A busload of Bemidjians in signature red and black plaid will travel to St. Paul on Wednesday, March 5, for the 18th annual Bemidji Day at the Capitol.
The effort is led by the Bemidji Area Chamber of Commerce, and it has become a great annual tradition, enjoyed by legislators and participants alike.
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About 15 teams of civic and business leaders, elected officials, young professionals, entrepreneurs and community members will advocate for Bemidji with local legislators and lawmakers from across the state.
Since its inception, the event has gained traction and made a positive impact on our area by informing legislators about the issues and challenges Bemidji has as a regional center as well as advocating for previous local projects like the Veteran鈥檚 Home, BSU鈥檚 Hagg Sauer Hall and school transportation funding to name a few.
Our business community still has a lot of changes ahead, and it continues to be more and more challenging to own and operate a business in Minnesota.
We have to work on being more competitive as a state and become both business-friendly and worker-friendly. Supporting a pro-growth tax system that improves competitiveness, cultivates innovation, attracts investment and talent, and fosters job growth and retention is critical.
We must build and retain a skilled workforce that is responsive to the evolving needs of the state鈥檚 economy. We currently have more workforce exiting our state than entering it.
The next couple of years will be very difficult for our state. The Minnesota Legislature must enact a sustainable, balanced budget by May 19.
Legislators need to confront the fact that the state budget is projected to spend more than is collected in revenues over the next four years.
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Policymakers must recognize that Minnesota businesses cannot afford any new tax increases or additional workplace mandates on employers.
More than 35 new workplace mandates were passed in the previous two sessions. These mandates impacted almost everyone, including schools, businesses, cities, counties and nonprofits. Many of them do not have the funds or the staff to handle all these changes.
Timelines for implementation must be fair to employers and provide sufficient guidance, so they are able to comply as well as budget for the increased costs. Allow flexibility in how the state-mandated paid family and medical leave program is implemented by employers who may choose to 鈥渙pt-out鈥� to best serve their employees' needs.
A host of other state-imposed mandates, from health insurance to energy production and consumption, are increasing costs and weighing down the state鈥檚 economy. More effort must be placed on identifying, quantifying and addressing the growing burden of these hidden state-imposed costs.
We must speed up the permitting process in Minnesota. When we do have a business that wants to relocate or expand in our state, most of the permitting takes longer than other states to complete. Much longer.
Businesses are not asking to change the environmental or labor standards, just the time it takes to get it completed. Some permitting in our state is taking five to 10 times longer than in other states.
Enact regulatory reforms to the state鈥檚 environmental permitting process so it is more predictable, accountable and timely with the goal of protecting our natural resources while encouraging economic development and expansion.
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Bemidji area funding needs
Local Bemidji area projects looking for funding this year include design funds for an expansion project by the which would double the size of its Bemidji facility. The Bemidji service area of the BCA encompasses over half the state of Minnesota.
Northern Township is requesting funding for a critical infrastructure project to install a sanitary sewer system along County State Aid Highway 20 in the Lake Bemidji area.
This project aims to address long-standing regional planning goals and environmental concerns related to aging septic systems around the iconic Lake Bemidji.
The proposed sewer line, approximately 5 miles in length, will run through Lake Bemidji State Park and extend to the Township's border along the east side of the lake.
Other items impacting the city of Bemidji and Beltrami County include transportation funding for roads and bridges, supporting housing and daycare initiatives, a nine-county landfill project, as well as Behavioral Health funding impacts to Beltrami County.
Why should you attend?
This is the ideal opportunity to learn more about our Minnesota Legislature and advocate for the Bemidji area. It is a great day to inform our legislators about the great things happening in our part of the state and how we can work together to make it even better.
Please reach out if you are interested in joining us at Bemidji Day at the Capitol! More information can be found online at
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Scott Turn is the president of the Bemidji Area Chamber of Commerce. Email him at scott@bemidji.org or call (218) 444-3541.
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