Lendley C. Black Chancellor University of Duluth Visits Thunder Bay
by Scott A. Sumner
The local CEDC has brought in some excellent speakers to Thunder Bay to provide their perspective on how we compare to their home communities. This summer Lendley C Black, the new Chancellor of the University of Minnesota at Duluth gave a talk to a small group in the
CEDC offices overlooking the Lake Superior we share.
Duluth has a population of 85,000 people in their metro area with some 200,000 in the area. “ I want to emphasis UMD to promote economic development in the area. We are also a major cultural centre. Duluth is a beautiful city and Lake Superior is quite a draw. UMD is a premier
regional employer,” said Lendley Black. “ We work with business to solve problem and are more economical than other sources of advice for them in the private sector. Our role is becoming larger in economic development. There is also more of a trend for alliances with business and universities. We look for collaboration and mutually beneficial partnerships.”
Dr Black talked about the new Amsoil Arena, home of the UMD Bulldog hockey teams. “ It is a a great example of partnerships where the city, university and private sector brought money to the table. This was a piecing together of different resources and entities to say this is important for Duluth and UMD. It provides great opportunities for tourism.” said Dr Black.
UMD has a staff of 1700 and 11,700 students. “ Our economic output spending is $374 million. Our campus construction is an additional $153 million impact. Currently we have a new $14 million 280 residence nearing completion. We are second in terms of employees in Duluth to the health care industry with two major hospitals in town,” said Dr Black. “ My first impression of Thunder Bay is great. I’ll will come back. There are a lot of interesting similarities between the communities as well as UMD and Lakehead University. We have similar strategic priorities.”
