KEDA Reviewed by Falls Council

Job retention and expansion and business recruitment continue to be the focus for the Koochiching Economic Development Authority.

Last night, International Falls city council received an update on KEDA's activities from director Paul Nevanan.

Nevanen says one major focuses continues to be the development of a 30-million dollar plasma gasification project which proposes to divert waste into energy.

"We've been working on it for some time," says Nevanan. "The good news is that we've had a lot of support at every level. The difficulty is that it's just taken a long time because it is the first of its kind in North America."

Nevanan anticipates a draft feasibility study to be completed within the next month or so.

The development of a foreign trade zone in International Falls is also progressing.

Nevanan says they'll looking at a site for zone that's about 50 acres in size.

Nevanan says they're also actively marketing the zone through a joint initiative with Duluth and Minneapolis.

"We're going to identify 100 high tariff businesses in Minnesota. We're going to do some surveys with them. We're updating the state website that links with DEED (Department of Employment and Economic Development) that has finally come around and is supporting the concept."

Nevanan says they'll also be hosting three regional meetings to promote the zone to prospective businesses.

Cold weather testing also continues to be good business for the city of International Falls and Koochiching County.

Despite a recent slow down in the automotive industry, Nevanan says it was still a good year at the area's cold weather testing facility.

"We had a very successful year last year, one of our most successful to date. We continue to invest in the facilities. This is a tough time for the industry, so it's a reflection of how we've worked with our customers and they can get their work done in a cost-effective way."

It's estimated the facility helps generate more than $2.5 million U.S. into the local economy each year.