December 2009
Season's Greetings and Happy Holidays from all of us here at the Koochiching Economic Development Authority. After a glorious fall season with above-normal temperatures, winter follows its traditional form and with snow on the ground, we're assured to have a White Chrismas.
The Holidays provide the opportunity to gather with family and friends and share traditions. It is also an opportunity to look back at the events of the past year as well as look forward to the coming year. In this newsletter we'll update you on several of the projects that are moving forward in International Falls and Koochiching County. Also, we'll look at a rural family that turned a passion for music into a musical oddessy that has carried them far beyond the borders of Koochiching County. And, we'll look at the evolution of the Backus Community Center and its Director who has tirelessly led the efforts to make this community treasure viable.
Project Update - Northland Distributing and Manufacturing (ND&M), a local family-owned distributor of outdoor boilers, stoves, fireplaces, and hot tubs recently finished enclosing their new 30,000 square foot expansion. The expansion will allow ND&M to warehouse product and inventory and eventually begin assembling boilers in their own facility. ND& M has seen tremendous growth across their product lines in the past few years and this expansion is in response to this growth. The expansion will result in initially creating 6 additional jobs. For more information on ND&M check out their website -
www.northlanddistrib.com".
Development continues along the riverfront in International Falls. The walls are going up on the new 30,000 square foot U.S. Border Patrol Headquarters Facility just east of downtown. The City of International Falls is helping to supply infrastructure that will support this development as well as the new Voyageurs National Park (VNP) Headquarters situated on the eastern end of the riverfront property. The land at the site of the VNP Headquarters has been cleared and contractor Kraus Anderson will begin construction of the $20.5 million dollar project that will include a headquarters building, garage and storage, the Irvin Anderson Amphitheatre, a Voyageur Heritage Center, and walking trails this spring.
The project is the result of a collaboration with the City of International Falls and VNP as part of its vision for the riverfront development. Plans for the remaining private property that lies between the two facilities have been focused around a hospitality complex but have not been finalized.
With the addition of several new tenants, the Backus Community Center in International Falls has finalized plans and the financing of the third floor renovation and a new commercial kitchen. Check out the whole story in this newsletter.
From the KEDA staff, have a safe and Happy Holiday Season.
