William Pollard, physicist and Episcopal priest, once said, “Without change there is no innovation, creativity, or incentive for improvement. Those who initiate change will have a better opportunity to manage the change that is inevitable.” The Iron Range has been a prosperous industry for decades, until recently, when there was a large downturn in the mining industry resulting from various factors. The only way to get the Iron Range economy back up to par is through great change in the area, which goes together with creativity and innovation. The Iron Range refers to the iron deposits in northeastern Minnesota. For decades, the industry was boom-and-bust. Mining accounted for a large part of the economy in northeastern Minnesota along the
…show more content…
So why did it not take off? The IRRRB was funding projects, which were essentially in the creative economy. These projects dealt with recreation and tourism. For example, the Giants Ridge skiing area and Ironworld USA were parts of this effort to promote diversification and attract people to the area. In addition, the timber industry grew in the Iron Range (Clark 189). Even though these new jobs were being added to try to grow the economy in the Iron Range, there was a recession in the early 80s, which caused many people to lose their jobs in the area because of the decline in demand for steel products. In a 1984 University of Minnesota report, at least 10,000 people lost their jobs in the 80s after the recession (Clark …show more content…
Clark, Jr. writes, “The determination, tenacity, and even stubbornness of Minnesota’s ‘Rangers’ have given the northeastern area of the state its unique stamp of identity,” (Clark 189). It is important to bring the community together and motivate everyone to get involved in bringing back the Ranger pride. Schools, the city, the entrepreneurs, the citizens, the workers must all get involved in projects to revive the Iron Range. The four forms of capital are vital in revival of the Iron Range economy. Human capital must be used; education and knowledge is important in innovation and creating new businesses. Social capital is important in terms of knowledge in networks. Everyone needs to work together. Structural and institutional capital is important; it involves where these people live and work. Finally, cultural capital is important; preserving the cultural aspects of the Iron Range is necessary in order to engage people of the
So why did it not take off? The IRRRB was funding projects, which were essentially in the creative economy. These projects dealt with recreation and tourism. For example, the Giants Ridge skiing area and Ironworld USA were parts of this effort to promote diversification and attract people to the area. In addition, the timber industry grew in the Iron Range (Clark 189). Even though these new jobs were being added to try to grow the economy in the Iron Range, there was a recession in the early 80s, which caused many people to lose their jobs in the area because of the decline in demand for steel products. In a 1984 University of Minnesota report, at least 10,000 people lost their jobs in the 80s after the recession (Clark …show more content…
Clark, Jr. writes, “The determination, tenacity, and even stubbornness of Minnesota’s ‘Rangers’ have given the northeastern area of the state its unique stamp of identity,” (Clark 189). It is important to bring the community together and motivate everyone to get involved in bringing back the Ranger pride. Schools, the city, the entrepreneurs, the citizens, the workers must all get involved in projects to revive the Iron Range. The four forms of capital are vital in revival of the Iron Range economy. Human capital must be used; education and knowledge is important in innovation and creating new businesses. Social capital is important in terms of knowledge in networks. Everyone needs to work together. Structural and institutional capital is important; it involves where these people live and work. Finally, cultural capital is important; preserving the cultural aspects of the Iron Range is necessary in order to engage people of the