Businesses add voice on economy

Bill Blazar, senior vice president of public affairs and business development, said the chamber is networking to increase use of these programs and to overcome a general lack of awareness of business resources.

Locally, the International Falls Area Chamber of Commerce identified and prioritized around 40 area businesses that were new or needed some type of assistance. That led to 14 site visits in six months as a partner with Grow Minnesota!, according to Betsy Jensen, president.

“Local business retention visits are opportunities to engage our local business leaders in the economic development process,” said Jensen. “Every business in our area needs to feel valued.

“The visits have strengthened the chamber’s leadership position in the community and have allowed us to better focus and enhance chamber programs,” she added.

The programs also provide data and feedback to help the chamber advocate its agenda on the state and federal level. A Grow Minnesota! report produced last month was based on meetings and site visits with hundreds of companies around the state.

Jensen attended a Minnesota Chamber meeting in Hibbing last week, to discuss chamber priorities.

The current goals include a balanced state budget without a general fund tax increase; education reform; immigration reform; an improved infrastructure and transportation system; nuclear power; health care reform; and support for climate change legislation without state or regional cap-and-trade policies.

Jensen also meets regularly with Minnesota Sen. Tom Saxhaug and Rep. Tom Anzelc to present concerns of the business community.

“It’s very valuable to have a business voice,” she said.

Jensen said employers are conducting layoffs and scaling down benefits. She said merchants are overwhelmed with rising costs of transportation, shipping and fuel. Others are finding it difficult to access credit during the downturn.

“What I have heard in the last six months, is that the cost to do business has gotten so high that any profit goes right back into the business,” she said.

Jensen said merchants have not expressed support for bailout style assistance, and are against any additional taxes.

At an August meeting with the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and Boise officials, Jensen said leaders would like to see a more vibrant Falls community to support dual career families and to help retain plant workers with shopping, arts, social outlets and education.

Paul Nevanen, director of the Koochiching Economic Development Authority, said strong relationships with government agencies and other partners are key to implementing successful projects and accessing funding and other resources.

“People are tasked to do certain things and relationships mean that we know what they are working on and what programs we are eligible for and that benefits us,” said Nevanen.

The JobZone eligibility requires working with the Department of Employment and Economic Development. The plasma gasification project, or Renewable Energy Clean Air Project, requires work with the Department of Energy.

The complex wetlands laws overlap levels of government, and requires knowledge of regulatory issues and contact with environmental agencies to ensure compliance and access to zero interest Clean Renewable Energy Bonds.

“That is an example of dollar specific programs for specific projects,” he said.

Nevanen said KEDA works with the area’s congressional delegation to keep them informed on needs and possibilities with the foreign trade zone. He is optimistic with programs and funding that address timely concerns of sustainable renewable energy sources, rail and utilities.

“We are trying to identify customers and raise awareness around it,” he said of the FTZ. “The delegation can let people know what we are doing and can assist us in that effort.”

Nevanen said he is concerned that the current economy has made resources scarce and competitive. It is important to make hard choices and show genuine need and opportunity, he added, through collaborations and presenting a strong case to stay out in front for funding.

The international economy presents unique challenges for the county, and Nevanen said the area’s location is an opportunity with hurdles. Issues of mutual interest in recent years include passport and border crossing concerns, and that talking to federal representatives helped.

“Some things you can control and some things you can’t, and we want to minimize the things that we can in terms of competitive challenges,” he added.

Canadian connection

Nevanen said Canadians also want to succeed in this difficult economic environment, and that it is time for creative ideas and strategic partnerships.

“Canada is our largest trading partner and we want to maintain that relationship, as a stimulus to commerce and opportunities across the board,” he added.

Events are unfolding daily in Canada, following a Conservative Party victory in the October national elections, and the pending no-confidence vote in Parliament to form an opposition government with the liberal New Democratic Party and Bloc Quebecois.

In consultation with local chambers across the country, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce called on the political parties to put aside differences to return to the tabled Economic Update to develop a comprehensive recovery strategy. The national priority, Canadian chamber leaders said, is to fix the national financial crisis, stock market turbulence, currency fluctuations and access to credit.

“It’s time to stop playing political games and concentrate on measures to immediately bolster investor and consumer confidence and restore economic growth,” said Christine Denby, president of the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce. “Canadians deserve no less from their elected officials.”

Derby said the nonpartisan recommendation is in the best interest of Fort Frances, the Rainy River District and all Canadians.

The fundamental principles outlined in the recommendation calls for input from all levels of government and the private sector to identify priority infrastructure projects for coordinated implementation with care to eliminate internal barriers to trade and mobility.

The chamber also called for strategies based on “realistic assumptions” on the national economy, and the appropriate level of stimulus to avoid long term structural deficits. It called for identifying priority sectors for urgent action and that any assistance would be specifically targeted and temporary.