Presentation at Regional Economic Indicators Forum
By Tom Hansen
UW-Superior REIF Team
Students from the University of Wisconsin-Superior presented research findings at the Regional Economic Indicators Forum (REIF) at the DECC on March 31. The UW-Superior students were joined by other student researchers from the College of St. Scholastica and the University of Minnesota Duluth.
National Bank of Commerce, in cooperation with the College of St. Scholastica, University of Minnesota Duluth and UW-Superior has initiated a long-term study of our area’s economic indicators. The research will be ongoing and focusing on trends for a territory that covers 15 counties in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Participating sponsors of the study are NE MN Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and UW-Superior Small Business Development Center, the Development Association of Superior-Douglas County, APEX, Business North and the Development Association.
The Goals of the project are to:
- Support business owners in their business decisions by gathering key local economic indicators and trend information.
- Develop specific economic indicators for this region that are not readily available to decision makers
- Develop tools to assess our progress in economic growth. Prepare baseline measures that will allow comparison with other regions and measure future progress of the region
- Track the region’s participation in the “new economy” and development in the high tech arena
- Bring professionals together with business owners for discussion about the local economy and related critical issues in a collaborative, non-political environment
- Create a business recruitment and retention tool by publishing the information
The REIF Region is a 15-county area that covers Northeast Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin. The 8 counties of Minnesota include the Arrowhead Region — Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, and St. Louis counties — along with Pine County. The 7 counties of Wisconsin include Ashland, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Iron, Sawyer, and Washburn.
The R.E.I.F. is governed by a steering/advisory committee comprised of representative(s) from:
- National Bank of Commerce
- College of St. Scholastica
- SBDC – MN
- SBDC – WI
- University of Minnesota Duluth
- UW-Superior
- Resources such as APEX and the Development Association of Superior-Douglas County will be utilized as needed.
The next breakfast forum event will take place:
Date: October 27, 2015
Time: 7:00 am – 9:00 am
Location: DECC Harborside Ballroom
Updated results of a long-term economic research study of the Northland were unveiled at the third Regional Economic Indicators Forum (REIF) on Tuesday, March 31, 2015.
The forum kicked off with presentations by economic student researchers on their research findings to date. These student teams are led by a team of Economic Researchers from UW-Superior, the College of St. Scholastica and University of Minnesota Duluth.
Keynote speakers at the third event were Karl Green, Associate Professor, Department of Community Resource Development La Crosse County UW Extension, and Matthew Godfrey, CEO of Better City.
For more information, visit the Regional Economic Indicators Forum webpage
