Planning for success

The idea behind creating a partnership group for cities in Koochiching County is well intended. However, we continue to question the actual need for the group.
The Koochiching Economic Development Authority Board has moved forward to create a group that will aid cities within the county with economic development efforts. The partnership will include representatives of each of the cities within the county, as well as a county official. The group will be funded with $25,000 — money that has previously been provided to the KEDA — from the county and $25,000 from revenue generated by the KEDA’s cold weather testing program.
With a little more effort, cities within the county could be included in discussions and actions by the KEDA. However we understand the feelings voiced by some representatives of the smaller cities that approaching the KEDA Board for aid or guidance can be intimidating and this new group might make that process more comfortable.
But already there is confusion among county residents about the public economic development agencies in the county. The KEDA Board is made up of representatives of the county, International Falls, the state and members at large and is led by Director Paul Nevanen. And then there’s the KDA Board, made up of county commissioners who work on different economic development efforts.
And we’ve had enough groups with similar acronyms to confuse most people. We urge officials not to use acronyms that are similar to the other agencies. In the past, a cities group was named the Koochiching Economic Development Partnership, therefore the KEDP.
If a cities partnership group is created, it makes sense that the KEDA monitor it. The group is expected to fall under the KEDA’s guidance and its activities be reviewed in one year and that, too, is a wise move.
Cities in the county ought to begin talks about how this group should operate and spend its money. Planning is the key to its success. And success by any economic development agency in Borderland is good news for us all.