Businesses in Northern MN Already Seeing Benefits from Line 3 Construction as More People Continue to Need Economic Help

CONSTRUCTION WORK CONTINUES AS AVERAGE % OF PEOPLE IN 14 “LINE 3 COUNTIES” WHO HAVE FILED UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CLAIMS GOES UP AGAIN

(BEMIDJI, MINN) After watching the Line 3 Replacement Project take years to complete the complex permitting process, businesses in Northern Minnesota are now seeing an immediate positive economic impact from construction crews. Construction work officially started December 1^st in multiple locations on the Minnesota section of the pipeline. Hotels, restaurants, and other businesses across the region are seeing new customers from the different work crews. At the same time, the latest information from Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) shows the average percentage of workers in the 14 “Line 3 Counties” who have filed unemployment insurance applications has increased again to 32.6%.

“After a year where too many businesses across Northern Minnesota have struggled to survive, what we have seen in the past week is an amazing economic ray of hope,” said Bill Batchelder, President of the Bemidji Woolen Mills. “When the process to review Line 3 started, we supported the project because it makes sense to replace something old with something that is newer and better. Line 3 now also represents a real chance for many businesses to survive this horrific year and shows that this project is delivering on the promise of its positive economic impact.”

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency approved the final permit for the project at the end of November. On December 1^st, the first crews started work. There are now more than a thousand people involved in the initial phase of construction that includes preparing sites for more intensive work. When fully operational, more than 4,000 union members will be working to replace the 340-mile Minnesota section. Enbridge is investing approximately $2.6 billion to fund work across 14 counties. The company has already spent more than $100 million with tribal communities to help engage their members to connect them with construction jobs.

According to a study by the Bureau of Business and Economic Research (BBER) at the University of Minnesota Duluth’s Labovitz School of Business and Economics, the Line 3 Replacement Project will directly and indirectly support 8,600 jobs. In addition to the 4,200 construction jobs, it is estimated that Line 3 will support 2,800 retail/hospitality sector jobs and 1,600 local supplier/manufacturer jobs. The study also shows indirect positive economic impacts will include more than $160 million in non-local worker spending on meals, lodging, and incidentals while working in the study area.

Batchelder said he is thankful for the construction workers coming to Bemijdi, who are engaging in strict COVID safety protocols. “We are now seeing restaurants providing needed take-away meals for workers, hotels seeing rooms rented at the end of what has been a hard year, and other stores with customers buying everything from warm clothes, work boots and other things,” Batchelder said. “This will not completely fill the economic hole created by COVID but for many businesses it will help them stay afloat, keep more people working, and energize our communities. Being able to create the thousands of construction jobs now is life changing for not only the workers, but for people and communities across Northern Minnesota who now have new customers and hope.”

The Line 3 project was reviewed by state and federal agencies and regulators for almost six years. The process started in 2014 during the Obama-Biden Administration. Enbridge submitted their application for the replacement of Line 3 to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) in 2015 as part of the company’s integrity and maintenance driven program.

Latest average unemployment insurance information for Line 3 Counties as of December 6^th

County		Percentage
Kittson		14.4%
Beltrami		30.8%
Marshall		23.1%
Pennington		31.1%
Polk		27%
Red Lake		28.2%
Clearwater		38.3%
Hubbard		34.6%
Cass		43.2%
Crow Wing		38.1%
Aitkin		38.4%
Carlton		36.8%
St. Louis		37.7%
Wadena		34.1%

AVERAGE		32.6%

Percentage and number of people filing for unemployment insurance as a share of the 2019 available labor force

Data provided by Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
https://mn.gov/deed/data/data-tools/unemployment-insurance-statistics/

Contact: Susan Goudge
Susan@Minnesotansforline3.com | 218-556-3617

We can’t afford to wait any longer for Line 3

“It’s long overdue for those making decisions in this state to pause and look at the facts. We cannot afford another appeal. Too much time and taxpayer dollars have been used to repeatedly determine that Line 3 is necessary.

If we do not approve Line 3 and get started soon, the people of Minnesota will deserve an explanation about why the most studied pipeline project in our state’s history – that literally checks every box – was stalled at a time when our economy needs it so much.”

Rich Siegert, Rochester Post Bulletin

Minnesota needs Line 3 project

“Let’s get one thing clear: Minnesota needs Line 3.

Replacing Line 3 will bring thousands of jobs to our state at a time when we desperately need it. While our legislature stalls on a bonding bill and other forms of relief, how about Governor Walz and his administration making an easy decision to stop delaying a project that will bring thousands of jobs to northern Minnesota?”

Craig Gaasvig, Grand Forks Herald

Nearly six years to replace Line 3 is too long

“My family has farmed in Clearwater County for 85 years. As farmers, we take pride in our land and work hard to take care of the soil and water around us. We also take very seriously planning our farming operations, including rotating our crops and maintaining our equipment.

For 48 years, we’ve hosted six pipelines on our property and have always had a good relationship with the company. In 2014, we received a letter from Enbridge about the company’s intention to replace its Line 3 pipeline. Since that initial letter, we’ve worked with Enbridge on the easement for the replacement pipe and have considered our farming plans to accommodate construction.”

Brian Emmel, Bemidji Pioneer

Support Minnesotans by supporting Line 3

“In trying times like these, you would think local governments would try to work together to get things done. The fact of the matter is, they can’t — or they won’t. The gridlock in our state house is at an all-time high, and neither side seems willing to concede anything to the other. You would think they would care more about the people than these political chess matches; but for the most part, that’s not the case. Minnesota needs jobs more than ever — as well as the hope that things can get better. As we struggle with COVID19, the changes it has forced upon us have left too many of our businesses to drop like flies, with more people applying for unemployment every day.”

Dave Langfeld, Duluth News Tribune

Letters to the Editor Supporting Line 3:

We can’t afford to wait any longer for Line 3

Minnesota needs Line 3 project

Nearly six years to replace Line 3 is too long

Support Minnesotans by supporting Line 3

Stay Informed:
Be the first to know about Line 3 news as it happens by joining the Minnesotans for Line 3 email list.

Share This Story, Choose Your Platform!