Northland Connection Roadshow
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In conjunction with Tamara Lowney of APEX, Northland Connection Director Karl Schuettler will visit the following cities to demonstrate the new site to community leaders, economic development stakeholders, and real estate professionals. The events are open to all interested parties.
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Grand Rapids/Itasca County
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Thurs, Nov. 10, 10:00 AM
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IEDC, 12 NW 3rd St. (Grand Rapids)
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Aitkin County
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Thurs, Nov. 10, 2:00 PM
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Aitkin Growth, 316 1st Ave. NW (Aitkin)
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International Falls/Koochiching County
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Wed, Nov. 16, 11:00 AM
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KEDA, 405 3rd St. (International Falls)
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Cloquet/Carlton County
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Thurs, Nov. 17, 10:00 AM
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City of Cloquet, 1307 Cloquet Ave. (Cloquet)
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St. Louis County Iron Range Communities
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Thurs, Nov. 17, 2:00 PM
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IRRRB, 4261 US Hwy 53 (Eveleth)
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Two Harbors/Lake County
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Mon, Nov. 21, 5:30 PM (THEDA Meeting)
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City of Two Harbors, 522 First Ave (Two Harbors)
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NorthlandConnection.com Upgrade Goes Live
Karl Schuettler - 218-529-7564 - [email protected]
The Northspan Group, Inc. is pleased to announce the launch of a ne
w version of its Northland Connection website,
NorthlandConnection.com
. The website is part of the Northlan
d Connection program, which provides economic development data and analysis to recruit, expand, and retain businesses in the Northland. The site serves as a portal for local economic development, collects economic and demographic data on the entire region, and is headlined by an extensive properties database that features available commercial and industrial sites and buildings across the region.
"The new website strengthens the Northland Connection program and makes a stronger case for doing business in the region," said Northspan President and CEO Randy Lasky. "These upgrades position the website to build on its role as a regional portal for business and economic development for years to come."
The new version of
the website features a variety of enhancements, including improved
usability, mobile friendliness, and improvements to site staples such as the Sites and Buildin
gs Tool and the Development Resource Center. The upgraded site also allows Northland Connection to feature properties, expands on existing in
formation on regional industry clusters, and uses data and narratives to make a more compelling argument for the Northland as a place to live and do business. ESRI demographic data is now directly integrated with the site's mapping tool.
Northspan held a press conference to announce the launch of the new site o
n Tuesday, November 1 at 9:00 AM at the DECC Convention Center Board Room. Following the launch of the site, Northland Connection Director Karl Schuettler will visit five communities across the region on a Northland Connection Roadshow to demonstrate the new site to community leaders, economic development stakeholders, and real estate professionals.
Northspan thanks the Blandin Foundation, the Duluth Economic Development Authority, the Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation's Morgan Fund, Great River Energy, and the Northland Foundation for their financial support for the new site. Northl
and Connection also thanks the ongoing support of its nineteen partners who contribute to its annual operations budget. The website was developed in coordination with Atlas Advertising, a Denver-based consultant that specializes in economic development marketing. Partners in the rollout of the new site include APEX and Giant Voices, a local strategic marketing firm.
Northspan Participates in Non-Traditional Lenders Forums
Bob Palmquist of Northspan attended and presented at a series of region
al forums to introduce current or aspiring business owners to the region's business finance and ec
onomic development program representatives. Palmquist and his fellow presenters explained how non-traditional financing organizations help "get the deal done" to start, sustain, and expand businesses in the region, and how these partnerships can benefit all parties. Palmquist covered the details of the Arrowhead Regional Development Commission's (ARDC) Revolving Fund, for which N
orthspan provides professional administrative services. He also provided an overview of Northspan's SBA loan packaging, business succession planning, and business valuation services. Collectively, the presenters explained how lenders, borrowing businesses, and communities can cooperate to generate more investment in business growth across the region.
The forums, which were sponsored by local chambers of commerce, took place in Grand Rapids, Virginia, Hibbing, Grand Marais, and Aitkin.
The forums also included time for questions and networking. The events generated strong attendance from commercial lenders, growing and expanding businesses, community leaders, chamber members, and economic development professionals. In addition to the Northspan Group, presenters included representatives from the Entrepreneur Fund, Northland Foundation, Great River Energy, Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board (IRRRB), and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
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Photo credit: Hibbing Chamber Connection
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(DEED). The forums were moderated by the staff of each region's Small Business Development Center.
Northspan staff is ready to assist anyone in the region with business financing needs and structure deals with lenders. Those seeking further information on non-traditional lending should contact Bob Palmquist at 218-529-7562 or
[email protected]
.
Northspan Group Hires New Director of Marketing, Research & Analysis
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Karl Schuettler
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The Northspan Group, Inc. has hired Karl Schuettler as Director of Marketing, Research
and Analysis. Schuettler joins the Northspan team in providing economic, business, and community d
e
velopment support services for public and private clients. These clients include units of government, non-profit organizations, foundations, and private businesses.
"We are delighted to welcome Karl to our business and community development team," said Northspan President Randy Lasky. "Karl's educational background and knowledge of the region prepared him well for a position with Northspan. His experience in economic development and public relations give him a valuable blend of skills as we seek to promote our region and build strong partnerships with public and private sector clients."
In his new role, Schuettler will oversee the Northland Connection program and region's award winning online economic development web portal. He will provide economic development data and information on competitive advantages, industry clusters, and business development resources including sites and buildings across northeastern Minnesota and in Douglas County, Wisconsin. He will manage Northland Connection's Advisory Committee, and oversee marketing and
communications plans for Northland Connection and Northspan as a whole. He will also support the work of other Northspan team members and clients through research on market trends, economic and demographic data, and opportunities for growth in the region.
Schuettler, a Duluth native and current resident, holds a bachelor's degree in Regional and Comparative Studies from Georgetown University in Washington, D. C. and a master's degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Minnesota's Humphrey School of Public Affairs. Schuettler has previously served as a business development intern for the Duluth-based Area Partnership for Economic Expansion (APEX), a planning analyst with the Hennepin County Human Services and Public Health Department, and as a research assistant for the University of Minnesota's Office of the Vice President for Research. He has also done freelance work in public relations and journalism.
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