Bold and ambitious initiatives bring out the best in individuals as well as in a community. Growing from "Duluth Days," into "Duluth and St. Louis County at the Capitol," the annual citizen lobbying event organized by the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce displays a successful business and economic promise while sending the Legislature the message that what is good for Duluth is good for St Louis County. This year's event beautifully exemplified this message. Building upon its start in 1996 as a vehicle to focus state legislators' attention on our community's needs, the event continues to grow with the support and enthusiasm of Duluth and Iron Range businesses, organizations and citizens.
My experience as a member of the Duluth delegation affirmed my pride in Duluth and our neighbors. Local busses picked up enthusiastic citizens at three points in Duluth and brought them to St. Paul where they joined citizens from the Iron Range to work toward common goals.
Over 200 citizens assembled on the Capitol Dome, advocating for lawmakers not to cut education money and lobbying to fight cuts in state-sponsored health-care programs and state aid to local government.
My confidence in the impact of Duluth and St. Louis at the Capitol was confirmed yet again as 500 people from Duluth and the Iron Range were joined by at least 100 lawmakers and their staffs at a grand reception held at the St. Paul Armory.
The overwhelming spirit of community continued into Tuesday morning's Delegation of Legislators Breakfast. More than 180 Duluthians and St. Louis County residents gathered to hear House and State leaders from opposing sides discuss the legislative season's bonding issues that will directly impact the quality of life in our region. Breakfast attendees listened in anticipation as legislators commented on the future of new buildings at Lake Superior College and the University of Minnesota Duluth, a sewage overflow holding tank for Lakeside Port Development Assistance and Iron Range sewer projects, and state parks and trails improvements.
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Duluth and St Louis County at the Capitol is a unique event that characterizes the ambitious initiatives of Duluth and Iron Range citizens. The Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce is proud to be a part of a community that can successfully bring together a coalition of business and labor leaders, city councilors, school board members, county commissioners and private citizens to join in a coordinated advocacy effort.
