Aitkin County , Mississippi Headwaters Board wins state Outstanding Economic Development Award

The Minnesota Association of Professional County Economic Developers (MAPCED) selected Aitkin County and Mississippi Headwaters Board’s (MHB)
“Utilizing ‘Resourcetainment’ to Retain Workers and Encourage Economic Development” to receive the association’s annual award for exceptional economic
development projects.

The award was presented Dec. 5 at the Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC) annual conference in Minneapolis by 2023 AMC President and Ramsey County
Commissioner Mary Jo McGuire. MHB member Tim Terrill said, “There were six other applicants for this award, so the MHB and Aitkin County winning it demonstrates the hard work
and dedication that they have put forth to turn this concept into a reality. The MHB would like to see this duplicated in other counties as well.”
Resourcetainment is a concept developed by the Mississippi Headwaters Board to promote Mississippi River paddling events that bring about awareness of the natural resource and
increase local economic development.

The implementation of the concept was executed by Aitkin County, the Aitkin Area Chamber of Commerce and the Aitkin County Water Trails Committee which promotes a
“Naturally Better” recreational/economic branding campaign for the cities and towns in Aitkin County.
A paddle down the Mississippi was held for the general public and a social hour was held afterwards with beer and wine tasting to promote economic development.
Over the past three years, this concept generated almost $10,000 worth of economic activity with local restaurants and craft breweries benefitting from increased patronage. The
collaboration that led to implementation is a key factor in the success of Resourcetainment and all partners involved worked to turn this concept into a reality.

MAPCED is a professional association for county-level economic developers in Minnesota, who champion economic growth through the advancement of county economic development
professionals in Minnesota.