JULIE: I'M JULIE ZENNER, ALONG WITH DENNIS ANDERSON.

HERE'S WHAT'S COMING UP ON "ALMANAC NORTH."

DENNY: COULD THE DULUTH SUPERIOR PORT BE PART OF THE SOLUTION TO SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES IN THE U.S.?

WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THE PORT'S BEEFED-UP CONTAINER-HANDLING CAPABILITIES.

JULIE: THE NORTHLAND FOUNDATION'S ANNUAL REPORT PUTS A SPOTLIGHT ON SOME OF THE KEY ISSUES FACING OUR REGION, WE'LL HAVE MORE WITH FOUNDATION PRESIDENT AND CEO TONY SERTICH.

DENNY: AND, MARSHALL HELMBERGER FROM THE TIMBERJAY IN TOWER IS OUR GUEST ON "VOICES OF THE REGION."

JULIE: THOSE STORIES AND MORE, COMING UP ON "ALMANAC NORTH!"

♪ ♪ ♪ JULIE: HELLO AND WELCOME TO "ALMANAC NORTH," THANKS FOR WATCHING!

DENNY, THE TRICK OR TREATERS ARE GETTING THEIR COSTUMES READY FOR HALLOWEEN.

DENNY: I'M GETTING MY COSTUME READY.

I WON'T TELL YOU WHO I AM PORT RAYING.

JULIE: DENNIS ANDERSON?

SO AM I.

[LAUGHTER] DENNY: THANKS, JULIE.

THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-SUPERIOR CAMPUS HAS REACHED A 70% VACCINATION GOAL OF ITS STUDENTS.

SUPERIOR IS THE TENTH U.W.

SYSTEM SCHOOL TO REACH THE VACCINE THRESHOLD.

VACCINATED STUDENTS ON CAMPUSES THAT REACH THAT GOAL ARE ELIGIBLE FOR ONE OF 70 $7000 SCHOLARSHIPS.

JULIE: THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HAS AWARDED A $2 MILLION GRANT TO THE CITY OF COHASSET.

THE MONEY WILL HELP EXTEND SEWER AND WATER LINES TO THE HUBER WOODS ORIENTED STRAND BOARD FACILITY.

FUNDING FROM THE STATE AND THE IRRRB WILL HELP BUILD THE PLANT, WHICH WILL EMPLOY MORE THAN 150 WORKERS.

DENNY: THE LAST MAJOR TRAFFIC CHANGE ON THE BIG "CAN OF WORMS" REBUILDING PROJECT WILL OCCUR ON MONDAY.

THE RAMP FROM I-535 NORTHBOUND TO I-35 WILL BE CLOSED FOR DEMOLITION.

BEGINNING THAT DAY, MOTORISTS WILL BE DETOURED FROM SUPERIOR ACROSS THE BONG BRIDGE TO GET TO NORTHBOUND I-35.

JULIE: AND 10 YEARS AFTER THE PAGAMI CREEK FOREST FIRE RENDERED IT IMPASSABLE, THE FOREST SERVICE AND BOUNDARY WATERS ADVISORY COMMITTEE WILL CELEBRATE THE POW-WOW TRAIL RESTORATION.

THE EVENT WILL BE HELD SATURDAY AT THE FOREST CENTER IN STONY RIVER TOWNSHIP.

VOLUNTEERS HAVE CONTRIBUTED MORE THAN 7,000 HOURS, CLEARING MORE THAN 20,000 FALLEN TREES FROM THE TRAIL DUE TO THE FIRE.

DENNY: NEWS FROM THE DULUTH SEAWAY PORT AUTHORITY COULD BRING SOME RELIEF TO CONTAINER BACKLOG ON THE COASTS.

A RECORD BACKLOG OF CARGO SHIPS IS REPORTEDLY IMPACTING OUR NATION'S SUPPLY CHAIN AND ECONOMIC GROWTH.

AMIDST THE NEWS, DULUTH'S CLURE PUBLIC MARINE TERMINAL SHARES IT NOW HAS THE ABILITY TO HANDLE SIGNIFICANTLY LARGER VOLUMES OF INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING CONTAINERS VIA VESSEL.

JOINING US NOW TO DISCUSS WHAT THIS MEANS FOR THE SHIPPING INDUSTRY IN OUR REGION AND BEYOND IS DEB DELUCA, DIRECTOR OF THE DULUTH SEAWAY PORT AUTHORITY.

WELCOME, THANKS FOR BEING HERE!

OVER THE YEARS WE HEARD SO MUCH IN THE TWIN PORTS ABOUT BULK MOVING IN AND OUT OF THE PORTS.

CONTAINERIZED CARGO IS DIFFERENT.

WHAT IS IT?

DEB: WE HAVE ALL SEEN THAT SHIPPING CONTAINERS AND HEARD A LOT OF THEM THIS YEAR, WHICH IS BEEN PLAGUED WITH SUPPLY ISSUES.

IT IS A STANDARD SIZED BOX THAT CAN BE MOVED SEAMLESSLY BETWEEN TRAINS, TRUCKS AND SHIPS TO MOVE CARGO THROUGHOUT THE GLOBAL MARKETPLACE.

DENNY: THE ONES WE SEE IN THE TWIN PORTS, WHAT DO THEY CONTAIN?

DEB: THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF CONTAINERS.

WE HAVE A TERMINAL WHERE YOU CAN SEE THOSE THAT MOVE ON ROAD AND RAIL, THOSE ARE THE STANDARD SHIPPING CONTAINERS.

IN TERMS OF WATER, AND THE RECENT PAST WE RECEIVED CONTAINERS, THIS PICTURE -- IN THE RECENT PAST, THE ONLY WE COULD RECEIVE BY WATER, IF YOU THINK THE HUGE PIECES OF GENERAL CARGO WE GET AT OUR TERMINAL, THE BIG WIND TURBINE COMPONENTS, THOSE HAVE TO COME WITH PARTS TO PUT TOGETHER AND THOSE GET PUT IN A CONTAINER.

THOSE PARTS ASSOCIATED WITH PROJECT CARGO IS ALL WE COULD GET IN CONTAINERS BY WATER.

NOW, WE CAN GET AN ENDLESS ARRAY OF RAW MATERIALS, FINISHED GOODS, FOODSTUFFS, RETAIL ITEMS BY WATER IN A CONTAINER.

JULIE: WHAT RECENT INVESTMENTS OR IMPROVEMENTS HAVE EXPANDED THE PORT'S ABILITY TO HANDLE THAT CONTAINERIZED CARGO?

DEB: WE HAVE BEEN WORKING OVER MULTIPLE YEARS TO BUILD OUT THE FACILITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDED TO ACCOMMODATE THE REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS OF OUR PARTNERS, IN TERMS OF HOMELAND SECURITY REQUIREMENTS.

WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS TO CROSS THOSE T'S AND DOT THOSE I'S.

THAT ALLOWED US TO GET TO THE POINT.

JULIE: NOW THAT YOU AT THAT POINT AND OF THE WORD HAS GOTTEN OUT AND THERE IS SUCH A BACKLOG ON COASTAL PORTS, ARE YOU GETTING A LOT OF INQUIRIES FROM SHIPPERS INTERESTED IN COMING IN?

DEB: WE WERE ONLY ABLE TO ANNOUNCE THIS LAST WEEKEND WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A LOT OF INTERESTING CONVERSATIONS, BUT IT TAKES A LOT OF TIME TO BEND SUPPLY CHAINS.

WE ARE EXPECTING TO SEE OUR FIRST SHIPS.

WE COULD GET ONE NOW, BUT PROBABLY WILL NOT SEE ONE UNTIL NEXT SPRING.

YOU ASKED WHAT OPPORTUNITIES THERE ARE.

WE ARE THE FURTHEST INLAND SEAPORT IN NORTH AMERICA.

YOU CAN MOVE THOSE CONTAINERS ALL THE WAY TO THE MIDPOINT OF THE NORTH AMERICAN CONTINENT NEAR MAJOR UPPER MIDWEST MARKETS.

WE ARE CLOSE TO CHICAGO, MILWAUKEE, THE TWIN CITIES, DES MOINES, OMAHA, FARGO.

NOW WE CAN MOVE THOSE CONTAINERS ALL THE WAY INLAND FOR DISTRIBUTION BY TRUCK OR RAIL TO MARKETS IN THE MIDWEST.

DENNY: SINCE VERY LARGE CONTAINER TRIPS ARE -- SHIPS ARE TOO BIG TO FIT THROUGH THE ST. LAWRENCE SEAWAY, HOW LIKELY IS IT TO SEE A HUGE INCREASE?

DEB: IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT THIS IN TERMS OF THE GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN DISRUPTIONS, THIS IS LIKE A PRESSURE RELEASE VALVE FOR THE COASTAL PORTS.

THOSE HUGE VESSELS YOU GET AT THE COASTAL PORTS, THEY CAN GET INTO THE SEAWAY.

THEY CAN GET AS FAR AS MONTR ÉAL OR HALIFAX.

WE SEE EITHER A DIRECT FEEDER SERVICE ONTO VESSELS INTO THE TERMINAL, OR SHIPS LOADING FROM THE BIG SHIPS THE SEAWAY MAX VESSELS AT MONTR ÉAL OR HALIFAX AND THEN THEY COME INTO OUR TERMINAL.

JULIE: PART OF THE PROBLEM LEADING TO THE BACKLOG AT COASTAL PORTS HAS BEEN SHORTAGE OF DOCKWORKERS, SHORTAGE OF TRUCK DRIVERS, NOT BEING ABLE TO MOVE IT ONCE IT GETS THERE.

ARE YOU HAVING THOSE WORKFORCE SHORTAGES IMPACTING THE ABILITY TO RECEIVE CARGO IN THE TWIN PORTS?

DEB: ANOTHER GREAT QUESTION.

THERE ARE WORKFORCE ISSUES THROUGHOUT THIS REGION, BUT WE HAVE NOT SEEN THOSE AT OUR TERMINAL.

WE ARE ABLE TO BE VERY EFFICIENT.

WE ARE NEVER GOING TO BE A GIGANTIC CONTAINER TERMINAL, BUT WE CAN MANAGE WHAT WE HAVE AND WE HAVE A SUFFICIENT WORKFORCE.

IN TERMS OF THE TRUCKERS WORKFORCE, THEY ARE CHALLENGED REGIONALLY.

THEY HAVE NEVER FAILED TO DELIVER FOR US.

DON'T FORGET, WE ALREADY A MULTIMODAL LOGISTICS HUB WITH WAREHOUSING FACILITIES.

WE ARE ALWAYS MOVING CARGO IN AND OUT OF OUR TERMINAL.

DENNY: THE PORT TOOK A HIT LAST YEAR WITH THE PANDEMIC.

HOW ARE YOU DOING?

DEB: WE ARE HAVING A GOOD REBOUND YEAR.

WE HAD THE LOWEST TONNAGE SINCE 1938.

WAS THE LAST LOWEST POINT.

THIS WAS CAUSED BY DISRUPTION IN SUPPLY CHAINS, SUPPLY AND DEMAND.

THIS YEAR WE ARE SEEING A GREAT REBOUND.

I THINK WE ARE AHEAD OF OUR FIVE-YEAR AVERAGE BY 3% AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER.

THAT IS DRIVEN BY IRON OR.

-- IRON ORE. A LOT OF DEMAND FOR STEEL.

WE WERE AHEAD OF THE FIVE-YEAR AVERAGE BY 16%.

CEMENT IS AHEAD OF THE FIVE-YEAR AVERAGE BY 70%.

THAT IS COMING INTO THE PORT.

YOU JUST HAVE TO LOOK AT ALL THE CONSTRUCTION IN THE REGION.

WE HAD ONE SHIPMENT DELIVERED AS FAR AWAY AS ALBERTA, OF CEMENT, WHICH DEMONSTRATES THE REACH OF OUR PORTS.

WE HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE UPPER MIDWEST MARKETS INCLUDING CANADA.

JULIE: ANY OF US TO MAKE REGULAR TRIPS ACROSS THE BRIDGE INTO WISCONSIN KNOW ABOUT THE ONGOING CONSTRUCTION AND TWIN PORTS INTERCHANGE.

THE PORT IS IN THE THICK OF THINGS.

HOW IS THAT IMPACTING THE ABILITY OF CARGO TO GO IN AND OUT?

DEB: WE HAVE A NEW BUILDING THAT FACES ON GARFIELD.

DEPENDING WHICH OF OUR STAFF YOU ARE TALKING TO, THEY HAVE A FRONT ROW SEAT TO THAT TRAFFIC.

THAT IS AN INDUSTRIAL AREA.

THERE IS A LOT EVEN WITHOUT THE TRUCK REROUTE, THERE ARE A LOT OF BIG SEMIS CARRYING BIG LOADS THROUGH THAT AREA.

WITH THE ADDED TRAFFIC, WE WANT TO REMIND PEOPLE TO BE SAFE AND CAREFUL DRIVING THROUGH THERE.

I NEED TO BE AWARE THOSE BIG LOADS WILL BE PRESENT.

THERE IS INCREASED CONGESTION.

WE ARE ABLE TO GET OUR GOODS IN AND OUT.

SOME OF OUR INDUSTRIAL PARTNERS ARE TRYING TO BE EXTRA CAREFUL, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN NEAR INCIDENTS.

DENNY: WHAT IS THE EMPLOYMENT PICTURE LIKE AT THE PORT?

DEB: OUR TERMINAL IS DOING REALLY WELL.

DO YOU MEAN IN TERMS OF WORKFORCE?

DENNY: YES.

DEB: WE TALKED TO OUR TERMINAL PARTNERS, THERE ARE 21 ACTIVE TERMINALS IN THE HARBOR.

FOR THE MOST PART, THEY ARE ABLE TO MEET THEIR WORKFORCE DEMAND.

SOME THAT DO MANUFACTURING HAVE A HARD TIME FINDING A WELDER OR ELECTRICIAN, BUT THEY ARE ABLE TO MEET THEIR WORKFORCE NEEDS AND OUR TERMINAL HAS BEEN ABLE TO.

DENNY: DEB DELUCA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT THE DULUTH PORT AUTHORITY, THANK YOU.

♪ ♪ ♪ JULIE: IT'S TIME NOW FOR "VOICES OF THE REGION."

EACH WEEK WE HEAR FROM A JOURNALIST COVERING STORIES OF INTEREST IN THE NORTHLAND.

THIS WEEK MARSHALL HELMBERGER, PUBLISHER OF THE TIMBERJAY NEWSPAPER IN TOWER, IS OUR GUEST.

MARSHALL: WE ARE REPORTING ON THE LATEST DECISION, THE TWIN MEADOWS COPPER MINE, WHICH SUFFERED ANOTHER BLOW ON WEDNESDAY, THAT IS WHEN THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT INFORMED THE COMPANY THEY ARE CANCELING A MINERAL LEASE APPLICATION, ALONG WITH A PROSPECTING PERMIT APPLICATION THEY HAD ALSO FILED.

ALL OF THOSE APPLICATIONS HAD BEEN ADMINISTERED -- INITIATED UNDER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND WERE MOVING RELATIVELY QUICKLY.

IT COMES A WEEK AFTER THE HEAD SAID THEY ANNOUNCED THE MINERAL WITHDRAWAL PROCESS AND THAT CREATES A TWO-YEAR MORATORIUM INITIALLY.

THAT GIVES THE FOREST SERVICE TIME TO DO A TWO-YEAR STUDY ON THE EFFECTS OF A LONGER MORATORIUM THAT WOULD PUT IN PLACE A 20 YEAR MORATORIUM GIVEN WHAT COMES OUT OF THAT STUDY.

WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, 120 5000 ACRES OF THE SUPERIOR NATIONAL FOREST -- 125,000 ACRES OF THE SUPERIOR NATIONAL FOREST, LOCATED NEAR THE HEADWATERS OF A WATERSHED.

THIS WAS A TRAGIC INCIDENT ON WEDNESDAY MORNING.

WE WERE GETTING VERY CLOSE TO DEADLINE.

IT LEFT A LAKE RESIDENT DAD AND HER HUSBAND IN CRITICAL CONDITION AFTER THE HOUSE EXPLODED FOR REASONS WE HAVE NOT CONFIRMED.

TYPICALLY THESE EXPLOSIONS TAKE PLACE AS A RESULT OF LEAKS, BUT WE WILL HAVE TO SEE WHAT THE FIRE MARSHAL DETERMINES.

THE EXPLOSION WAS INCREDIBLY STRONG.

IT SHOOK HOMES A MILE AWAY.

I TOOK TONIGHT -- I TALKED TO NEIGHBORS AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE LOUDEST EXPLOSION THEY EVER HEARD AND THOUGHT IT WAS AN EARTHQUAKE.

ALSO, IT BLEW PARTS OF THE HOUSE INTO NEIGHBORING YARDS.

I WENT TO THE SCENE AND THERE WERE PARTS OF WINDOWS AND DOORS AND GLASS EVERYWHERE IN NEIGHBORING YARDS.

IT WAS AN IMPRESSIVE BLAST, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

A HUSBAND AND WIFE WERE HOME AT THE TIME OF THE EXPLOSION.

HAVING BEEN OUT THERE, I AM AMAZED THAT ANYBODY SURVIVED.

♪ MARSHALL: WE ARE FOLLOWING THIS LABOR DISPUTE AT THE ARROWHEAD REGIONAL LIBRARY SYSTEM.

IT COULD LEAD TO A STRIKE OF SOME STAFF WITH THE SYSTEM, DEPENDING ON WHETHER THEY WROTE DOWN A CONTRACT OFFER.

THE VOTE WAS SET FOR TODAY, FRIDAY, BUT WE WILL PROBABLY WAIT UNTIL NEXT WEEK TO FIND OUT THE RESULTS.

65 REPRESENTS THE LOCAL UNION AND COVER STAFF MEMBERS WHO WORK IN THE LIBRARY'S ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE IN IRON.

STAFF HAVE BEEN WORKING UNDER CONTRACT THAT EXPIRED IN 2019.

MEMBERS HAVE TO VOTE ON THIS.

IT IS THE LAST AND FINAL OFFER THAT THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE LIBRARY SYSTEM HAS MADE.

WE WILL SEE WHAT THEY DO.

ANY STAFF WALK OUT WILL NOT AFFECT INDIVIDUAL LIBRARIES, BUT IT COULD AFFECT PROGRAMMING SUCH AS THE BOOKMOBILE AND MAIL A BOO K PROGRAMS.

THOSE ARE POPULAR IN OUR AREA WHERE RESIDENTS OFTEN LIVE MANY MILES FROM THE LIBRARY.

NEGOTIATIONS HAVE DRAGGED ON FOR TWO YEARS, IN PART DUE TO COVID, WHICH PREVENTED NEGOTIATING TEAMS FROM MEETING FACE-TO-FACE, BUT UNION MEMBERS HAVE BEEN STUCK WITHOUT A PAY INCREASE SINCE 2019.

AT THE SAME TIME, THE LIBRARY SYSTEM STRUGGLED TO INCREASE ITS OWN FUNDING LEVELS.

THAT IS HOW COUNTIES ARE FOCUSED ON OTHER PRIORITIES.

♪ ♪ ♪ DENNY: THE NORTHLAND FONDATION RECENTLY RELEASED ITS ANNUAL REPORT, TOUCHING ON EVERYTHING FROM THE PANDEMIC TO EFFORTS TO REDUCE THE CHILDCARE SHORTAGE IN OUR REGION.

"ALMANAC NORTH" PRODUCER GREG GRELL SPOKE WITH THE FOUNDATION'S PRESIDENT AND CEO TONY SERTICH ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC ON THEIR WORK, AND REPORT HIGHLIGHTS -- >> WHAT WAS INCREDIBLY BUSY YEAR WITH SOME OF OUR RESPONSE TO COVID FOR A SECOND YEAR IN A ROW, WE WERE ABLE TO DISTRIBUTE ALMOST $10 MILLION ACROSS ALL OF OUR PROGRAMMING ACROSS OUR REGION.

TO PUT THAT IN PERSPECTIVE, WE GAVE OUT OVER 600 GRANTS, WHICH IS THREE TIMES THE AMOUNT OF GRANTS YOU GIVE OUT, ALMOST FOUR TO FIVE TIMES THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING.

INCREDIBLY BUSY, JOINED TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY IN THIS TIME OF COVID.

GREG: SINCE THE PANDEMIC, HOW HAS THAT CHANGED WHAT YOU DO AT THE FOUNDATION?

TONY: WE STILL FOCUS ON CHILDREN, YOUTH, FAMILIES, COMMUNITY WELL-BEING.

WE TARGETED THREE KEY PRIORITY AREAS.

THE FIRST IS IN RESPONSE TO COVID.

SO MANY NONPROFITS STRUGGLING WITH BEING REMOTE AND LIVING IN THIS HYBRID WORLD, MAKING TARGETED GRANTS TO NON-PROFITS ARE IN OUR FOCUS AREA.

THE SECOND IS AROUND FOCUSING -- HELPING BUSINESSES.

WE ARE ADMINISTERING STATE PROGRAMS.

THE STATE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PASSED A TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND WE RECEIVED A PORTION TO PROVIDE GRANTS TO SMALL BUSINESSES TO HELP THEM OUT.

WE ARE ALSO THE HOSTS OF THE SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER IN OUR REGION.

THAT IS NO CHARGE BUSINESS CONSULTING SERVICES TO SMALL BUSINESSES.

WE HAVE HELPED OVER 1000 SMALL BUSINESSES TO HR POLICY, HOW DO WE CONTRIBUTE TO MORE PAY THAT IS REMOTE, REALLY LETTING FOLKS LIVE IN WHATEVER THIS NEW NORMAL WILL BE.

GREG: YOU MENTIONED YOU GET FUNDING, BUT THERE IS INDIVIDUAL AND OTHER SUPPORT.

TALK ABOUT WHERE THE NORTHLAND FOUNDATION SUPPORT COMES FROM.

TONY: WE HAD AN ENDOWMENT IN WHICH WE TAKE INTEREST EARNINGS ON TO SUPPORT OUR PROGRAMMING.

WE HAVE A LOT OF PARTNERS AND SOME OF THE LARGER PARTNERS, THE KNIGHT FOUNDATION, WHICH HELPED US GET STARTED 35 YEARS AGO.

MANY OTHER FOUNDATIONS.

THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN A STRONG PARTNER.

THEY SEE US AS A REGIONAL PLAYER AS WE SERVE SAVE COUNTIES AND FIVE NATIVE NATIONS.

THEY SEE US AS A GOOD REGIONAL PARTNER TO DELIVER RESOURCES, AND TO HELP OUR CHILDCARE PROVIDERS AND FAMILIES.

GREG: YOU MENTIONED INDIGENOUS AND YOU HAVE AN INDIGENOUS-LED PROGRAM.

TONY: WE ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS, IT WAS LAUNCHED THIS YEAR.

IT IS FOR DISTRIBUTION.

WHAT WE HAVE SEEN, THERE IS NOT A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR INDIGENOUS-LED BUSINESSES.

WE WANTED TO UP OUR GAME AND DELIVER BETTER RELATIONSHIPS.

WE REACHED OUT TO THE FIVE TRIBAL NATION LEADERS, AND DID UP DISCUSSING HOW TO DO A BETTER JOB WITH OUR WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THEM AND PUT TOGETHER A PROCESS DESIGN GROUP.

EACH TRIBAL NATION FOUND OTHER LEADERS TO TELL US HOW TO DO BETTER.

THEY CAME UP WITH THREE THINGS.

NUMBER ONE, BECAUSE THERE IS NOT A LOT OF INDIGENOUS FOCUSED NONPROFITS, WE GIVE GRANTS TO PEOPLE DOING GRASSROOTS EFFORTS.

THEY ARE DOING THIS WORK OUT OF THEIR OWN POCKET.

WE WILL HELP THEM SUPPORT INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES.

NUMBER TWO IS INDIGENOUS EDUCATION PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT AND BOLSTER SO THEY CAN TELL THEIR STORY, NOT JUST THEIR HISTORY AND CULTURE, BUT WHAT IS GOING ON TODAY AND IN THE FUTURE.

THE THIRD PIECE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS.

WE ARE WORKING DIRECTLY WITH THEM TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO SUPPORT THEIR WORK.

GREG: I KNOW ONE OF YOUR MAIN FOCUSES HAS BEEN TRYING TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF CHILDCARE AVAILABLE IN OUR REGION.

HOW HAS THAT BEEN GOING?

THAT IS A BIG ISSUE FOR US.

GREG: -- TONY: WE WORKED A LOT DURING THIS TIME OF COVID.

GOVERNOR WALZ WORKED WITH US AND SAID, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN DO IN THE SHORT TERM TO HELP CHILDCARE PROVIDERS?

WE OFFERED STOPGAP GRANTS BECAUSE CHILDCARE PROVIDERS WERE DEVASTATED.

THEY HAD TO DO A LOT MORE CLEANLINESS, FIGURE OUT HOW TO KEEP KIDS SAFE.

A LOT OF FOLKS WERE KEEPING THEIR KIDS HOME.

THEY WERE ALREADY UNDER STRESS BECAUSE IT IS SUCH A HARD BUSINESS TO BE IN.

WE STARTED WITH THAT.

WE DO A LOT OF CHILDCARE TRAININGS AND PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS TO FAMILIES.

THE GOOD NEWS IS, WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS.

WE ARE STILL SHORT OF HAVING ACCESS TO CHILDCARE FOR FAMILIES.

COVID DID NOT HELP THAT.

WE STILL HAVE THIS BIG GAP, BUT WE ARE REDOUBLING OUR EFFORTS.

WE WILL HAVE A VIRTUAL CONFERENCE AND IT DOES NOT MATTER IF YOU ARE A COMMUNITY LEADER, CHILDCARE PROVIDER, WE WANT TO BRING EVERYBODY TO THE TABLE.

THERE IS NO SILVER BULLET TO SOLVE THIS CRISIS AND THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN, BUT CHILDCARE PROVIDERS HELP OTHER BUSINESSES STAY IN BUSINESS AND WE ALL NEED TO SUPPORT CHILDCARE.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT WORKFORCE CHALLENGES, ATTRACTING PEOPLE TO OUR REGION, ONE OF THE FIRST QUESTIONS IS, WHO IS TAKING CARE OF MY KIDS?

THERE ARE ECONOMIC REASONS FOR THIS TO BE AN ISSUE FOR ANYBODY IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WE WILL STAY AT THE FOREFRONT OF INVESTING IN CHILDCARE.

GREG: YOU DO A LOT TO SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES, STARTUPS AND OTHER BUSINESSES.

TALK ABOUT NORTHLAND FOUNDATION 'S ROLE.

TONY: THE FIRST IS A LOAN PROGRAM WHERE WE WORK WITH BUSINESSES AND BANKERS TO TAKE RISKS IN GAP FINANCING.

SAY A BUSINESS GOES TO A BANK TO START UP OR EXPAND.

IT IS RISKY FOR THE BANK TO GIVE A FULL LOAN.

THAT IS ONE PIECE.

WE DID ABOUT NINE LOANS IN COVID, HALF WERE STARTUPS, HALF WERE EXPANSIONS.

THE OTHER HALF IS, WE ARE NOW THE HOSTS OF THE SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER.

WE HAVE BUSINESS CONSULTANTS LOCATED ALL OVER OUR REGION AT THE TOP OF A HAT -- READY AT THE DROP OF A HAT, TO TALK TO FOLKS EXPANDING, WORK ON THEIR BUSINESS PLAN, MARKETING, HR.

WE HAD OVER 1000 BUSINESSES.

SOME ARE STARTING UP.

PEOPLE ARE RETHINKING WHAT THE FUTURE IS FOR THEMSELVES IN THEIR WORK AND IN THEIR LIFE.

SOME PEOPLE ARE SAYING, I MIGHT TRY TO START A NEW BUSINESS.

WE HAD SERVICES TO HELP THEM THINK THROUGH IF THAT IS A GOOD IDEA TO CONNECT THEM WITH OTHER RESOURCES.

ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS GO TO OUR WEBSITE, SIGN UP AND GET CONNECTED WITH A BUSINESS CONSULTANT.

GREG: THE NAME OF THE FOUNDATION REPORT, SEEDS OF GROWTH, DO YOU SEE A LOT OF POSITIVITY GOING FORWARD?

TONY: I CANNOT HELP BUT BE OPTIMISTIC.

THIS IS A ROUGH PATCH WE HAVE ALL GONE THROUGH IN ALL ASPECTS OF OUR LIFE, BUT I SEE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL.

PEOPLE STEPPED UP.

YOU CAN LOOK AT FRONTLINE WORKERS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, AND SUCCESSFUL STORIES OF PEOPLE WHO PIVOTED ON THEIR BUSINESS AND ARE THINKING OF DOING THINGS IN A NEW WAY.

I CANNOT HELP BUT LOVE THIS REGION I GREW UP IN.

THIS IS WHERE I WENT TO SCHOOL AND DECIDED TO LIVE.

WE HAVE AMAZING QUALITY OF LIFE AND PEOPLE ARE RETHINKING, WHERE WILL I LIVE, WORK?

SO MANY MORE PEOPLE ARE WORKING REMOTELY.

I AM HOPEFUL FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR REGION AND WE WILL BE A STRONG PARTNER WITH WHOMEVER WANTS TO MAKE OUR REGION BRIGHTER.

GREG: HONEY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

JULIE: THAT'S OUR TIME THIS WEEK, BUT YOU CAN KEEP UP WITH OUR LATEST POSTS BY FOLLOWING "ALMANAC NORTH" ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.

CHECK OUT THE WDSE WEBSITE FOR PROGRAM UPDATES, NEWS ABOUT THE STATION AND UPCOMING EVENTS.

AND DOWNLOAD THE PBS VIDEO APP TO WATCH YOUR FAVORITE PBS PROGRAMS ANY TIME YOU PLEASE.

DENNY, I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO SOME SPOOKINESS THIS HALLOWEEN WEEKEND!

DENNY: I HAVE GREAT MEMORIES AS A CHILD OF HALLOWEEN.

JULIE: I ENJOYED IT, MY MOM USED TO LET US RUN FOR HOURS AND MILES.

PROBABLY DON'T LET THEM DO THAT ANYMORE.

THANKS TO OUR GUESTS AND CREW IN THE STUDIO.

WITH DENNIS ANDERSON I AM JULIE ZENNER.

SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

♪ ♪