Iron Range Boom Times Ahead? (St. Paul, Duluth: how much, home, high school)

[newcastle]

How will the new projects like Minnesota Steel, Mesabi Nugget, and Poly Met's copper and nickel plant change the face of of the Iron Range?

Is this another boom and bust cycle or do you think that the Range can capatilize on the growth and begin to deversify its economy?

[aecp]

I think that it depends on how much people take advantage of the mines coming in. If Everyone just relies on these mines to bring in business and jobs, it will be another bust. What I really think this area needs is a four year university. That way people who want to stay can and it would bring more educated people to the area. This would also bring more business to the area. That plus the mines would give this area a boom that would last.

[newcastle]

I heard rumors that Mesabi Community and Technical College was pursuing the idea of becoming a 4 year school. I think your right in some respects, but simply putting a four year college on the range won't keep graduates there. They may stay longer, and then leave to pursue better paying jobs in the Twin Cities. That's what happens in Duluth.

[newcastle]

The expected number of jobs an spin off jobs from the new mines is expected to be anywhere from 800-900 permanent jobs to 2,500 sspin off and ocntruction jobs. I think that is huge for the region.

[aecp]

People may not stay, but there would continously be new people coming in too. That would be good for the economy on the range

[MidniteBreeze]

I LOVE the idea of a 4-year university on the range. Contrary to what you might think, many of our young people WANT to stay in the northland, and having a 4-year institution closeby (while it wouldn't guarantee it) would certainly HELP kids stay closer to home.

As mentioned above, having more educated people in the region would be such great asset...more people with business knowledge, more opportunity to bring the arts to the range, etc. I grew up in Duluth and while UMD/UWS/Scholastica certainlly don't, by themselves, "make" Duluth's economy (and culture), just think where Duluth/Superior would be WITHOUT its colleges and univerisites.

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by MidniteBreeze

I LOVE the idea of a 4-year university on the range. Contrary to what you might think, many of our young people WANT to stay in the northland, and having a 4-year institution closeby (while it wouldn't guarantee it) would certainly HELP kids stay closer to home.

As mentioned above, having more educated people in the region would be such great asset...more people with business knowledge, more opportunity to bring the arts to the range, etc. I grew up in Duluth and while UMD/UWS/Scholastica certainlly don't, by themselves, "make" Duluth's economy (and culture), just think where Duluth/Superior would be WITHOUT its colleges and univerisites.

This is why there isn't a 4 year college on the Iron Range. Bemidji is also only a couple hours away too. There are plenty of opportunities for the population size in the northern part of the state.

[MidniteBreeze]

I still think the area could support at least one more institution. You have to keep in mind that much of the student population at BSU, UMD, etc. isn't locals, it's kids from the cities taking advantage of an opportunity to live "up north" for a few years without having to worry about the "real world" economics of living here. I think having another 4-year choice even closer to home would encourage more young people from this area to go beyond a 2-year degree. To some of these kids from the REALLY small, far-flung towns up here, even cities the size of Duluth and Fargo-Moorhead can be intimidating (that might sound funny to some of you, but it's true!)

Yes, BSU is one option, but given the projected growth of the Iron Range area, I think it would be the perfect time to start (and establish, for the future) another 4-year educational choice in northern Minnesota.

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by MidniteBreeze

I still think the area could support at least one more institution. You have to keep in mind that much of the student population at BSU, UMD, etc. isn't locals, it's kids from the cities taking advantage of an opportunity to live "up north" for a few years without having to worry about the "real world" economics of living here. I think having another 4-year choice even closer to home would encourage more young people from this area to go beyond a 2-year degree. To some of these kids from the REALLY small, far-flung towns up here, even cities the size of Duluth and Fargo-Moorhead can be intimidating (that might sound funny to some of you, but it's true!)

Yes, BSU is one option, but given the projected growth of the Iron Range area, I think it would be the perfect time to start (and establish, for the future) another 4-year educational choice in northern Minnesota.

Actually, most kids want to go away for college so going to the neighboring town isn't quite the same thing. Kids from the Iron Range go to school in St. Paul or wherever to get away from home, not that they don't like it there, they just want to get away for school.

[MidniteBreeze]

Not necessarily. I work at a high school (not on the Range, but close) and help kids with their college planning. True, some can't wait to get the heck out of Dodge, but the vast majority of them stick pretty close to home. Many do their first 2 years at one of the community colleges and then move on to BSU, UMD, UND or wherever to finish up. My husband teaches over on the Range and sees the same thing. I think a lot of our kids would opt for a more "local" 4-year college if there was one.