In the Twin Ports, where the varying weather conditions and temperament of Lake Superior has a way of keeping everyone on their toes, local businesses need more than just grit to succeed. Beyond the weather, Superior and Douglas County entrepreneurs also need a driving force to help their business not only survive, but thrive.
Jenice Meyer admits she uses the “not only survive, but thrive” tagline often. However, the assistant executive director of the Development Association (DA) believes it is a statement that fits with the work they do day-in and day-out, supporting local businesses and entrepreneurs. It is why the Development Association has been a powerhouse for the business community for more than 65 years.
“Jim (Casear, executive director of the Development Association), community partners and I often laugh about how much I use the slogan,” Meyer admitted. “But it really fits with what we do here. It’s part of our mission.”
Caesar added that the association has always focused on hearing business concerns and bringing people together from both the private and public sectors. “We not only research and help businesses plan for the future, we also take steps to make these plans a reality,” Caesar said.
As we move through 2026, the Development Association’s role as an advocate and economic engine has never been more critical. Their mission is vast, but straightforward. Many of the association’s goals include retaining, expanding and recruiting the businesses that keep this region humming.
Yet as any local business owner or inspiring entrepreneur will tell you, “straightforward” rarely describes the reality of navigating state regulations, securing capital or preparing for the largest infrastructure overhaul in a generation.
The Blatnik Bridge Project
Currently, the most significant topic is the John A. Blatnik Bridge replacement project. From 2027 through 2032, Douglas County will experience a once-in-a-generation disruption as the structurally deficient Blatnik Bridge is fully closed, dismantled and replaced. While the project will bring long-term benefits and positive economic impacts to the region, it will also create significant short-term challenges, and some businesses and sectors may be adversely affected and may not survive the disruption.
The five-year Blatnik Bridge closure will disrupt an average 33,000 daily trips between Wisconsin and Minnesota, affecting nearly 9,500 daily commuters and 39.7 percent of Superior’s workforce who travel to Minnesota for work. During the five years, this will alter more than 60 million trips. This could be significant for business access, especially those close to the bridge.
“What we have been hearing a lot from small businesses is that they are terrified,” Caesar said. With nearly 80 percent of businesses in Douglas considered small businesses, having 19 employees or less, a five-year bridge project could have detrimental impact. Caesar said the term “terrified” came from local business owners and shows how serious many of them feel about the bridge project.
While it certainly will have a positive impact on the region in the future, the coming months and years might tell a different story.
Understanding the Impact
The DA has been at the forefront of studying how this massive shift in traffic flow affects businesses in Superior and Douglas County. In the spring of 2025, the DA began conducting an Economic Impact Study to better understand the impact of the Blatnik Bridge closure on the regional economy.
Crystal Rohde, Business Development Specialist, Northwest Regional Planning Commission, said she joined the Bridge Economic Impact Study steering committee last summer and found it extremely helpful for local businesses.
“I’ve been working alongside the DA and local partners to proactively support local businesses in Superior that will be impacted by the Blatnik Bridge project,” Rohde said. “One of our key priorities has been preparing the region with data-driven insights so we can advocate for meaningful support before the closure begins.”
Recently, as a part of those efforts, the DA and the Steering Committee launched the Blatnik Bridge Closure Survey to gather hard data on business concerns. Rohde added that the goal is to provide the Development Association, regional partners and decision-makers with data that can help inform requests for financial and technical assistance to help sustain the business community throughout the disruption.
“Overall, the steering committee’s role has been to ensure local voices are heard early, decisions are informed by real data and businesses have a stronger foundation of support as the region prepares for this major infrastructure project,” Rohde stated.
Both owners and operators of businesses in the region report a substantial amount of revenue and customers currently come from Minnesota. Meyer said these businesses believe there will be revenue loss as their customer base will decline due to congestion, detours, longer travel times and selecting Minnesota-based alternatives during the closure.
She added the data collected from the survey indicated that with no additional support a number of businesses in retail (43%), entertainment (50%), restaurants (28%) and construction (25%), are not confident they will withstand the closure.
“We were pleased with the response and the amount of feedback we received from local businesses about the pending bridge closure,” Meyer said. “This data is helpful as we seek state and federal support for these businesses over the next five years.”
They are in the process of taking this feedback to lobby for mitigation funds, better signage and logistical support to ensure that the construction phase of the bridge has minimal impact on business in the area.
The Bridge to Progress Program
The Bridge to Progress Program, developed by the Development Association, is a proactive investment to keep all businesses alive, resilient and growing – before, during and after the bridge closure.The Development Association started lobbying for the funding as a part of the Wisconsin State Legislative budget progress for the 2026-2028 state budget. As the Development Association team knew the initial request was a long shot, it assisted in starting the conversation and began conveying the need in Northern Wisconsin.
The recent survey from business owners and operators prioritized and helped focus on the four pillars of the program – Preserve, Promote, Prepare, and Position.
To Preserve businesses, this includes financial stability by providing direct grants and forgivable loans to support workforce retention, business continuity, job retention and economic stability.
Citizen and tourist spending will be promoted in the region by developing a cohesive regional brand to Promote spending in Superior. It will include targeted marketing campaigns designed to redirect regional spending by both residents and visitors into the region and change consumer behavior to shop, spend and travel in Northern Wisconsin.
Business owners will be Prepared through training, advising and technical assistance. Workshops and technical assistance for businesses will be available to pivot and prepare before, and during the bridge closure.
And, the final pillar, Position, assists with access, ease and visibility for local commerce. This may include investment in transportation enhancements and additional downtown bus and trolley routes to support commuters and sustain foot traffic for downtown businesses.
In February, the Superior Days delegation prioritized the Bridge to Progress Program as a legislative priority and tried a long-standing ask for a half-cent sales tax to help fund the program to aid businesses in Superior and Douglas County. It also could have a sunset date that would end the tax after the project has been completed. Local sales tax initiatives are rare in Wisconsin, and mostly in the metropolitan regions of the state. But Meyer said this bridge project also is rare and its impact will be noticeable.
“The size, scope and length of this bridge project is unprecedented,” Meyer said. “Not only in the Midwest, but possibly the whole nation. These businesses in our region will not be impacted between four and eight months for a typical summer road closure. We are looking at close to possibly 2,000 days. We have to be prepared and make this into an opportunity for our community”
The Development’s Associations research and planning ensures that the Blatnik project is viewed not just as a five-year headache, but as an opportunity and generational investment. By modernizing the I-535/US 53 interchange and improving overweight load capabilities, the project will eventually make Douglas County even more attractive to heavy industry and manufacturing. And with a supportive program, like the Bridge to Progress, an investment in sustaining and growing the overall business community.
The Backbone of Local Business Support
As the Development Association works with local businesses on the future Blatnik Bridge project, it will continue its mission in enabling local entrepreneurs to not only survive this latest obstacle, but thrive throughout its construction and beyond.
To learn more about the Development Association, or to find ways it might help your business or entrepreneur goals, contact Jenice Meyer at jenice@wegrowbiz.org
Wade Petrich is an English teacher at Denfeld High School and former publisher/co-owner of the Hermantown Star.
