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Practice, practice, practice...you learned as a kid that it’s one of the keys to refining and perfecting anything. The Chisago Lakes region understands this concept as it contends for a substantial monetary prize meant to stimulate local economic vitality.  At the Chamber of Commerce luncheon at Hazelden Betty Ford last week, a dress rehearsal of the Chisago Lakes’ America’s Best Communities competition presentation was critiqued by lunch-goers. Additionally, the plan has been the subject of months of meetings of the ABC working group. Input was collected at events like the FutureWalk open houses, Home & Business Expo, and summer gatherings including Karl Oskar Days.

Three ABC effort representatives-- Amy Frischmon, Bill Coleman and Tangi Schaapveld,  will be on-stage for the “summit” at Durham North Carolina, early next week, which will pit Chisago Lakes against 14 other plans for community economic revitalization presentations in the ABC contest.   The contest pays for official accommodations and travel  for presenters over the two days. Also attending will be John Olinger, City of Lindstrom;  Wade Vitalis Taylors Falls Economic Development Commission and Marlys Dunne, of MultiSource Manufacturing.

America’s Best Communities contest took hold here when  the Chisago Lakes initial entry qualified for status as a quarter-finalist. Seed money of $50,000 went to each of 50 quarter-finalist communities, who then got six months to work on their plans.  Many area volunteers  got involved and organized into groups to identify promising  arts and culture opportunities, workforce skills improvements, innovations in the energy sector that could be applied here and projects to promote healthful lifestyles with a nod to the “Blue Zones” concept of longevity.

In February it was announced the Chisago Lakes plan had advanced to the semi-finals’  top 15, and would be included in the “pitches” presented before judges in Durham, April 26-27.  

Outcome from next week’s judging will determine  eight worthy communities who receive $100,000 each,  to further develop and implement their plan’s key strategies.
 
Olinger, Lindstrom City Administrator, stated, “With limited time our presentation (10-15 minutes) needs to be precise, persuasive and passionate ...we have to show why Chisago Lakes deserves to continue our journey to win the title of America’s Best Community.”

Schaapveld commented the plan is “well rounded, grassroots and community driven” and it presents very well.

According to ABC press releases,  Durham was chosen to showcase it as a place where positive impacts have been felt from innovative redevelopment efforts.

Of the eight finalists that  come out of Durham,  the top three that most fully and effectively implement their economic acceleration plans will be winners.

The finalists will be revealed in April 2017-- and a one, two and three million dollar prize will be awarded as third, second and first place out of the eight finalists.

Frontier, DISH Network, The Weather Channel and CoBank are ABC competition sponsors.   Frontier Communications Executive Chairman Maggie Wildrotter stated, “We launched ABC to inspire innovation and foster sustainable local growth, while driving increased investments here at home, in America’s emerging markets, our rural communities.”

Frontier Communications General Manager Kirk Lehman adds, that,  “With the right pitch the Chisago Lakes area will be on its way to the ABC finals and I couldn’t be more excited to root for them at the summit in Durham.”

Along with Chisago Lakes the other 14 semi-final communities are:  Lake Havasu Arizona;  Statesboro Georgia;  Charleston West Virginia;  Valley County Idaho;  Huntington West Virginia,; Portsmouth Ohio;  Dekalb Illinois;  Darrington/ Arlington Washington;  Fort Dodge Iowa;  Valparaiso Indiana;  Tualatin Oregon;   Wenatchee, Washington; Madison Indiana; and Angola/ Freemont Indiana.



 










 

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