Northwest Blog

Bemidji has been a regional hub for the arts for generations. Between the Headwaters School of Music and the Arts , Bemidji State Music Department ,   Bemidji Sculpture Walk , Paul Bunyan Playhouse , and the annual Art in the Park festival , the city has integrated art into the community's pulse and made the arts accessible for people from all over the northwest region. One of the key players keeping this area's art scene progressing and expanding is the Watermark Art Center . If you've driven through downtown Bemidji recently, you've probably noticed the old Leuken's grocery store building on the corner of 5th and Bemidji Ave (across from the Carnegie Library) is under construction. This will be the new location for the Watermark Art Center, which is temporarily housed at nearby 516 Beltrami Ave N . The project is the culmination of generous support from individual donors, foundations, and other community partners, including early support from the USDA Rural De...

It was a perfect northern Minnesota summer evening in Warroad on Saturday, June 3, 2017. The brand new Warroad Community Park Pavilion had recently opened its doors, and it was ready for people to see it all lit up and decorated for its very first event.  The Warroad Area Community Fund (WACF) Gala was that event! The advisory committee hosted this gala to raise awareness for the fund and its impact on the Warroad community. This was also an opportunity to share with community members the potential that the fund has to continue fostering community initiatives when additional gifts are made. The evening included a social hour, silent auction, three course meal, a live strings performance by the Rainy Lake Community Orchestra , and an awards program followed by a DJ and dancing! There were 90 people in attendance which included a mix of donors, sponsors, community leaders, and grant recipients.  The WACF awarded 14 grants in 2017. Recipients included: The Warr...

Feedback from the Warroad focus group Over 40 manufacturing professionals, business executives, and community leaders came together in Bemidji for the 2017 State of Manufacturing northwest region celebration event on Tuesday, May 23rd. Enterprise Minnesota presented the 2017 survey results, as well as hosted a Q & A panel. The survey results were overall very positive and showed an optimistic horizon for the manufacturing industry in Minnesota.  Here are a few highlights:           For the first time, 94% of manufacturing executives are “very confident” about their firm’s financial perspective           The majority of respondents feel optimistic about the future of the economy           35% of executives are expecting double-digit growth in revenue and profitability Among the concerns facing the manufacturing industry:           68% of executives...