The Koochiching Economic Development Authority Board Wednesday heard from corporate recruiter Jay Parmeter and his ideas to market the area.
Parmeter, a 1975 graduate of Falls High School, recently moved back to the area and the board had the opportunity to have an informal conversation with him regarding his ideas of marketing the area.
“The area’s transportation situation is decent and this area could be in growth mode,” Parmeter told the board.
Board members discussed potential the area has, including Ranier having the busiest rail port in North America.
Parmeter said he has many connections with a lot of different people and would continue to network for economic growth for the area.
In other business Wednesday, KEDA Director Paul Nevanen explained that a wetlands credit application for the foreign trade zone has been submitted.
“We listed Dunnick Lake with the understanding that credits can change,” he said.
The application would cover 2.07 acres of wetlands in the site.
Nevanen also explained the Doug Grindall, county engineer, is working on a new bid package for the crushing and blasting of rock at the site that is “competitive and makes sense.”
Also Wednesday, Nevanen announced Westinghouse Plasma, a company that manufactures industrial plasma systems, and its parent company, AltrNrg, have extended an invitation to the Renewable Energy Clean Air Project team to visit and tour its facility in Pittsburgh, Pa.
“The timing of the invitation is scheduled for next month prior to the beginning of the Minnesota legislative session,” Nevanen explained. “We are trying to enlist a representative group of local, state, and federal elected officials, as well as a representative from Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and Boise.”
Nevanen also told the board Wednesday that a busy cold weather testing month was just completed and he has forwarded a draft of a multi-year lease arrangement for a second cold box to the company interested in consolidating its testing in the Falls.
