Main Street Businesses in Northern MN Coming Back to Life from Line 3 Customers as More People Continue to Need Economic Help

AVERAGE % OF PEOPLE IN 14 “LINE 3 COUNTIES” WHO HAVE FILED UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CLAIMS IS NOW ABOVE 30% AS CONSTRUCTION WORK CONTINUES

(CLEARBROOK, MINN) As Line 3 construction work enters its third week, the impact of thousands of construction workers spending money is being immediately felt at cash registers across Northern Minnesota. Places like the K & K Café in Clearbrook are providing take away meals for construction workers that has helped the business make much needed money to help it survive a tough year. The new retail activity is happening as 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 is now over 33 percent.

“The last two weeks have been an amazing lifeline for us, and I know other businesses are seeing the same thing happen,” said Sara Bjerke, the owner of the K & K Café in Clearbrook. “It would be even better if we could have people in our dining room, but the take-out meals are incredibly important to our bottom line. There is clearly new energy here in Clearbrook and in other communities from Line 3 workers that is making a real difference. After spending so much of this year finding ways to survive, seeing Line 3 happen and the workers show up means so much for my employees, our café, and our local businesses.”

There are now more than two thousand people working on the project across the route in what is the initial phase of construction. This includes preparing different sites for more intensive work, moving construction matts, and other logistical work. When Line 3 construction is 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.

While Line 3 will directly support the construction jobs, the additional spending and financial impacts are already helping a variety of local businesses. Area hotels and resorts are renting rooms to construction workers and their families. Beyond the K & K Café, other restaurants are also seeing strong demand for take-away meals for workers and other retail stores are also seeing new customers.

The Bureau of Business and Economic Research (BBER) at the University of Minnesota Duluth’s Labovitz School of Business and Economics study estimated that 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.

Bjerke said seeing what the study had predicted actually happen is incredibly important. “Promises of positive economic impacts often get made to help build support for big projects but then sometimes don’t live up to expectations,” Bjerke said. “What is different about Line 3 is that everything Enbridge and others have promised is happening at such an important time. We know more people now are getting construction paychecks and my employees know they can depend on their job to support their families because we have so many new customers. We have always known this project was good for Minnesota and now we are seeing this first-hand.”

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 13^th

County		Percentage
Kittson		14.7%
Beltrami		31.3%
Marshall		23.5%
Pennington		31.9%
Polk		27.5%
Red Lake		28.6%
Clearwater		39.3%
Hubbard		35.2%
Cass		43.9%
Crow Wing		38.8%
Aitkin		39.1%
Carlton		37.4%
St. Louis		38.3%
Wadena		35.1%

AVERAGE		33.2%

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

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