- Collected and reviewed market data to determine the number of travelers to and from the Itasca County/Grand Rapids Airport
- Met with city and county officials to ensure that zoning around airport is not changed to detriment of reinstating scheduled service
- Identified and pursued other possible candidates for providing scheduled air service
- Met with Congressman James Oberstar regarding air service and airport needs for the region
- Explored the concept of offering services to an airline beyond passenger services; i.e., maintenance checks, exterior washing, etc.
- Developed a marketing/services package for delivery to major network carriers
- Met with MAIR, the parent company for Mesaba Aviation and Big Sky Airlines and presented a 19-passenger aircraft concept to MAIR’s CEO and CFO and to Northwest Airlines
- Recommended to the Airport Commission that they consider becoming an Airport Authority (Airport Authorities are independent bodies with taxing authority beyond city and county lines)
- Developing “wet lease” aircraft options that would create scheduled air service connecting to several major airline networks
- Organizing other communities to present concerns to Governor Pawlenty regarding rural air service
Tourism Action Team
- Implement a regional approach for Itasca region tourism marketing.
Team Members: Nancy Roth, Chair, Bill Heig, Wade Fauth, Skip Drake, Scott Thompson, Rita Onraet, John Riehle, John Kelsch, Jennifer Arnold, Fred Bobich, Denny Ganz, Cheri Bialki, Burl Ives, Bud Stone, Bryan Harris
Key Activities and Results:
- Determined desired outcomes: 1) establish sustainable funding, 2) develop appropriate governance, 3) develop plan for implementation
- Researched different successful governance models used for regional marketing
- Formed a sub-group to work on a structure for a new marketing organization
- Invited marketing and branding specialists from the Minnesota Office of Tourism to meetings; invited resort owners who were not members of the Action Team
- Developed a proposed organizational structure, mission and preliminary budget for a unified area-wide tourism marketing funded through a 3% county-wide lodging tax and partner contributions
- Presented plan for the new organization to the Itasca County Board and the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce that would consolidate the current Convention and Visitors Bureau, the tourism marketing portion of the Chamber, and other area-wide efforts
- Met with area organizations currently involved in marketing to discuss the implementation of plan
Health Care Action Team
- Create alignment and improve value in the Itasca region’s health care delivery system
Team Members: Dan Margo, Chair, Sholom Blake, Butch Burnett, Dan Butler, Karen Campbell, Joy Collins- Baxter, Patty Carlin-Janssen, Lynn Hart, Ron Herbig, Randy Herme, Edie Houck, Kathryn Jensen, Lee Jess, Betsy Johnson, Lester Kachinske, Mike Kane, Sue Koprowski, Doug Learmont, Marion Mann, Susan Manning-Zelenak, Lois McCarron, Barb McDonald, Dan Odegaard, Carol Pfieffer, Judy Pittack, Matt Richie, Katherine Ross, Rick Salmela, Sue Scherer, Jeff Stampohar, George Wilbur, Elaine Yaggie
Key Activities and Results:
- Formed five sub committees to work on the following identified Team goals:
- Improve work comp delivery in the region
- Explore locally owned and controlled primary care coverage product
- Re-establish consortium of health care leaders
- Develop a regionally connected patient health care database
- Make progress regarding the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA)
- Researched the viability of developing a local primary care healthcare insurance program or product for the uninsured and the underinsured
- Received a grant from the Blandin Foundation and other sponsor donations to host a four-hour Medical Information Privacy (HIPPA) forum for 65 attendees in late October to discuss streamlining efficient transfer of medical information
- Held a kick-off social event for Itasca area healthcare leaders on December 1 st with the goal of establishing a regular forum for area healthcare organizations and providers
- Scheduled a workers’ comp educational training seminar for medical providers, employers, consumers and area lawmakers for January 2005
Advanced Telecommunications Technology
- Expand the Itasca region’s advanced telecommunications technology capacity and utilization
Team Members : Kirk Bustrom, Chair, Bob Erdman, Bernadine Joselyn, Kathy Kooda, Mark Hanson, Ed Treska, Lorrie Yeschick, Fred Bobich, Holly Guyer, Chad Haatvedt, Peggy Halverson, Burl Ives, Jim Kingen, Rick Lemonds, Lora Mathison, Jeanne Nicklason, Roger Hoyum
Key Activities and Results:
- Determined desired outcomes: 1) increase awareness of value of broadband telecommunications use and services, 2) increase business and residential use of broadband in rural communities, 3) increase public and private investment in rural broadband capacity
- Reviewed information available from existing service providers and options available for broadband service in the area
- Submitted a successful $15,000 grant application for the Blandin Foundation’s Get Broadband program to support community and public education regarding the benefits of broadband
- Raised $5,000 in cash matching funds to meet the contingency provision of the Blandin Foundation grant
- Hosted a delegation from Pine City to learn about their community’s experience hosting technology fairs
Economic Development Action Team
- Improve cooperation and collaboration among economic development entities in the Itasca region
Team Members: John Stene, Chair, Tarry Edington, Marian Barcus, Mike Andrews, Anita Provinzino
Key Activities and Results:
- Developed a format for collecting resource data and names of key contact persons from each area community
- Compiled information for a community resource guide that will provide an evaluation of resources and contact people from each area community for use in responding to outside business or relocation inquiries
- Updated community profiles will be posted on the Department of Employment and Economic Development MN Pro website
Early Childhood Initiative Action Team
- Support the Itasca region’s Early Childhood Initiative as it relates and connects to the business community
Team Members: Mary Kosak, Chair, Ron Oleheiser, Karen Karls, Barb Jacobson, Betsy McBride, Bud Schneider, Kathy Carroll, Sue Hoeft, Sue Mattson, Susan Gerchman, Kathleen Blake
Key Activities and Results:
- Determined desired outcomes: 1) identify the 25 employers in Itasca County with the most employees and survey their child care needs, 2) share survey data with employers and solicit their level of commitment in meeting their employees’ child care needs, 3) encourage the business community attendance at Early Childhood Initiative meetings
- Developed a 30-question Employee Needs Survey addressing the balancing of work/family commitments and child care issues
- Delivered the surveys to the top 25 employers (based on the number of employees)
- Formed teams that met with the appropriate person(s) from each of the 25 companies to discuss distribution of the survey to their employees
- Placed notifications in area newspapers to invite smaller companies to call and request participation in the survey
- Worked with Arrowhead Promotion to compile the results of the 1,500 returned surveys
- Researched business options for child care benefits
- Increased attendance of business community members at early childhood meetings and elevated the awareness of early care and education issues
- Prepared a Phase II plan to reach employees who work for smaller companies and did not receive the survey through work channels
- Plan to meet with employers to discuss and share the survey data
Blandin Paper Retention and Expansion
- Provide support to Blandin Paper Mill to improve its chances of becoming a preferred UPM expansion site.
Team Members: Tom Osborn and Steve Arbour, Co-chairs, Lowell Pittack, David Kelvin, Roger Hoyum, Drew Prochazka, John Ward, Melissa Roberts, Peter McDermott,
Doug Hanson , Ed Treska, Bob Dunnell, Garrett Ous, Jack Hokkanen, Marsha Miller, Bill Tuominen, Joe Maher, Emery McGraw, Jim Kent, Dale Reed, Greg Chandler, Bud Stone, Ed Zabinski
Key Activities and Results:
- Provided the opportunity for Heikki Malinen, new President of UPM-North America, to meet and talk with local community supporters directly; received high praise from the local mill and from UPM Finland for showing strong community support and a positive community image regarding Blandin
- Provided forum for proponents of nationally recognized third party forest certifications and for proponents of alternative forest certifications of Itasca County’s forest land
- Presented a resolution to the Itasca County board stating: “Itasca County should certify its lands under one or both of the two recognized and credible third party systems by the end of 2005 or sooner” (This was done to minimize the risk to Blandin and Potlatch and local loggers if the county land is not third party certified)
- Participated in Blandin Paper Company meeting announcing that UPM was launching a feasibility study on building a new paper machine at Blandin
- Supported the successful 2004 legislation which increased winter road truck weight limits to 90,000 pounds, plus and additional 8,000 pounds on frozen roads
- Supported the Forest Revision Plan for the Chippewa and Superior National forests; the final plan resulted in higher harvest numbers than in the original draft plan
Grow Itasca Action Team
- Assist businesses in the Itasca region with expansion or retention issues through enhanced relationships and ongoing contacts and feedback
Team Members: Bud Stone and Peter McDermott, Co-chairs, Mike Ives, Steve Arbour, Jack Hokkanen, John Ward, Gerry Johnson, Wendy Uzelak, Len Salmela, Mike Iaizzo, Craig Bender, Marla Beaty, Alan Rajdl, Steve Kovala, Melissa Roberts, Bill Litchke, Sholom Blake, Doug Learmont
This Action Team is a collaborative effort with the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce working under the umbrella of the statewide Grow Minnesota! Program
Key Activities and Results:
- Assisted owners and managers of 40 businesses that are the largest employers or have the greatest potential to gain/lose jobs in the Itasca area. These businesses employed 3618 at the end of 2003 and had a net gain of 120 jobs in 2004
- Completed Grow Minnesota! surveys for 45 businesses for the purpose of compiling confidential and objective data to help determine issues and concerns specific to Itasca County
- Supported other existing area businesses’ efforts to create or retain jobs
- Marketed area to jobs influential individuals connected to the area
- Provided specific support to local businesses in the following areas: acquisition, divestments, personnel, labor relations, sales, marketing, financing, business development and community relations
Work Force Skills Action Team
- Review results of the work force skills survey and develop community action plan
Team Members: Cindy Feyder, Margie Ritter, Mike Lynch Co-chairs, Bud Stone, Doug Learmont, Elmer Cone, Gwen Grell, Jim Woehrle, Kirk Bustrom, Paula Cleveland, Donna Flaherty
The Work Force Skills Action Team merged with the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce Research Committee which was formed in 2003 and was financially supported by Quickstart funding from the Blandin Foundation. The mission of the committee was to conduct research and locate workforce development data that would provide baseline information from which Itasca County area workforce development issues could be addressed.
Key Results and Activities:
- Reviewed the work force skills survey that was sent to 2300 Itasca area businesses
- Consolidated and analyzed the data from the 410 returned surveys to determine the skills needed by regional employers now and in the future
- Shared the results of the survey with area school superintendents and worked in partnership with the education community to provide input into an educational system that meets the employment skills of the future
- Presented the survey results to the Chamber membership at the June luncheon
- Compiled a detailed written report and summary of the responses to the 40 questions asked in the survey. Information gained from the survey is considered useful for developing recommendations for community, employer, or educational system action. (Complete results can be viewed at the Chamber office or grandmn.com website.)
Lakes Management Action Team
- Focus on collaboration between the public and private sectors to improve lake management as an essential strategy for economic prosperity in the Itasca region
Team Members: Catherine McLynn, Art Norton, Don Dewey, Scott Thompson, Al Seagren, Karl Koller, Denis McGibbon, Jeff Tillman, Cindy Tomcko, Wes Libbey, Doug Learmont, Julie Miedtke, Harold Dziuk, Jack Velzen, Ron Olsen, John Chell, Rian Reed, Tim Bymark
Key Activities and Results:
- Assembled articles and information stressing the economic value of lakes for presentation to decision-makers
- Assisted with the South Central Itasca County Intergovenmental Planning Board Wastewater Initiative that resulted in a contract with ARDC and receiving a grant from the McKnight Foundation for four lake associations to develop lake management plans
- Maintained an awareness of the Western Mine Planning Board’s efforts to prevent flooding of Bovey and Coleraine by channeling Pit Lake water to Trout Lake
- Provided program coordination and speakers for IDC/Jobs 2020 September 10, 2004 community forum promoting the concept that lake management is of major importance to property owners, business and industry
- Actively participated in the ongoing Governor’s Clean Water Initiative North Central Lakes Project and hosted the September meeting of public and private entities working together from five counties
- Initiated two public comment meetings with regard to updating the DNR Shoreland Standards
- Reviewed changes to the county ordinance proposed by resort owners
Minnesota Steel Industries (MSI)
- Revitalize the local economy by providing community support to Minnesota Steel Industries’ use of ore reserve to produce hot rolled sheet steel near Nashwauk
The MSI Action Team was formed in October 2004 after being determined that it was an issue with regional scope and had clear and compelling economic impact. It was also concluded that IDC/Jobs 2020 was uniquely positioned to add value to the public engagement and deliberation process of the advancement of the MSI project
Team Members: Dave Latvala, Chair, Mike Andrews, Mike Bjellos, Ed Bolf, John Chell, Dave Christy, Ron Dicklich, Art Englund, Bob Fragnito, Brian Hanson, David Hendrickson, Howard Hilshorst, Jay Kolar, Doug Learmont, David Lotti, Mark Mandich, Peter McDermott, Tom Peluso, Dwight Randall, Tom Saxhaug, Leanne Stanley, Martin Stimac, Warren Stolp, Harlan Tardy, Jeff Davis
Key Activities and Results:
- Determined Team objectives: 1) provide public education/communication, 2) seek public input re infrastructure, 3) advocate for public and private support, 4) advance government support for project 5) support JOBZ designation
- Received a detailed presentation of the proposed $1.7 billion project which includes reopening the Butler mine, a direct reduction iron plant and production of hot rolled sheet steel. The project has the potential of creating 700 direct high quality jobs
- Provided forum for community input into infrastructure planning
- Provided support for $5 million development loan approved by the Iron Range Resources board
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