Action Team Report Back Meeting

Itasca Economic Development Corporation
October 3rd, 2007

Present: Matt Romanik, Mark Hoyne, Guy Clairmont, Mike Andrews, Lorrie Yeschick, Kathy Kooda, Dave Latvala, Peter McDermott, Teri Heikkila, Fred Bobich

Reports were given as follows:

Air Service

• Establish an economically viable scheduled air service at the Grand Rapids/Itasca County Airport

Chair Matt Romanik reporting

The Air Service Action Team contacted Midwest Airlines of Milwaukee WI to see if they would be interested in adding a flight to Grand Rapids. Midwest Airlines declined. With no other viable options for returning air service to the Grand Rapids area, the action team has requested that since their work is concluded, they cease being an action team.

Blandin Paper & Retention

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

Peter McDermott reporting

The Blandin Paper Action Team has not met regularly but Peter reported that the Grand Rapids Public Utilities Commission requested $8.75 million in state bonding from the Minnesota State House Capital Investment Committee.   The request is part of $17.5 million project to replace and upgrade the existing primary treatment plant.  An additional $17 million will be required for additional facility upgrades and to increase the capacity for the proposed UPM Blandin Thunderhawk Project.

Wireless Communications Action Team

• Ensure local zoning ordinances are in line with wireless communication needs of the Itasca area

Co-Chairs Kathy Kooda and Lorrie Yeschick reporting

The action team looked at tower ordinances for the surrounding counties of Aitkin, Beltrami, Cass, Crow Wing and St. Louis and made the following recommendations to the Itasca County Planning Commission: Residence set back; Class I,II & III wetland set back; Migratory bird route be addressed. The Planning Commission approved the Action Team’s recommendation and passed the revisions up to the county board for approval. The county board was advised by its attorney not to take action on this item. Additional public hearings are schedule for October 9 th and 23 rd.

Financial Literacy Action Team

• Promote financial literacy in our community by promoting education of our young adults in skills they will need to be financially successful in life.

Chair Guy Clairmont reporting

The Financial Literacy Action Team has developed three objectives:

• Gain community support for the teaching of financial literacy
• Offer a Personal Financial Management course in high school with a goal of making the class mandatory for graduation
• Generate excitement in the youth of the area about good financial decision making and the prospect of financial success

Action team members will offer to speak to local Economics and Personal Financial Management classes in the area of their expertise.

Minnesota Steel

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

Chairman Dave Latvala reporting

Minnesota Steel has received its final Air Emission Permit with the final date for appeal being October 11 th. Faced with a law suit filed by the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, the Minnesota DNR supports the findings of the EIS and DNR Commissioner Mark Holsten is hopeful that the suit will not delay the project.

The action team, while not working directly with Minnesota Steel, has been involved with issues on a local level and will be available to offer assistance as the project moves forward.

Entrepreneur Action Team

• Encourage potential entrepreneurs at all stages of life

Mike Andrews reporting

The Entrepreneur Action Team hosted a round table dialogue at Itasca Community College on October 1, 2007. Twenty-one local entrepreneurs and seven action team members/representatives were present. Discussion focused on four areas and entrepreneurs were encouraged to share their experiences. The four areas were:

• Entrepreneurial influences or aspirations prior to launching your business
• Learnings from your experience of starting up and running your own business
• Entrepreneurial characteristics and traits
• Advice to help create more entrepreneurial activity in our community

Responses were recorded and will be used to determine the goals of this action team.

No report was given by the Mesaba Energy Action Team.