PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Contact: Noel LaBine 763-477-3086

Partnership host Transportaion Plans for Wright County Seminar

The Wright County Economic Development Partnership held a Transportation Update at their monthly noon luncheon event on March 12 th at the City of Albertville Town Hall. SRF Consulting and WSB & Associates were the sponsors for this event. About 47 people attended this event and enjoyed a chicken buffet lunch.

There were several presenters including Jim Povish, Director of MnDOT District 3; Wayne Fingalson, Wright County Highway Engineer; Jack Russek, County Commissioner , and Brett Weise, WSB engineer. Director Jim Povish started out the event with comments about the size of the MnDOT District 3 budget and the size of the district and the cost associated with trying to improve the roads in this area. He made it clear that we are way behind funding for the projects that are needed. Projects like adding another lane to I-94 between Monticello and Rogers and Highway 25 between Buffalo and Monticello won't be done for awhile. The district will apply for a competitive grant of potentially $100 million that could be used to add lanes to I-94, but the odds are slim. That being said, there are several road improvements that will be done again in 2009.

Wayne Fingalson passed out a map with Wright County Road projects highlighted in a five year timeline. He discussed the various safety projects that the county has successfully implemented like adding lights to busy rural intersections, and painting rumble strips, so they can easily be seen at night. Jack Russek gave an update about the Highway 55 Corridor Enhancement project. He explained that Wright County should be getting their official corridor enhancement map within a few months. This will make it easier to keep projects from being built in the enhanced zone. This will save millions of dollars when the day comes to add lanes to that highway.

Finally, Brett Weise gave an update on the I-94 Corridor project. It is the hope of the supporters of this project to strengthen their lobbying effort for funding to add lanes to this very busy highway. Brett shared information that proves that this corridor is part of a very busy coast-to-coast interstate truck system. Because of the importance to inter-regional truck freight, this corridor plays an essential role for the economic development of our region.

The Partnership exists to enhance the business climate of Wright County and help create more jobs in Wright County . The strategies the Partnership uses to achieve its mission include being an information resource and finding technical assistance; aiding business development through Business Retention & Expansion visits, providing financing resources, and providing business information and training through seminars and workshops. Also, the Partnership markets Wright County to business site locators, and maintains an excellent website, which includes a listing of commercial and industrial property available in Wright County (see www.wrightpartnership.org ). The Partnership also assists with Workforce Development and has gathered economic statistical information, which is available on its website.