Brainerd Dispatch: News | Brainerd, Minnesota | Brainerd Lakes Area News on brainerddispatch.com

Home > NEWS >

Thursday, October 1, 2009

E-mail

Forums

Consultant on area opportunities: 'It's amazing what you have here'

By RENEE RICHARDSON

Senior Reporter

How does the Brainerd-Baxter area measure up in economic development opportunities for future growth and jobs?

A consultant, working with the Brainerd Lakes Area Development Corp., is positive about the community.

John Rhodes, a senior principal at Moran, Stahl & Boyer, business location and economic development consultants, met with community members this week, including a small group session Wednesday at Prairie Bay in Baxter.

Rhodes, who is based in Florida, works with corporations about site selections. Rhodes is preparing an analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for BLADC.

"Everybody thinks they have a great quality of life, but I will say your quality of life does elevate you to a special level," Rhodes said. "You are kind of on rarefied earth here a little bit. ... You guys can compete.

You have some very special resources. You need to move this community forward."

Rhodes pointed to opportunities in attracting good-paying office support business from larger companies such as customer service, technical support, accounting, sales and human resources staff. By locating outside a metro area, those companies find cost savings by the square foot. But they have basic needs as well, including labor force, available buildings, infrastructure like high-speed telecommunications and air access.

Once the basic needs are met, communities with lifestyle attributes stand out, Rhodes said.

Two communities, one in Oregon and one in Nebraska, were used as examples of economic development and planning that could be useful for the Brainerd lakes area.

The high desert community of Bend, Ore., posted significant growth with an ability to attract 25- to 34-year-olds along with those who are closer to retirement. Similarities with the lakes area were notable in tourism and as a regional health care and retail hub.

Rhodes noted Bend suffered severely as sawmill work dwindled in the 1950s and unemployment soared in the 1980s. Focus shifted to tourism and outdoor recreation as a draw and later to downtown redevelopment. Trails were created along the river, a mill pond area became a focal park and lumber mills were converted to up-scale shopping areas with restaurants and an amphitheater. Young people were attracted to the area as well as small business and diverse industry. The river running through the city became a centerpiece.

John Rhodes

"It's very much in line for what could happen here," Rhodes said. He called the Mississippi River here, a beautiful asset that is underused.

Rhodes noted the attraction the outdoor amenities present to office location and workers.

"It's all here," Rhodes said. "It's amazing what you have here."

Rhodes first expected the Brainerd/Baxter area to be a quiet rural city. He said that was before he realized half of Minneapolis was driving through the area on any given weekend creating a more vibrant community and one with expanded retail beyond its official population.

The small group talked about opportunities in marketing a Brainerd lakes area bottled water in an innovative environmentally friendly package to take advantage of the area's regional identity. They talked about tapping the area's youth and community in a contest to create an accessory for bicyclists or other sports equipment. The products would not only be a business development but would serve as a brand to promote the lakes area, Rhodes said. Green energy options on small and large scales were also discussed in depth.

Rhodes said when he looks at a community he considers what it has that people need and want, such as major shopping centers, and what makes it unique.

"You are creating a community that has a lot of the things that mainstream America 'needs' to have at the same time you have access to things that most people only dream about."

He recommended continued work to maintain and increase public access to waterways and greater use of the river.

After the small group session, Rhodes said he was impressed with BLADC and the people he met. He said the educational ability of Central Lakes College to meet worker training needs is remarkable as is the Bridges Academies and Workplace Connections program to make young people aware of career opportunities.

"The agility of the education system that's being built in with that Bridges program is huge and unique," Rhodes said. "The community ought to really embrace that thing because it is going to solve a lot of problems relating to career awareness and that is one of the big issues we have nationwide."

RENEE RICHARDSON may be reached at renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5852.

Note: Comments are not edited and don't represent the views of The Brainerd Dispatch. Please read our posting rules in the terms of service policy. To report a post that may be inappropriate, click the triangle alert icon.