Dear Business and Community Leaders:

There is a saying, “a failure to plan is a plan to fail.”  Planning is an essential part of economic and community development. Yet, for many regions, planning has been absent. Last month, I had the privilege of participating in the fifth America’s Competitiveness Exchange and visited 10 US cities in seven days.  It was very inspiring to learn how other communities are envisioning their future.  I came back with numerous ideas for advancing our region.  I was also motivated to think about the types of planning that we need to undertake in the 7 Rivers Region.

What do we want this region to look like 10 to 20 years from now?   What legacy do we want to leave for the next generation?  We have wonderful assets and great community leaders.  We have vibrant business sectors and an amazing quality of life.  Can we sustain all of this without a plan? Probably not. One of the most important plans that we need to develop is a regional plan for talent attraction and retention.  This was confirmed last week at our Human Capital event that was held on April 28th in Rushford, Minnesota.  A full room of HR staff, community organizations, workforce board directors, higher education and economic development agencies spent the day exploring best practices for recruiting and retaining workers.  It was great to have strong participation from key stakeholders. 

We also need to plan for quality of life.  Next week, we will host our In the Bag: Grocery Alternatives for Rural Communities regional discussion in Juneau County. This event is designed for communities that have lost their grocery and/or have limited fresh food options.  We encourage you to join grocery executives to explore options for your community.  On June 1st, we will offer a Rural Workforce Housing Summit in Sparta, Wisconsin for business and community leaders to meet with financial institutions and builders to discuss development options for their area and learn best practices.   On June 9th, we will offer a Business and Community Wellness Summit in Decorah, Iowa.  Leaders will learn how other communities are implementing strategies to enhance their open spaces and creating a sense of space for residents.  Each of these events have dynamic and informative speakers and we invite you to join us.

Each of these event provides information and best practices that will be basis for creating long range plans for our region. Over the summer, we will share details about planning that will start in July 2016 and ask that you share your expertise and ideas during the planning process. 

Let’s plan together to ensure The 7 Rivers Region continues to thrive for years to come.

Lisa Herr
Executive Director