ECONOMY & Education

Bemidji’s economy is thriving. Greater Bemidji (the region’s economic development provider), the Bemidji Area Chamber of Commerce, the City of Bemidji, Beltrami County, Bemidji State University, and other key companies and organizations are all focused on making Bemidji the best place for new and expanding businesses. As a region, we are strategically aligned to ensure the best environment for business success. We have a skilled labor force, unmatched quality of life, high-end fiber optic telecommunications infrastructure, and a wide array of incentives and support for entrepreneurs and companies.

WHAT DOES BEMIDJI HAVE TO OFFER?

The region’s talented workforce includes thousands of new graduates with diverse backgrounds and skills. Graduates of Bemidji State University, Northwest Technical College, area tribal colleges, Oak Hills Christian College, and the region’s high schools are prepared to help any company succeed. Land and buildings ready for businesses include: the Bemidji Industrial Park, the Technology Park, Airport Development Zone, and the city-owned (Village at South Shore). Bemidji is committed to helping you access the resources you need: training grants, business development and expansion funding, and access to state and federal assistance and funding. We will bring the resources to you and connect you directly with the organizations and leaders who will help your company thrive. Greaterbemidji.com

Bemidji Regional Airport

The Bemidji Regional Airport provides services for all sizes, from private aircraft to 150-seat passenger airliners. With two daily departures and two arrivals to/from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, Delta Air Lines can take you to 300 destinations in over 50 different countries.

The Sanford Center

The Sanford Center is the hub of social, cultural, and recreational events in north-central Minnesota. It serves the broader regional community with a massive impact on the economy. This 185,000-square-foot facility on the south shore of Lake Bemidji is a 4,700-seat arena featuring 25 suites. It is home to the Bemidji State University men’s and women’s ice hockey programs, as well as a diverse schedule of family entertainment, concerts, consumer shows, convocations, and more. The George W. Neilson Convention Center at The Sanford Center features a 10,000-square-foot ballroom and multiple meeting rooms and is connected to a new hotel to accommodate events of all sizes.

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Sanford Health Of Northern Minnesota

Sanford Health of Northern Minnesota is the largest healthcare provider in the region and is committed to providing everyone with access to the highest quality care close to home. With locations in Bagley, Baudette, Bemidji, Blackduck, Cass Lake, Clearbrook, International Falls, Kelliher, Park Rapids and Walker. Sanford Health of Northern Minnesota employs more than 2,000 people and has a team of 130 physicians/advanced practice providers, making it the area’s largest employer. As a regional hub, the emergency department, a level III trauma center, treats more than 27,000 patients a year. Sanford Bemidji offers expanded services for cancer, cardiology, kidney dialysis, orthopedics, and women’s health. Its WoodsEdge Senior Living Campus offers a variety of services to grow with each resident. Sanfordhealth.org

Launchpad

The LaunchPad in the Mayflower Building is a co-working space and hub for entrepreneurial support for the Bemidji region. The LaunchPad provides entrepreneurs, freelancers, start-ups, and professionals an opportunity to co-work, collaborate, network, and learn in an innovative, yet fun, environment. This one-stopshop provides resources and support to move your business to the next level, with access to advisors, business consultants, financing resources, peer networking groups, and tailored training opportunities. Memberships are available. Launchpadbemidji.com

World Class Telecommunications

Paul Bunyan Communications is nationally recognized for having one of the best telecommunications and broadband infrastructures in the country. The communications cooperative has constructed one of the largest all-fiber optic rural Gigabit networks in the United States, the GigaZone, which is capable of download and upload speeds of up to 1000 Mbps. With a fiber optic-rich network in place for virtually every residential and commercial establishment and a focus on redundancy and reliability, local telecommunications professionals are ready to provide top-tier technical support at a moment’s notice. Paul Bunyan Communications services and repairs both Mac and PC computers along being an Apple Authorized Service Provider. Paulbunyan.net

EDUCATION: PUBLIC, PRIVATE & CHARTER

The Bemidji Lakes Area offers educational opportunities for everyone. Bemidji boasts a variety of charter, private, language, and public schools, all with outstanding reputations. Postsecondary opportunities include a four-year state university, technical college, tribal colleges and a Christian college.

The Bemidji School District serves approximately 4,500 students in grades pre-K–12 on nine campuses. Located on the scenic Mississippi River, Bemidji High School offers an impressive array of opportunities and more than 250 courses across 14 departments. The high school also offers Pre-Advanced and Advanced Placement courses as well as Post Secondary Enrollment options. Bemidji.k12.mn.us

St. Philip’s School is a Catholic school serving students from pre-K through eighth grade. Their mission is to provide a quality Christian and academic education to the students entrusted in their care, preparing them to succeed in the diverse and changing world. Total enrollment averages 275 students. Stphilipsbemidji.org/school

St. Mark’s Lutheran School, founded in 1984, is a private school where students grades in kindergarten through eighth grade are taught a Christian-based curriculum.

Smlcbemidji.org/st-marks-lutheran-grade-school Heartland Christian Academy is a non-denominational Christian school in Bemidji, for pre-K through high school. Class sizes are small with no more than 15 students per class. Heartlandbemidji.org

Voyageurs Expeditionary School is a public charter school that gives students in grades 6–12 the tools to lead productive lives through hands-on learning, service to others, and environmental stewardship. Voyageurs students volunteer at community agencies and learn from professional musicians, artists, and business owners. Voyageursschool.org

TrekNorth is a public charter school serving a maximum of 160 students in grades 6–12. It prides itself on small class sizes and a tight-knit community of students, families, and teachers.

TrekNorth utilizes both Pre-Advanced Placement and Advanced Placement Programming for curriculum development, and 100 percent of TrekNorth students are enrolled in classes based on Advanced Placement Programming. Treknorth.org

Schoolcraft Learning Community provides children in grades K–8 with an experiential-based education in natural sciences, language, culture, values, and arts. Schoolcraft Learning Community is just north of Bemidji and enrolls 178 students. Schoolcraft.org

Bemidji State University

Bemidji State University (BSU) has prepared students from across Minnesota and around the globe to achieve, to lead, and to serve. BSU offers professional degrees including business, education, nursing, and criminal justice, as well as hard-to-find majors such as aquatic biology, geographic information systems, and wilderness management. Many courses are available both on campus or online. BSU’s online program is unsurpassed in greater Minnesota. Bemidjistate.edu

Northwest Technical College

Students at Northwest Technical College (NTC) prepare for successful careers through advanced technical education that meets the varying needs and schedules of individual students. NTC graduates apply their knowledge and skills on the job in high-demand fields that encompass business, automotive service and performance, dental assisting, manufacturing technology, healthcare, building systems, and childcare. About 1,000 students attend on campus or online. Ntcmn.edu

Concordia Language Villages

Concordia Language Villages offers language and cultural immersion programs for young people, families, adults, and school groups. Participants can learn and practice speaking Arabic, Chinese, Danish, English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, or Swedish. Concordialanguagevillages.org

Oak Hills Christian College

Oak Hills Christian College is an interdenominational Christian college accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Learning and recently ranked as having one of the top 25 bachelor’s counseling programs in the nation. Students at Oak Hills experience a close-knit community where faculty and staff become mentors and friendships last a lifetime. Academic programs include 12 bachelor degrees, five associate degrees, and a one-year certificate. Oakhills.edu