Transcription
50 Years of ARDC2019 was ARDC’s 50th year in operation and itwas an important one. The growth of theArrowhead Area Agency on Aging (AAAA) hasreflected northeast Minnesota’s demographics.As a result, we had housed several staffmembers in leased space next door to our office.In 2019 we were able to renovate our space andbring those staff members back into our building.The renovation was implemented by DSGWArchitects and Gardner Builders. As a result,ARDC now has HIPAA compliant secured spacefor the Senior Linkage Line, new desk areas forAAAA employees, two new small meeting roomswith modern technology, an improved largemeeting room with a new ADA compliantbathroom, and a new security system.On October 26, 2019, ARDC was able tocelebrate our past and promote our vision for thefuture. Well over 100 of our friends andcolleagues joined us in a celebratory luncheonthat featured the unveiling of our new logo. Thenew logo is based on an illustration ofcommunity development. It presents communitymembers as triangles, which point in the samedirection and join information when they pursuea shared goal. The logo also honors ARDC’shistoric use of blue, gives nod to its legislativelydefined seven counties, and alludes to thegeographic shape of the Region.
The above charts reflect unaudited figures regarding ARDC’s FY 2019 expenditures and revenues.To view this information in greater detail, and other information pertaining to ARDC’s financialsummary, please visit: ardc.org/financeThe ARDC Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) supportsbusiness activities for which credit is not otherwiseavailable. The objective of the program is to stimulateprivate investment in order to create and maintainproductive, permanent employment through theestablishment of new businesses or the expansion ofexisting businesses.Financing provided in conjunction with this program isintended to complement – not compete with – privatelending institutions. As such, securing private sectorinvolvement is a critical factor in qualifying for thisprogram.To learn more about ARDC’s Revolving Loan Fund, visit:ardc.org/rlf.
2019 was a busy and exciting year for the ARDCPlanning Division. Of particular note was ourstaff led rebranding process, which resulted inthe new Division name and logo that you seeabove.Transportation was the leading theme for theDivision in 2019. Community transportationplanning processes were held in Two Harbors,Grand Marais, Cook County, Cohasset andGrand Rapids. “Bridging” the divides betweenthe public and agency officials, the needs andthe wants, and safety and efficiency takes astrong facilitator and ARDC Planning often takeson that role. Additional transportation effortsincluded updating management plans for theRegion’s Scenic Byways, helping to secureadditional project funding for these attractiveroadways and their affiliated waysides, parks,and trails.Transit was not left out in 2019, as ARDC kickedoff a new program – the Regional TransportationCoordinating Council (RTCC). This endeavor isusing regional program advocates to improvehow people with limited means can get to moredestinations efficiently. Of course, ARDC still isa strong advocate for pedestrians and bicyclists.Our work with the Northeast Minnesota AreaTransportation Partnership, TransportationAlternatives (TA), the State Health ImprovementPartnership (SHIP), the Gitchi-Gami TrailAssociation, and trail use counting continued in2019.Our land use planning efforts in 2019 werehighlighted by a study of coastal erosion on LakeSuperior. Working with a wide base ofstakeholders, the study will advise the NorthShore Management Board on the effectivenessof their minimum shoreland standards. Wecontinued our work with the Hermantownplanning department as well as the City of TwoHarbor’s zoning efforts.As the designated Economic DevelopmentDistrict for the federal Economic DevelopmentAdministration (EDA), ARDC conducted severaleconomic development processes in 2019.Multiple EDA infrastructure grants were appliedfor and subsequently awarded, including an over 3 million dollar wharf project in Grand Portage.Geographic Information Systems continue to bea significant role for ARDC. GIS supports theerosion study, Hermantown planning, ScenicByway mapping, and nearly all of our projects insome manner.Visit us online at www.ardcplanning.org to learnmore about our current projects.
The Arrowhead Regional DevelopmentCommission (ARDC) is designated by theMinnesota Board on Aging as the Area Agencyon Aging (AAA) for the Planning and ServiceArea of the Arrowhead Region under authority ofTitle III of the Older Americans Act. AreaAgencies on Aging (AAAs) were established in1973 to respond to the needs of Americans age60 and over in every local community. TheArrowhead AAA (AAAA) strives to make itpossible for older adults to “age in place” in theirhomes and communities.In 2019, AAAA focused planning efforts aroundleveraging the experience, expertise and energyof older Minnesotans, equipping them with thetools to take charge of their health and makeinformed decisions about services, supportingcaregivers and supporting people to aging incommunity with access to a range of servicesand housing options. Within these broadergoals, efforts focused on the top regional gaps,transportation, caregiver support, chore servicesand housing services.As part of the MinnesotaHelp Network , AAAAhelped to expand and support the SeniorLinkAge Line (SLL) Long Term Care Optionscounseling service by providing a local callcenter, Return to Community and Pre-AdmissionScreening (PAS) services in the Arrowheadregion. In 2019, staff took over 22,880 calls andserved 9,159 unduplicated people. PAS staffconducted 4,760 screens to ensure peopleentering Long Term Care settings were in thebest possible facility for their needs.Finally, the AAAA provided 27 grants/contractsto 13 partners in the region totaling over 1.8million in Title III Federal Older Americans ActFunding. The ElderCare DevelopmentPartnership team assisted organizations inleveraging nearly an additional 1.1 million inState funding to implement services to assistolder adults living independently at home.
2019 Annual Report for the Duluth-Superior Metropolitan Interstate Council (MIC)I-35/Bayfront Area Traffic Circulation Modeling & Special Event Traffic Control PlanA challenging project with unique and innovative solutionsGetting to this popular Duluth location - a confined area with a mix ofentertainment, commercial and industrial destinations - can be a challengewhen multiple events occur at the same time.In response to local stakeholder concerns about periodic traffic congestionduring high-volume events, the MIC sponsored a planning project to deviseshort-term traffic control solutions as well as long-term infrastructure needs.The resulting I-35/Bayfront Area Traffic Circulation Modeling and SpecialEvent Traffic Control Plan, conducted by consulting firm Alliant Engineering,received the 2019 Transportation Achievement Award from the NorthCentral section of the Institute of Transportation Engineers.Many features of the plan and the planning process factored into this competitive award, including how it: Engaged stakeholders for input on background information and existing conditions and keyrecommendations; Developed a short-term traffic control plan for medium and large-scale events as a pilot study for theeffectiveness of several preliminary strategies; Developed a wide-ranging list of recommendations for potential improvements for event parking,traffic flow and wayfinding that was ranked and prioritized by overall improvement to traffic, financialfeasibility, and implementation viability. Used CUBE and Synchro modeling tools for modeling travel demands to analyze the operationalbenefit of the 30 strategies; Evaluated traffic/parking bottlenecks for future traffic model calibration; Conducted a parking and wayfinding analysis of Bayfront area event, including information onpotential parking management vendors and technologies as well as two relevant case studiesSustainable Choices 2045Long Range Transportation Plan for the Duluth-Superior AreaThis update of the MIC’s LRTP is the culmination of a 3-year planning and publicinvolvement process. A key theme is that financial resources for transportationinfrastructure is increasingly limited and that wise, strategic choices must be made inthe years to come to benefit all users of the Duluth-Superior transportation network.It offers planning initiatives and policy directives for all modes of transportationincluding air, bicycle, pedestrian, rail, roads, transit and waterways for the nexttwenty years. Focus areas for the update include an expanded performancemeasures component, and FAST Act compliance.Both documents and further information can be found on our website at www.dsmic.org
Our Mission221 West 1st StreetDuluth, Minnesota 55802(218) 722-5545(800) 232-0707www.ardc.orgThe mission of the Arrowhead RegionalDevelopment Commission (ARDC) is to providelocal units of government and citizens groups ameans to work cooperatively in identifyingneeds, solving problems, and fostering localleadership.ARDC is an EOE/AA/M/F/Vet/DisabilityEmployer. ARDC is committed to building aninclusive culture that encourages and supportsthe diverse voices of our employees and of thecommunities we serve.CommissionCounty Board Representatives (8)Aitkin: Don Niemi*Carlton: Dick Brenner*Cook: Ginny Storlie*Itasca: Terry Snyder*Koochiching: Wade Pavleck*Lake: Jeremy Hurd*St. Louis: Frank Jewell*St. Louis: Beth OlsonRepresentative of Cities, Townships, TribalNations, and School Districts (21)Aitkin Cities 10K: VacantAitkin Townships: VacantCarlton Cities 10K: Roger Maki (Cloquet)Carlton Cities 10K: David Lucas (Kettle River)Carlton Townships: Jason Paulson (Thomson)Cook Cities 10K: Anton Moody (Grand Marais)Cook Townships: VacantItasca Cities 10K: Dale Adams (Grand Rapids)Itasca Cities 10K: Calvin Saari (Nashwauk)Itasca Townships: Larry Salmela (Effie)Koochiching Cities 10K: Brian Briggs(International Falls)Koochiching Townships: Kevin Adee(Koochiching County)Lake Cities 10K: Carlene Perfetto (Silver Bay)Lake Townships: VacantSt. Louis Cities 10K: Gary Anderson (Duluth)St. Louis Cities 10K: Tim Harkonen (Hibbing)St. Louis Cities 10K: Steven Johnson (Virginia)St. Louis County Townships: Warren Tinker(Lavell)Bois Forte Tribal Council: Sidra StarkovichFond du Lac Tribal Council: Jason Hollinday*Grand Portage Tribal Council: RobertDeschampeSchool Districts: Pat Medure (ISD #318, GrandRapids)School Districts: Walter Hautala (ISD #2711,Mesabi East)At-Large (Citizen) Members (8)Jim Berg (McGregor)Dirk Davis (Morcom Township)Mike Hoops (Silver Creek)Joel Hoppe (McGregor)Paul Nevanen* (International Falls)Allen Rasmussen* (International Falls)Gordon Salisbury (Hovland)Mary Somnis* (Grand Marais)Advisory Members (3)AAAA Advisory Board: Pam Franklin*NEMNATP: Jason Hollinday*DSMIC Policy Board: Earl Elde** denotes members of the ARDC BoardOfficersDick Brenner, ChairDon Niemi, Vice ChairAllen Rasmussen, TreasurerJason Hollinday, SecretaryARDC thanks its Commission and Board members fortheir service to our Region!
50 Years of ARDC 2019 was ARDC's 50th year in operation and it was an important one. The growth of the Arrowhead Area Agency on Aging (AAAA) has reflected northeast Minnesota's demographics. As a result, we had housed several staff members in leased space next door to our office. In 2019 we were able to renovate our space and
