With Work Nearing Two Thirds Complete, Business Owner Says Area Hospitality Businesses Are Almost Back to Normal Because of Line 3 Construction

HOTELS, CAMPGROUNDS, AND OTHER PLACES ARE SEEING STRONG CUSTOMER DEMAND AND LOCAL WORKERS ARE FULLY BACK TO WORK AS WORK CONTINUES

(BEMIDJI, MINN) Last year hospitality businesses in many Northern Minnesota communities struggled to stay open and workers had to look hard to find a job. It’s amazing how much things can change in a year. A local business owner says the hospitality economy has recovered close to what was normal and there is now a need for more workers as a direct result of Line 3 construction work. The Line 3 Replacement Project is now close to two-thirds complete as thousands of workers continue to spend time and money in communities across the 14 route counties.

“It’s a major impact in the area,” said Rich Siegert, Owner & President of the Edgewater group. “You can’t believe what it does for a hotel business and for restaurants, grocery stores. They all feel the impact of what’s going on in the area. The Visitors and Convention Bureau in Bemidji keeps track of numbers of occupancies and sales in the region. We’re almost back to normal, to where we should be. In our region here (Line 3), has helped a tremendous amount as far as sales.”

The first phase of construction work started last December and the second phase began in June and is now employing more than 4,000 workers. Enbridge is investing more than $2 billion of private-sector dollars to replace the 337 mile section of the pipeline. The process started in 2014 during the Obama-Biden Administration and the Line 3 project is now the most reviewed pipeline project in Minnesota history.

Siegert said the project’s impact on the area’s workforce has also been significant. 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 and create more than $160 million in non-local worker spending on meals, lodging, and incidentals while working in the study area.

Siegert said many workers in businesses across the area are seeing more customers, more hours, and more wages after what had been a challenging previous year. Businesses now are facing a new challenge – finding more workers to fill more spots, as places continue to see strong activity.

“Our employees like being busy and they like doing stuff,” Siegert said. “We’re working on a new problem right now; we want more employees! Some of our team is actually getting a bit burned out because of too many hours. It’s the way it is and we just have to deal with it. We’re struggling with that throughout the area to find more employees. If you have any employees out there, let us know, we’d be glad to hire them!”

Beyond the immediate impact on hospitality businesses, Line 3 work is also generating a long-term positive, fiscal impact for the broader region. In addition to creating additional tax revenue from the updated pipeline, companies and workers are creating important additional sales tax revenues.

“I look at the property taxes and the sales taxes this has collected at both the local and state level,” Siegert added. “People really underestimate how big of an impact this is in our region, and the property tax impact. Our town in Beltrami County is going to feel it even though the pipeline is leaving Beltrami, going through Hubbard County. You’re talking millions of dollars from this thing every year.”

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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