JULIE: I'M JULIE ZENNER.

HERE'S WHAT YOU'LL SEE NEXT ON ALMANAC NORTH!

IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR THE ITASCA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE OPENING OF THEIR NEW BUSINESS INCUBATOR.

WE'LL MEET SOME LOCAL COLLEGE STUDENTS WHO HELPED DESIGN A SOLAR CAR THAT IS TAKING THEM TO A COMPETITION WAY DOWN UNDER.

AND WE'LL LEARN ABOUT THE ST. LOUIS RIVER ALLIANCE AND THE WORK THEY ARE DOING TO HELP CLEAN UP THE RIVER FROM DECADES OF LEGACY POLLUTION.

THOSE STORIES AND VOICES OF THE REGION, COMING UP NEXT ON ALMANAC NORTH!

JULIE: HELLO AND WELCOME TO ALMANAC NORTH.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

DENNS ANDERSON IS OFF THIS WEEK.

LETS TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE WEEK'S HEADLINES.

MORE THAN TWO MILLION TAXPAYERS BEGAN RECEIVING REBATE CHECKS FROM THE STATE OF MINNESOTA THIS WEEK.

THE ONE-TIME REBATES WILL BE PAID TO TAXPAYERS WHO QUALIFY, INCLUDING $260 FOR INDIVIDUALS AND $520 FOR MARRIED COUPLES.

THOSE WHO FILED THEIR TAXES BY DIRECT DEPOSIT WILL GET THEIR PAYMENTS FIRST, AND PAPER CHECKS WILL FOLLOW IN THE MAIL BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER.

ANOTHER STEP TOWARD FILLING THE HOUSING GAP IN DULUTH WILL BE CELEBRATED MONDAY.

DULUTH HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT WILL HOLD A RIBBON CUTTING FOR THE FAIRMOUNT COTTAGE DEVELOPMENT IN WEST DULUTH.

THE FAIRMOUNT DEVELOPMENT HAS EIGHTEEN UNITS OF MIXED INCOME RENTAL HOUSING READY FOR LEASING.

THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION HAS DROPPED ITS PLAN TO BUILD A ROUNDABOUT ON LONDON ROAD AT 60TH AVENUE EAST.

NEIGHBORS HAD OBJECTED TO THE ROUNDABOUT, SAYING IT WAS UNNECESSARY AND WOULD MAKE FOR DIFFICULT PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS.

MNDOT WILL STILL BUILD ROUNDABOUTS AT 26TH AVENUE EAST AND 40TH AVENUE EAST WHEN CONSTRUCTION BEGINS IN 2025.

AND THE DULUTH PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL HOLD ITS SECOND ANNUAL "UNITY IN OUR COMMUNITY" EVENT AT BAYFRONT PARK MONDAY.

THE FREE EVENT FOCUSES ON BRINGING FAMILIES AND EDUCATORS TOGETHER TO FOSTER A SENSE OF CONNECTION.

THE EVENT WILL RUN FROM 4:00 TO 7:00 PM MONDAY AFTERNOON AT THE FESTIVAL PARK.

THE ITASCA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION CELEBRATED THE OPENING OF "THE FORGE" IN GRAND RAPIDS THIS WEEK.

THE FACILITY WILL PROVIDE SPACE AND EQUIPMENT FOR CREATIVE FOLKS AND ENTREPRENEURS TO BRING THEIR IDEAS TO REALITY, FORGING NEW BUSINESSES.

HERE TO TELL US MORE ABOUT THE FORGE IS TAMARA LOWNEY, PRESIDENT OF THE ITASCA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND MAKING THE TRIP DOWN.

I APPRECIATE IT.

TAMARA: THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

JULIE: EXCITING TIMES.

FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE FORGE, WHAT IS THE CONCEPT?

TAMARA: IT IS UNLIKE ANY OTHER THAT HAS BEEN OUT THERE BEFORE.

IT IS NOT THE TRUE INCUBATOR.

IT IS PART AND COMMUTER, PART TRAINING SPACE AND PART WORKFORCE DEVELOP AND.

WE HAVE TRIED TO BRING EDUCATION, WORKFORCE DEVELOP MEANT IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP UNDER ONE RUTH -- ONE ROOF THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED THIS BUILDING AND THE WORK AND EFFORT OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

WHAT ENTREPRENEURS CAN BENEFIT THE MOST FROM THE SPACE?

TAMARA: IS A 70,000 SQUARE-FOOT MANUFACTURING SPACE.

WE ARE LOOKING TOWARDS THE TRADES.

WE HAVE WELDING UNITS, CNC MACHINES, SAWS, ALL KINDS OF EQUIPMENT THAT CAN BE USED BY TRAITS.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR ENTREPRENEURS THAT ARE CREATORS AND INSPIRED TO DEVELOP THINGS WITH THEIR HANDS.

THE ENTREPRENEURS THAT ARE INTERESTED IN COMING TO OUR LOCATION WILL BE INCLINED TO NEED THAT EQUIPMENT TO GET THEIR BUSINESS STARTED BECAUSE OFTENTIMES, WHEN YOU ARE AN ENTREPRENEUR YOU DO NOT HAVE INCOME TO BUY A 20,000 OTHER PIECE OF EQUIPMENT YOU HAVE AN IDEA THAT YOU NEED TO GET IT TO TAKE SHAPE.

JULIE: IN ADDITION TO HAVING EQUIPMENT, THERE ARE ALSO BUSINESS DEVELOP MEANT RESOURCES THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE TO KIND OF HELP PEOPLE TAKE THEIR BUSINESS FORWARD BECAUSE SOMETIMES, PEOPLE HAVE A GREAT IDEA BUT DON'T KNOW HOW TO MAKE IT INTO A BUSINESS.

TAMARA: EXACTLY.

WE DEAL WITH THOSE PEOPLE EVERY DAY.

THEY ARE INSPIRING, BUT IT IS HOW DO I GET THAT IDEA FROM THE IDEA PHASE INTO ACTION?

WE ARE ALSO A SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOP AND CENTERS SO WE HAVE TWO FULL-TIME SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOP MEANT CONSULTANTS AND THOSE CONSULTANT SERVICES ARE FREE.

IF YOU COME INTO OUR SPACE, YOU WILL LEASE A MODULE WHETHER A SMALL OF THE WAY UP TO 1200S WHERE FEET AND YOU HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE FREE SERVICES OF BUSINESS PLANNED MOMENTS, FINANCIAL ANALYSIS AND MAY FEASIBILITY STUDIES.

ALL OF THAT ALL UNDER ONE ROOF.

THE BEAUTY OF IT AS WE WORK WITH PARTNERS TOO SO ONCE YOU GET THAT IDEA UP AND GOING AND YOU NEED TO GET FUNDED, WE CAN BRING ON TRIP NOR FUNDS INTO THE PICTURE AND WORK WITH THE IRON RANGE I RRR AND BRING THE STATE OF MINNESOTA RESOURCES THAT ARE THERE BUSINESSES RIGHT TO THOSE BUSINESSES WHEN THEY ARE READY TO LIFT OFF.

JULIE: IT IS AN INCUBATOR OF SORTS.

HOW LONG CAN BUSINESSES STAY?

ARE THE REQUIREMENTS IN TERMS OF THE LONGEVITY OF THEIR PLACEMENT IN THIS FACILITY?

TAMARA: THERE REALLY IS.

THE INTENTION IS FOR THEM TO GROW AND FIND THEIR OWN SPACE.

TYPICALLY, IT IS A THREE YEAR PLAN.

WE HAVE SOME FLEXIBILITY BUT IS ALWAYS INTENDED TO START LESS THAN MARKET RATE AND AT THE TIME GOES BY, YOUR RATE GOES UP SLIGHTLY TO HELP YOU PREPARE TO GET TO YOUR OWN BUILDING AND FACILITY.

PART OF THAT IS NOT JUST THE BUILDING FEES, BUT WEEKS BUT THEM TO PAY THEIR UTILITY FEES.

WE EXPECT THEM TO DO ALL THE THINGS THEY WOULD HAVE TO DO IN A NORMAL BUILDING.

WE WANT TO PREPARE THEM TO GO OUT AND HAVE THEIR OWN BUSINESS.

JULIE: HOW MUCH INFLUENCE HAVE LOCAL INDUSTRIES HAD ON LOOKING AT THE TYPES OF EQUIPMENT AND THE TYPES OF SERVICES THAT SHOULD BE PLACED IN THIS FACILITY?

TAMARA: TREMENDOUS.

OUR MAIN PARTNER IS MINNESOTA NORTH COLLEGES.

THEY WILL BE HAVING CLASSES THERE FOR ENGINEERING STUDENTS, WELDING STUDENTS, AND THAT WELDING NEED IS SO INCREDIBLE ON THE RANGE.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE TRADES POSITIONS THAT CONTINUALLY DECLINE, WHEN WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH A COMPANY ONCE KNOWN AS AN IN GRAND RAPIDS, THEY ARE DOING AN INCREDIBLE SCANSION IS THE NEXT 3-5 YEARS AND THEY WILL BE HIRING 200-3 HUNDRED EMPLOYEES, MANY FOR WELDING.

THERE IS AN INCREDIBLE NEED FOR US TO PROVIDE THAT TRAINING AND IT IS WITHIN A QUARTER OF A MILE FROM OUR BUILDING.

THEY CAN BRING THEIR EXPERTS AND TRAINERS TO OUR FACILITY AND TRAIN THEM ON THE SITE.

JULIE: THERE WAS A TIME NOT THAT LONG AGO THAT PEOPLE REALLY FELT THAT YOUNG FOLKS ESPECIALLY HAD TO FLEE THE REGION TO FIND JOBS.

HAS THE ECONOMY CHANGED SO THAT IS NOT THE CASE ANYMORE?

TAMARA: IT IS A COUPLE OF THINGS.

THIS PERCEPTION.

WE DON'T KNOW WHY FOR DECADES PEOPLE WERE SAYING THE ONLY ROUTE IS FOR YOU TO GO GET A FOUR YEAR DEGREE AND WE DON'T WANT YOU TO GOING TO THE TRADES.

THESE ARE NOTGOOD JOBS.

THE REALITY IS THEY ARE EXCELLENT JOBS.

THEY ARE VERY WELL-PAYING JOBS.

NOW THAT THE SOCIETAL PERCEPTION IS CHANGING AND PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO REALLY ENCOURAGE YOUNG PEOPLE TO TAKE JOBS IN THE TRADES AGAIN, GO GET TRAINING IN THE TRADES, THAT IS HELPING TO MOTIVATE PEOPLE TO STAY AND HAVE THOSE REALLY GOOD JOBS LOCALLY WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE TO LEAVE TO GET TRAINING.

THAT IS OUR GOAL.

PEOPLE HAVE LAUGHED BECAUSE THERE'S OFTEN A LETTER STUDENTS THAT DO THEIR WELDING TRAINING AT -- BECAUSE THEY HAVE AN EXCELLENT TRAINING GRAHAM.

THERE ARE MANY MANUFACTURERS THERE.

THEY GET SCOOPED UP BY THOSE MANUFACTURERS AND IS OUR GOAL TO HELP STUDENTS IN GRAND RAPIDS AND IN THE COUNTY HAVE THAT TRAINING AND THE JOBS RIGHT THERE AS THEY COME OUT OF THOSE CLASSES SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE THE AREA AND THEY CAN REALLY STAY-AT-HOME AND WORK THERE AND DEVELOP THEIR COMMUNITIES THE WAY THAT THEY HAVE A VISION FOR THEM.

JULIE: HOW DO PEOPLE FIND OUT MORE?

I IMAGINE THERE'S A LOT OF INTEREST.

WE ONLY HAVE 30 SECONDS.

TAMARA: WE HAVE A WEBSITE.

IT IS OUT THERE.

ANITWE HAVE THE FORGE NORTH WEBSITE UP THERE AS WELL.

IF YOU SOME LEGAL ONLINE AND TYPE IN THE FORGE AND ITASCA COUNTY IT WILL COME UP RIGHT AWAY.

WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO REACH OUT AND WE WELCOME GROUPS TO DO TOURS.

TO BE HAPPY TO HOST YOUR MEETING.

WE WANT MORE PEOPLE TO BE INSPIRED BY THE IDEA AND THERE IS MUCH MORE TO LEARN.

HAVE SPACES FOR ARTISTS, OPPORTUNITIES FOR UPSCALING AND TRAINING.

WE HAVE TRIED TO BRING OUR VILLAGE TOGETHER SO WE CAN LEAN IN AND REALLY MAKE OUR HOME ONE THAT PEOPLE WANT TO COME TO AND STAY AT SPIRIT JULIE: IT SOUNDS VERY EXCITING.

I'M SURE THERE WILL BE LOTS OF PEOPLE INTERESTED IN THE FORGE.

TAMARA: THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

JULIE: THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

I APPRECIATE IT.

IT IS TIME NOW FOR VOICES OF THE REGION WHEN WE HEAR FROM AN AREA JOURNALISTS ABOUT STORIES MAKING THE NEWS.

JOINING US THIS WEEK IS CHELSEY PERKINS, THE NEWS DIRECTOR AT KAXE-KXBE NORTHERN COMMUNITY RADIO: CHELSEY: LAST WEEK, WE LEARNED THAT THE STRIKE AT UPM BLANDON WAS COMING TO AN END AFTER A MAJORITY OF THE UNION VOTED TO APPROVE AN AGREEMENT THAT THE COMPANY HAD PUT FORWARD.

THEY DID BRING IN A FEDERAL MEDIATOR INTO THE PROCESS AND THAT.

TO SPEED THINGS ALONG.

PREVIOUS THE COMPANY AND UNION MET MULTIPLE TIMES AND WERE NOT FINDING AGREEMENT THERE.

THE STRIKE DID LAST ALMOST A MONTH, BUT NOW THE WORKERS ARE WAITING FOR THE CALL TO GO BACK TO THE MILL AS THEY DEVELOP THEIR BACK TO WORK PROCEDURES.

SO, THE COMPANY NOTED THAT THE CONTRACT PROVIDES EMPLOYEES WITH INDUSTRY COMPETITIVE PAY AND BENEFITS, AND THE THREE YEAR AGREEMENT ALSO INCLUDES YEAR-OVER-YEAR WAGE INCREASES AND INCREASES TO THE SHIFT DIFFERENTIAL.

IT ALSO PROVIDES BENEFITS ENHANCEMENTS IN AREAS INCLUDING PAID TIME OFF AND HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNT COUNTRY MISSIONS.

I DID HAVE A CHANCE TO CATCH UP WITH THE UNION PRESIDENT JEFF AND HE SAID THE STRIKE BEING OVER IS A GOOD THING FOR EVERYONE.

ALTHOUGH HE DID NOTE THAT THE AGREEMENT NARROWLY PASSED AMONG MEMBERSHIP AND THEY DID NOT GET EVERYTHING THEY WANTED.

HOWEVER THEY WERE ABLE TO ACHIEVE SOME OF THEIR GOALS.

OUR REPORTER LARISSA DONOVAN WAS ABLE TO TRAVEL TO THE RED LAKE NATION AS WELL AS THE WHITE EARTHEN NATION DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF LEGAL CANNABIS MINNESOTA.

AND SHE WAS ABLE TO BE THERE AS HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WAITED IN A SLOW MOVING LINE OUTSIDE OF THE OFFICIAL CANNABIS DISPENSARY FOR THE RED LAKE NATION.

WHAT WAS INTERESTING ABOUT LARISSA'S COVERAGE OUT THERE IS THAT WE ACTUALLY LEARNED THERE WAS A SECOND CANNABIS DISPENSARY ON THE RED LAKE NATION.

AND IT WAS RUN BY DAVID AND LAUREL MANUAL CALLED THE RES -SPENSARY BUT THEY ARE RUNNING IT OUT OF THEIR HOME.

IT IS A MUCH SMALLER DISPENSARY BUT THERE WAS NO ONE WAITING IN LINE THERE.

LARISSA SCOOPED OTHER REPORTERS ON THAT.

THE OTHER THING WE LEARNED A COUPLE DAYS LATER WAS THE WHITE EARTHEN NATION WAS ALSO GOING TO BE OPENING A RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARY, AND THEY DID.

THAT OPENED ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 3.

LARISSA TRAVELED OUT THERE TO DISCUSS THAT WITH THE FOLKS RUNNING THE DISPENSARY IN WHITE REPAIRED WE WERE ABLE TO BE BOOTS ON THE GROUND FOR A HISTORIC MOMENT FOR THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

TUESDAY NIGHT IN THE CITY OF EMILY, THERE WAS A MEETING THAT TOOK PLACEE WHERE AM COUPLE HUNDRED PEOPLE SHOWED UPILY TO VOICE THEIR OPINIONS AND ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT A POTENTIAL MANGANESE MINING OPERATION NEAR THE CITY.

AT THIS POINT, THE MIND IS AN EXPLORATORY PHASE HOWEVER, THEY BELIEVE THAT THIS DEPOSIT OF MANGANESE NEAR EMILY IS THE RICHEST SUCH DEPOSIT TO NORTH AMERICA.

WITH THE IDEA BEING THAT WE ARE MOVING TOWARDS GREENER AND GREENER SOURCES OF ENERGY, THE DEMAND FOR BATTERIES IS INCREASING.

MANGANESE IS ONE OF THE ELEMENTS THAT IS USED IN BATTERY PRODUCTION.

SO THEREFORE, THEY ARE LOOKING MUCH CLOSER AT THIS MINE, THE POTENTIAL OF HOT -- WHETHER IT IS ECONOMICALLY VIABLE AND RESIDENTS WHO ATTENDED SHARED CONCERNS, QUESTIONS ABOUT WATER IMPACTS, ABOUT WHETHER THE MINE WAS GOING TO BE DISRUPTIVE TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE CITY.

IT IS A VERY SMALL CITY, AND THERE'S NOT MUCH FOR TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE.

THERE IS A TWO LANE ROAD THAT GOES THROUGH.

SO DEFINITELY A LOT OF QUESTIONS FOR THE MINING OFFICIALS WHO WERE PRESENT ABOUT WHAT THIS MAY LOOK LIKE.

NOW, THE MINING OFFICIALS THEMSELVES REPEATEDLY EMPHASIZED THE FACT THAT IT IS IN THE VERY EARLY STAGES AND THEY DON'T YET KNOW IF THEY WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH DEVELOPING A MINE HERE.

THEY ARE STILL TRYING TO GATHER AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE TO DETERMINE WHETHER THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS VIABLE.

SO, VERY EARLY ON, HOWEVER, THEY ARE SEEKING MINERAL RIGHTS FROM THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, AND THERE IS EXCITED TO BE DECISIONS ON THAT LATER THIS FALL.

JULIE: THE ST. LOUIS RIVER ALLIANCE IS A SMALL TWIN PORTS NON PROFIT WITH A BIG VISION: TO PROTECT AND RESTORE ITS NAMESAKE RIVER.

HERE TO TELL US MORE ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION IS KRIS EILERS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ST. LOUIS RIVER ALLIANCE.

WELCOME, THANKS FOR BEING HERE MAYBE WE COULD START BY JUST TALKING IN BROAD STROKES ABOUT SOME OF THE WORK THAT YOUR ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN DOING IN THE ST. LOUIS RIVER AND ESTUARY.

KRIS: WE FIRST STARTED FROM BEING THE CITIZENS ACTION COMMITTEE WHEN THE AREA OF CONCERN WAS ASSASSINATED THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY BACK IN 1987 AND IT STARTED WITH A CONCERNED GROUP OF CITIZENS.

THE EPA REQUIRED INPUT INTO THIS HUGE PROCESS TO CLEAN UP THE WE HAVE BEEN AROUND LONG TIME, BUT WE KIND OF EVOLVE AS A RIVER GETS CLEANER IN THESE PROJECTS AND THE RIVER HAVE BEEN UNDERWAY FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

AND IT IS A HUGE PROJECT.

WE WORK WITH BOTH MINNESOTA AND WISCONSIN STATES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

WE WORK WITH FEDERAL AGENCIES AS WELL.

AND OUR MISSION IS TO NOT JUST RESTORE, PROTECT, AND ENHANCE THE ST. LOUIS RIVER BUT TO HELP CONNECT PEOPLE TO THE RIVER.

THAT IS ALL REALLY EVERYTHING THAT WE DO IN A NUTSHELL IS TO CONNECT PEOPLE TO THE RIVER BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW THAT A HEALTHY RIVER IS ACTUALLY REFLECTIVE OF A HEALTHY COMMUNITY AND VICE VERSA.

IT IS A RECIPROCAL RELATIONSHIP SO WE ARE HERE TO HELP REBUILD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS TO THE RIVER.

JULIE: TALK ABOUT THE SUCCESSES YOU HAVE SEEN IN THE CLEANUP EFFORTS SINCE 1987.

KRIS: JUST THE ENORMITY OF THE PROJECT THAT THE AGENCY HAS HAD TO COME UP WITH A PLAN WHEN YOU ARE WORKING WITH TWO DIFFERENT STATES AND MANY DIFFERENT AGENCIES.

THERE IS A HUGE SUCCESS IN PARTNERSHIP FOR THE TWIN PORTS.

MOST OF THE MANAGEMENT ACTIONS ARE UNDERWAY ABOUT HUNDRED PERCENT DONE.

THERE IS MORE TO BE DONE BUT THE BIG THING IS WE ARE SEEING A RIVER THAT IS CLEANER AND JUST AN EXAMPLE OF THAT SUCCESS IS WE NOW HAVE IN 2028 DESIGNATED NATIONAL WATER TRAIL.

THE ST. LOUIS RIVER ESTUARY NATIONAL WATER TRAIL WAS UNDERTAKEN BY THE CITY OF DULUTH WE HAVE OVER 50 PARTNERS.

THE ALLIANCE IS A MANAGER FOR THAT WATER TRAIL.

THAT IS PART OF OUR WORK.

WE HAVE HABITAT PROJECTS THAT WE WORK ON AS WELL.

JULIE: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE GREATEST CONCERNS THAT STILL NEED TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE IT CAN BE DELISTED AT SOME POINT AS AN AREA OF CONCERN?

KRIS: DIMINISHMENT ACTIONS ARE UNDERWAY -- THE MANAGEMENT ACTIONS ARE UNDERWAY.

THEY WILL BE MONITORING THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.

IF PEOPLE WANT MORE DETAIL THEY CAN GO TO OUR WEBSITE AND ALSO WE HAVE RESOURCES THAT DIRECT PEOPLE TO THE STATE AGENCIES WHO ARE DOING THOSE PROJECTS.

RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE CONTAMINATED SEDIMENTS BEING CLEANED UP.

THE LANDING, THEY WRAPPING THE PROJECT UP.

THERE ARE MANY OTHER PROJECTS THAT ARE UNDERWAY IN OTHER HABITAT PROJECTS THAT ARE BEING CLEATED BUT WE ARE MOVING INTO THE FACE OF THE RESTORATION.

JULIE: YOU MENTIONED THAT PART OF YOUR VISION WISE TO REALLY CONNECT PEOPLE TO THE RIVER.

HOW SUCCESSFUL DO YOU FEEL THAT EFFORT HAS BEEN PARTICULARLY IN ENGAGING YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE THE NEXT GENERATION COMING UP WHO WILL INHERIT THIS RIVER AND WILL BE THE STEWARDS OF IT?

KRIS: IN THE PAST WE WORKED A LOT IN THE SCHOOLS TO DO OUTREACH THAT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY GO HOME AND TALK TO THE PARENTS.

THERE ARE GENERATIONS THAT BEEN CUT OFF FROM THE RIVER AND THAT IS WHY IN LAST YEAR WE SPENT, SIX DIFFERENT COMMUNITY RIVER NEIGHBORHOOD GATHERINGS TO FIND OUT FROM PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANTED TO DO ON THE RIVER AND WHAT HAS KEPT THEM FROM DOING THAT SPARED FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, WE WILL HAVE FOUR EVENTS PER YEAR TO CONNECT ESPECIALLY RIVER NEIGHBORHOOD PEOPLE TO THE RIVER BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN THIS TROPIC CUT OFF BY -- HISTORICALLY CUT OFF BY POLLUTION AND INDUSTRY.

THERE ARE MONETARY RESOURCES THAT ARE SLIM IN SOME NEIGHBORHOODS SO WE WANT TO GIVE PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH THE RIVER.

THAT WILL HELP CREATE STEWARDS'S THE YEARS TO COME AND ALSO HELPS WITH CONNECTING CHILDREN TO THE RIVER AS WELL.

JULIE: ENTHUSIASM BREEDS ENTHUSIASM.

WHY ARE PERSONALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT THE RIVER?

KRIS: WHEN I WAS YOUNGER AND MY FAMILY USED TO TRAVEL UP FROM RIVER FALLS, WISCONSIN GO UP THE NORTH SHORE I DID SEE THE POLLUTION HAPPENING IN THE 70'S.

I DID NOT KNOW THAT WAS THE RIVER.

I THOUGHT IT WAS PART OF THE LAKE THAT I WAS SEEING.

THAT IMAGE NEVER LEFT MY MIND.

OVER THE YEARS, THAT INSTILLED THIS PASSION TO HELP PROTECT OUR WATCHER AND LAKES AND I GREW UP IN THE 70'S.

DURING THE FIRST BIRTHDAY AND THE BIG PUSH FOR LET'S CLEAN UP OUR RIVERS WHEN THEY WERE ACTUALLY TURNING ON, GOING ON FIRE.

I JUST FOLLOWED MY HEART AND WOUND UP IN DULUTH AND I AM DOING EXACTLY THAT.

JULIE: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN AND STARING -- SHARING YOUR PASSION AND THE GOOD WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING.

KRIS: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

JULIE: TWO STUDENTS FROM THE NORTHLAND WILL SOON BE TRAVELING TO AUSTRALIA TO RACE A SOLAR CAR THEIR TEAM HAS BUILT.

PRODUCER MEGAN MCGARVEY AND VIDEOGRAPHER ISAAC QUICK TRAVELED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE STUDENTS' PROJECT.

MEG>> THE SOLAR VEHICLE PROJECTS A STUDENT GROUP WHERE WE COMPLETE DESIGN AND BUILD AND RAISE THE SOLAR POWERED CARS JUST COMPLETE BY STUDENTS.

WE FINANCED EVERYTHING OURSELVES.

WE DO ALL THE RESEARCH AND JUST FIGURE EVERYTHING OUT OURSELVES.

ON THE ONE HAND, IT IS IT'S TRULY DIFFICULT AND FRUSTRATING BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, IT IS SO REWARDING.

THE SOLAR RACING AS A WHOLE AND BELIEVE HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR AT LEAST 30 PLUS YEARS.

ACTUALLY, IT BEGAN IN AUSTRALIA WITH THE WORLD SOLAR CHALLENGE.

AND THAT IS A RACE FROM THE VERY TOP COAST OF AUSTRALIA ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM COAST RIGHT THROUGH THE OUTBACK.

DIFFERENT COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD HAVE DECIDED TO TAKE UP THE RACE AS WELL SO THERE IS ONE IN AMERICA AS WELL.

THOSE ARE THE TWO MAIN REASONS THAT WE COMPETE IS THE WORLD SOLAR CHALLENGE AND AMERICAN SOLAR CHALLENGE.

>> YOU NEVER GET TO A POINT WHERE THE CAR IS RACE READY.

IT IS MORE SO THAT IT IS TIME TO RACE.

YOU WANT TO GET IN AS MUCH TEST DRIVING AS POSSIBLE AND WE WERE LUCKY AND GLAD TO BE ABLE TO TEST DRIVE BEFORE SHIPPING HER TO AUSTRALIA.

SHE IS CURRENTLY ON A BOAT BUT THE FIRST TIME IT WENT TO AUSTRIA IT WAS NOT FINISHED IN THE SECOND TIME, WE HAD TO BUILD A BATTERY PACK IN AUSTRALIA TO PUT IN THE CAR.

SO, HE HAS TO WHEN IT IN AUSTRALIA HAD NOT BEEN TEST DROVE AND WE HAVE GOTTEN QUITE A FEW TEST DRIVES ON GAIA AND THE FULL BUILD AND NO BATTERY PACKS WILL BE BUILT IN AUSTRIA.

WE ARE PROUD OF THAT AND LOOKING TO TEST DRIVE EVEN MORE IN AUSTRALIA BEFORE THE RACE.

>> ON THE CAR WE JUST FINISHED LYNN, I BUILT -- JUST FINISHED BUILDING, I BUILT AND DESIGNED THE CHASSIS, DOOR HINGES, DUCTS AND LIGHTS AND RIMS FOR THE CAR.

SO, I LOVE WORKING WITH PHYSICAL OBJECTS.

IS MUCH EASIER TO WORK WITH WHEN I CAN ACTUALLY SEE IT.

I GIVE A LOT OF PRAISE TO THE ELECTRIC PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY DO IT ALL IN THEIR MINDS AND IS AMAZING.

BUT THAT IS MAINLY WHAT I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN WITH THE CAR AND ALSO JUST ACTUALLY MAKING JUST VERY STUPID THINGS THROUGHOUT THE CAR AND PROVIDING FEEDBACK ON VARIOUS THINGS AS WELL.

>> THE LOGO YOU CMA SHIRT IS A MOTOR STATER -- IT IS THE PART OF THE MOTOR THAT DOES NOT MOVE AND IS STATIONARY.

THE REASON OUR LOGO IS A MOTOR STATER IS BECAUSE WE ARE ONE THE ONLY TEAMS IF NOT THE ONLY TEAM IN UNITED STATES TO DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE OUR OWN MOTORS.

EVERYONE TENDS TO BUY THEM OFF THE SHELF BUT WE MAKE OUR OWN.

FOR THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE IT IS SOMETHING WE ARE REALLY PROUD OF THE TEAM.

WE TRIED TO DO A LOT OF OUTREACH TO THEM ENTRY SCHOOLS, MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND HIGH SCHOOLS IN THAT AGE KIDS.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE A MEMBER AND THE TEAM RIGHT NOW WHO IS SUPER INVOLVED AND WE ARE SUPER GRATEFUL TO HAVE HER WHO JOINED THE TEAM BECAUSE WE VISITED HER MIDDLE SCHOOL.

IT WAS MANY YEARS BACK AND SHE WAS REALLY DRAWN IN BY THE SOLAR CAR AND DECIDED TO JOIN.

IT IS THINGS LIKE THAT THAT ARE REALLY VALIDATING AND GRATIFYING TO KNOW THAT WE WERE OUT THERE INSPIRING YOUTH AND GETTING PEOPLE EXCITED ABOUT ENGINEERING.

I THINK IT IS AN CURRENTLY IMPORTANT FOR ENGINEERING STUDENTS TO GET HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE WITH ENGINEERING.

THERE'S SO MUCH WE LEARN IN THE CLASSROOM AND ALL OF THAT IS IMPORTANT, BUT IT IS A WAY DIFFERENT CHALLENGE ACTUALLY APPLY THOSE FUNDAMENTALS IN WHAT YOU ARE LEARNING IN CLASS TO REAL HANDS-ON WORK.

I HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH MORE FROM SOLAR CARD THAT I COULD EVER LEARN IN THE CLASSROOM.

>> OUR HOPES FOR THE NEXT CAR IS WE REALLY WANT TO FINISH THE RACE BECAUSE FINISHING THE RACE IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT.

MOST TEAMS WHO ATTEMPT THIS WITH THE MULTIPLE OCCUPANT CLASS, TWO OR MORE, MOST DON'T FINISH THE RACE.

JUST BEING ABLE TO BUILD A CAR THAT DOES THAT, USUALLY YOU END UP ON THE PODIUM.

THAT IS OUR BIG HOPE FOR THE NEXT CAR.

WE ARE PUSHING A LOT OF THINGS.

IT IS MORE AERODYNAMIC THAN ANY OTHER CAR WE HAVE MADE AND WE ARE TRYING JUST SO MANY DIFFERENT NEW THINGS WITH IT.

HOPEFULLY WE CAN TAKE WHAT WE LEARNED IN THE PAST AND APPLY THAT TO THE NEXT CAR THAT WE WILL BUILD.

>> IT IS ONE THING TO GET TO GO AND IS ANOTHER TO GO SEE SOMETHING YOU PHYSICALLY BUILT WITH YOUR OWN HANDS AND DRIVE ALONG THE HIGHWAY.

I'M DEFINITELY EXCITED TO JUST GET TO WATCH THE CAR DRIVE AS WELL AS SPENDING ALL THE TIME WITH THE RACE CREW THERE.

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JULIE: AND THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING PBS NORTH, IT TRULY MAKES A DIFFERENCE AND IS APPRECIATED.

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