Dave Hengel Column: Taking stock of our region鈥檚 progress

By Dave Hengel, Greater Bemidji

December 14, 2024 at 6:50 AM

At Greater Bemidji, we use the end of the year as an opportunity to both look back and look ahead.

We look back over the year to assess our progress. How is the region鈥檚 economy trending? What impact has Greater Bemidji鈥檚 initiatives had? Have we laid a strong foundation for economic growth in the region?

At the same time, we also look forward. What challenges or opportunities will we face? What new, tipping-point ideas could increase our effectiveness? Where can we make a positive impact on our community?

Essentially, we take stock of our progress, both as a region and as an organization.

Over the last month, I have been meeting with our partners and community leaders sharing my assessment of the past year and my recommendations for the coming year. I鈥檇 like to take this time to share it with you as well.

Last year was a slow year economically. We end the year with employment up roughly 100 jobs year over year. The latest unemployment rate is 2.6%, still very low. While there has also been growth in our workforce, that too has been modest.

The trends in 2024 are very similar to the last five years 鈥� slow but steady growth. The conversations I have had with the region鈥檚 business leaders have told the same story.

I believe this to be true across the state and nation. Several factors have led to the economic slowdown and have many businesses pausing on their growth. The increase in interest rates 鈥� and uncertainty about future interest rates 鈥� is of concern.

While now leveling off, inflation remains an issue as prices remain substantially higher than just a few years ago. Finally, this year was an election year 鈥� a divisive one at that 鈥� where voters were choosing from very different visions of the country and our economy.

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Uncertainty is not a good thing for private development or economic growth. There is no doubt that interest rates, inflation and the election created a sense of uncertainty. I have heard several businesses and developers say some version of 鈥淚鈥檓 waiting to see how things play out."

The flip side of the uncertainty is there are pent-up opportunities for development and growth. I believe that to be true in our region as well. I鈥檓 bullish on our economic growth in the coming years should economic indicators stabilize into a more predictable course.

I鈥檓 also confident Greater Bemidji is on the right path to supporting our region鈥檚 growth and development. We have maintained a steady commitment on five pillars 鈥� pillars that we believe will have the greatest impact on our region鈥檚 future economic growth:

Providing resources to support our region鈥檚 small businesses and entrepreneurs.
Encouraging business expansion in the region.
Growing, attracting and retaining a strong workforce.
Recruiting new companies by promoting the region as a great place to live, work and own a business.
Developing place-making amenities that improve the quality of life for our residents and future generations.

We are committed to making a difference in these areas. If you are interested in how we are addressing each of the pillars, check out our annual report and website,

As we look forward to the coming year, I want to challenge our community to focus less on 鈥渨hat鈥� we do, and more on 鈥渉ow鈥� we go about our community work.

In recent years, our society and community have become far more divisive. We have become increasingly polarized 鈥� preventing compromise and collaboration. I feel strongly that this polarization has negatively influenced our region鈥檚 economic growth.

I want to encourage us to focus on the things that unite us, rather than the issues that divide us. Our shared values as community members can bring us together.

I believe we all want good-paying jobs in our region. We want opportunities for our region鈥檚 workers and businesses to prosper. We want a community that is safe, and a community that 鈥� while growing as a regional center 鈥� maintains its small-town beauty and charm.

We all want to create an exceptional quality of life here in Bemidji for our community members. And I believe we all want to build our regional center with an eye toward future generations 鈥� ensuring we are stewards of our community.

These are shared values I have heard throughout our region. While there will always be people who argue against any decision or project, I doubt there are many who disagree with these aspirations.

In my experience, having shared values and a shared vision is the foundation for partnership and collaboration. If we all agree on where we are headed, the things that we disagree on that polarize us tend to become insignificant. Walls come down and our community once again partners to achieve things we never thought possible.

While uncertainty deters private development and economic growth, a community working together to support economic growth both attracts and unleashes private investment and economic development. We have a responsibility at Greater Bemidji to help build that collaborative environment in our region.

Bemidji is a very special community with tremendous people who care deeply about the region鈥檚 future. That passion ensures our best days remain ahead of us. The future is bright if we approach it together.

Dave Hengel is the executive director of Greater Bemidji Economic Development. He can be reached at (218) 444-5757 or dhengel@greaterbemidji.com.