Enthusiasm and Economic Development
Never underestimate the role of enthusiasts in economic development – a short story of a town that went from mining to mountain biking…
It’s well known that millions of dollars flood into South by Southwest, Sturgis, and other large festivals and events areas. The crowds return year after year, businesses rely on revenue, and regulations develop around hosting the events.
Recently I recognized a similar level of enthusiasm on a much smaller scale, yet critical to the success of the area’s economic development – the Cuyuna County State Recreation Area.
Here is the story of Cuyuna as I understand it…For many years it was heavily used for mining and the surrounding economy depended upon the mining industry. After the mining industry ended, it was left with large deserted mine land areas, a need for activity, natural beauty, and iron ore tax money.
In the mid 1980’s an advisory group consisting of representatives of the Iron Range Resource and Rehabilitation Board (IRRRB), Crow Wing County, Minnesota DNR personnel and the Cuyuna Range Economic Development group with it’s leader “Mama Cuyuna” (and likely others that should be mentioned) worked to put the tax money towards slowly building the area into a place for quiet recreation.
In 2018 the IRRRB voted to spend nearly $5 million dollars towards mountain biking trails across three mining communities in this part of northern Minnesota. Despite skepticism that mountain biking trails may not lead to much in terms of economic development, a study referenced in a Star Tribune article that same year found that the 25-mile Cuyuna Trail had already resulted in 15 new businesses and $2 million in additional annual revenue for the communities of Crosby, Ironton and Riverton” [1]. Not bad.
The trails themselves are not creating this success, it’s the people that love and use them, and encourage others to do so – the enthusiasts. Like this guy [2].
-Ellison
[1] https://www.startribune.com/iron-range-to-spend-5-million-on-mountain-biking-trails/473693813/
[2] Full disclosure, a guy I happen to be married to.