September 2007
Greetings from the Koochiching Economic Development Authority!
With this newsletter, fall is in the air and while we reflect on another glorious summer in Voyageur Country and Rainy Lake, we look ahead to some significant economic development projects. In addition to the promising CN Rail Customs Facility project that is underway and several other exciting endeavors is the unique partnership between the City of International Falls and Voyageurs National Park. These entities are exploring a development on one of the last pieces of undeveloped riverfront properties on Rainy River. The project area, located one mile east of downtown International Falls would feature a Voyageur Heritage Center, a new Voyageur National Park Headquarter building, an amphitheater, day-use marina, and walking trails.
Koochiching Freshwater Fisheries is looking to break ground this month on their new processing facility in the International Falls Business Park. The owner of this promising business Barry Barney, estimates that the plant will employ 20 people in its first phase of operations. The completed plant will have the ability to process up to 250,000 pounds of fish daily. We invite you to visit our new photo gallery so that you can see these projects under construction as well as other impressive features of our area.
One of those notable features is the Northome Industrial Park. Northome, located in the southwest portion of the county, is a small but progressive community ideally situated on highways 71 and 1. The Industrial Park is a 10-acre, build-ready site that is zoned for manufacturing. The site has all of the utilities at the property and high-speed internet access. Learn more about the great community of Northome
here.For more information about the Northome Industrial Park contact Karin Elhard at (218)897-5762.
Another defining feature of the area is the connection between the communities in Koochiching County and the waters that surround us and provide us with energy, recreation, and beauty. A unique partnership between the City of International Falls and Voyageurs National Park is exploring a development on one of the last pieces of undeveloped riverfront properties on Rainy River. The project area, located one mile east of downtown International Falls would feature a Voyageur Heritage Center, a new Voyageur National Park Headquarter building, an amphitheater, day-use marina, and walking trails. Click
here to view a site location diagram. The $20 million project would provide visitors an opportunity to experience the history of the Voyageurs on the banks of the river that served as a major Voyageur route. It will also be used for educational programming and entertainment and will accommodate visitors traveling by foot, auto, or boat. The project has strong support and has attracted additional interest by private development on the adjacent property looking at siting a hotel/conference center. Stay tuned for additional information.
