1. Dave Hengel
Executive Director
Greater Bemidji

2. A Snapshot of Bemidji
• The largest community and regional center of north
central Minnesota
• In the city roughly 15,000 residents…but balloons
105,000 people in the greater area (45 mile radius)
• Growing rapidly
• Deal with misconceptions about who and what
Bemidji truly is
• Trendy
• Entrepreneurial
• Progressive
• Brand is “True North”- Sets us apart

3. “The future just ain’t what it used
to be…” Yogi Berra
• The “how-tos” of becoming a successful community are radically
different than just a few years ago.
• Why? Global trends effect us too…
• Technology has created incredible opportunities, and challenges
• Now, most people and businesses can locate virtually anywhere
• GEOGRAPHY matters less, but PLACE matters more
• Great communities today are built, not born
• Key quality of life characteristics are now developed, not inherited

4. Which begs the
question—
Why Bemidji?

5. Why Bemidji?
Because we happen
to have the largest
gigabit region in the
upper Midwest