UMD News Releases

Duluth area economic development analysis and strategy project to focus on JOBZ initiative and enterprise network systems.

The UMD Labovitz School of Business and Economics and the MN Department of Employment and Economic Development will begin a "Duluth Area Economic Development Analysis and Strategy" project based on the concept of enterprise network systems.

Project Details:

1. The six-month project will search for the presence of potential enterprise networks in the Duluth area (including Douglas County, WI).
2. Funded by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, following interest by Commissioner Mat Kramer. Grant amount $50,000.
3. The project team includes noted regional economist F. Charles Lamphear and UMD Economics Professor Richard Lichty to direct the research, with the help of the Labovitz School's Bureau of Business and Economic Research Acting Director, Jim Skurla, and DEED Regional Analyst, Scott Moore.
4. The project will analyze national, regional, and zip-code level secondary data through the economic modeling software IMPLAN, marketed by the Minnesota based company MIG.
5. Areas included in the study are Two Habors, Proctor, Cloquet, Hermantown, Duluth, Carlton County and Douglas County, Wisconsin, as well as other parts of the zip-code defined Duluth environs.
6. As part of the analysis, special focus will include JOBZ regional development potentials and a business plan approach to firm-level economic development planning.
7. Enterprise networks are especially beneficial to small-to-medium-sized independent businesses located in rural areas. The project proposes to identify local suppliers to new businesses; the project involves a search for industries that depend on Duluth's industries for their inputs.