On Aug. 31, community leaders, elected officials, labor representatives and project partners gathered in Duluth to break ground on the $1.8 billion replacement of the Blatnik Bridge project – a historic investment in the future of the Twin Ports and the broader regional economy. The bridge carries approximately 33,000 vehicles each day and serves as a critical connection for people, commerce, freight and communities between Duluth and Superior.
For many small businesses throughout the region, the upcoming bridge closure represents a significant period of change and uncertainty. Customer traffic, accessibility, employee commutes, supply chains, visibility and spending patterns may all be affected. The question is not whether the region will experience change, but how prepared our small businesses and community will be to navigate it.
The groundbreaking marks an exciting milestone, but it also makes one thing clear: the challenges facing small businesses are no longer something to prepare for someday. They are here.
IT BEGINS NOW
The Development Association (DA) has been raising awareness about the potential impacts of the Blatnik Bridge closure on the Superior and Douglas County business community for the past four years.
Small business owner, city councilor and DA Board Member Lindsey Graskey has been involved in numerous community groups and conversations during that time period.
“The Blatnik Bridge closure is going to be the longest and largest transportation disruption in the State of Wisconsin’s history. I’ve been impressed with how the DA team has worked over the last four years to understand how this challenge may impact our region and what we can do, together, to meet this moment,” she said.
Two years ago, that work evolved into an Economic Impact Study and creation of the Bridge to Progress program, an initiative focused on preparing businesses and our community for the disruption ahead while also creating opportunities for long-term economic resilience.
Jenice Meyer, Assistant Executive Director of the Development Association, is proud of the intentional, business-informed listening and advocacy work she has been positioned to lead for the DA. Meyer noted, “We have learned a great deal over the last two years. Our Bridge to Progress program prioritizes what business owners and operators have told us they want and need.”
The Bridge to Progress focuses on four pillars:
PRESERVE — Financial stability for businesses
PROMOTE — Citizen and tourist spending in the Northwest region
PREPARE — Small-business owners with training, advising and technical assistance
POSITION — Access, ease and visibility for local commerce
Together, these pillars provide a framework for helping the broader community and businesses not simply react to the bridge closure, but make informed decisions, strengthen their operations and position themselves for what comes next.
Targeted funding for each of these pillars is underway.
WHY IT MATTERS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
Small businesses have been telling us they are concerned.
As part of the Development Association’s work on an economic impact study, 126 small businesses and owner-operators throughout the region completed their business survey. The data provides a clearer picture of what businesses are experiencing, what they need and where additional support can make a difference.
Thirty businesses that completed the survey indicated that, if no additional support were available, they are not confident their small business will be able to withstand the five-year closure.
That finding matters.
One of the needs that also emerged from the survey was the prioritized need for the preparation pillar of the Bridge to Progress program, technical assistance and training for small businesses. Small-business owners indicated they are looking for practical tools, information, guidance and support that can help them make decisions and adapt as conditions change.
It tells us that preparation cannot wait until construction is underway or customer patterns have already changed. Small businesses need access to information, resources, training, advising and technical assistance now – while there is still time to plan, adapt and build resilience.
A grant, submitted by the DA, was supported with $50,000 in funding by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation early this year. It allowed the DA team to sit down with small business owners and create a free training program that is responsive to their current needs.
“Thanks to the generous support of WEDC, small businesses don’t have to navigate this period of change alone. Our small business training program will help business owners access the tools and support they need to make informed decisions and move forward with confidence,” noted Meyer.
The bridge closure will create challenges, but preparation can help small businesses identify opportunities within that change. Graskey noted, “This free training series delivers one component of what small businesses have told us they need to navigate this unprecedented time. It will provide the connections owners and operators want so they are better prepared and don’t feel as alone during this time of change.”
PREPARATION CREATES OPPORTUNITY
For some small businesses, preparing may mean identifying ways to maintain cash flow, reach customers differently or manage changes in staffing and operations. For others, it may mean taking a closer look at marketing, technology, financial planning, customer retention or new revenue opportunities. That is the opportunity at the heart of the small business training series that kicks off this October.
The small business training program recognizes that every small business is different. A restaurant may need to think about customer access and changing traffic patterns. A service provider may need to rethink how customers find and reach them. A retailer may need to strengthen its online presence or create new ways to bring customers through the door.
There is no one-size-fits-all solution. What small businesses do have in common is the need for timely information, practical support and connections to resources that can help them take their next step.
Once enrolled in the training program, business owners can pick and choose what training they need most and leave the rest. Built within each training, regardless of the topic, will be opportunities to learn and connect with other small business owners.
Northwood Technical College and First American Capital Corporation have been committed partners with the DA team in developing the training series. Their expertise in designing strong educational programs and connections with instructors on the topics was key in designing a strong program. Graskey noted, “The instructors for this program are top-notch. I know a lot of intentionality went into creating each of the classes and the overall program. This free opportunity is a real value for our small business owners to be prepared for what’s next.”
By investing in small-business owners before challenges become crises, our region can help create stronger, more adaptable small businesses and a more resilient local economy.
MEETING THE MOMENT
The Blatnik Bridge groundbreaking represents an investment in our region’s future. The broader Bridge to Progress Program and current small-business training programs represent an investment in the small businesses that will help carry that future forward.
The work begins now.
Small businesses can prepare. They can strengthen their financial position, improve their operations, seek out training and technical assistance, and build relationships that will help them navigate what is ahead.
And they don’t have to do it alone. Registration is now open for the Bridge training series.
True to their mission, the Development Association will continue working alongside business owners and community partners to provide resources, identify needs and create opportunities that help the Northwest region move forward – together.
Elizabeth Amys serves as development specialist with The Development Association.
