March 2007
Greetings from God's Country!
The days are getting longer and other signs of Spring are showing up in Borderland. While this winter has been cold with little snow, the beauty of having four seasons is that each brings expectations and an appreciation for the distinctness of each season - icefishing, snowmobiling, out-door hockey, skiing, northern lights, driving on the ice roads, etc. In this newsletter, we've included some pieces on what makes winter special here while looking forward to the Spring ahead.
Spring speaks to re-birth and for the Koochiching Economic Development Authority (KEDA) it is a time to establish our goals and planning for the coming years. The focus includes the physically tangible - the development of our Foreign Trade Zone, the RECAP Plasma Gasification Project, the Big Falls Peat Project, the Boise Riverfront Development - as well as ongoing efforts aimed at workforce development, business and employee recruitment, and working with our regional, state, and national partners to identify resources to support our goals.
And Springtime also brings with it optimism and provides an opportunity to look at some immediate opportunities available in the area. The KEDA is excited to report that there are local companies that are undergoing growth and looking for employees to meet that growth. Northland Distributing and Manufacturing is a local wood boiler distributor that is planning on a major expansion to allow them to manufacture and carry an expanded variety of wood boilers and supplies. For more information on opportunities contact Keith Horne at (218) 283-3416. In the medical field, Duluth Clinic International Falls is in need of three Family Medicine Physicians and one General Surgeon. For more information contact Sheila Hart, Clinic Administrator, at (218) 285-6254. The Falls Memorial Hospital also has immediate openings. They are currently seeking two part - time Registered Nurses, one full time Radiologic Technologist, and a Medical Lab Technician or a Medical Technologist. Contact Mary Phillipe of Human Resources at (218) 283-5437. Another business, Specialized Care Services (SCS), a division of United Health Care that provides data processing, is looking at adding 20 additional positions immediately. While many of these jobs will be entry level, SCS provides excellent benefits and flexible scheduling as well as advancement opportunities. To apply, send letters of interest and a resume to Joann Dornhecker, Specialized Care Services, 1902 Valley Pine Circle, International Falls, MN 56649. To keep up with other opportunities in our area, check out the Minnesota Workforce Center's website at
www.mnworks.org.
Other construction projects of note include the new Border State Bank building nearing completion in International Falls. Sha Sha Resort on Rainy Lake is undergoing an expansive re-build after last springs fire and is scheduled to open in late spring. Construction of a planned unit development on Jackfish Bay on Rainy Lake - The Villas of Jackfish Bay - will begin later this month. The development will have 15 units (7 double, 1 single) as part of an association. For more information, contact Dennis Kennedy at (218) 324-0838. The City of Northome is finalizing plans for the reconstruction of a municipal building downtown that was destroyed by fire. The building will house city offices, municipal liquor, and a laundromat.
We look forward to the warmer weather and the new life that come with spring and anticipate great things for Koochiching County.
