'Citizen engagement sessions' planned for Cuyuna Range to help shape tourism plan

The Communities of the Cuyuna Range area are inviting residents of the range, all people interested in developing a tourism-based sector of the area economy, all user groups of trails, waterways, and open space of the Cuyuna Range and Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area to "citizen engagement sessions."

There are four scheduled sessions to help shape a strategic plan that will guide the development of tourism and a tourism-based economy on the Cuyuna Range. The goal is to develop a new sector of the area economy that will increase market diversity, broaden tax base, while maintaining the quality of life now enjoyed on the Cuyuna Range.

Sessions will be from 6-8:30 p.m. Monday, 1-3:30 p.m. or 6-8:30 p.m. Jan. 27 or 9:30 a.m. to noon Jan. 30 at Heartwood Senior Living Campus, 500 Heartwood Drive, Crosby.

A plan cannot be properly developed without engaging the people who live here and play here, and people who are interested in ensuring its success by guiding how tourism takes shape on the Cuyuna Range, organizers reported. By developing a new sector of the economy, the hope is to broaden the tax base, reduce the overall tax-rate, and increase business opportunity by capitalizing on the assets already in place on the Cuyuna Range.

The guiding principles will be that however tourism is developed, it must be healthy for the communities, it must not detract from the natural beauty of the area, it must be sustainable, and it must provide for the very best experience for the greatest number of tourism groups.

Representatives from the University of Minnesota Tourism Center will be conducting the sessions to gather information needed to develop a strategic plan, which will establish priorities and identify realistic projects that the communities of the Cuyuna Range can perform in steps to develop a tourism-based sector of the range economy.

There will be a structure to these citizen engagement sessions as many interests will be represented. A moderator will conduct the process. RSVP is requested by Friday as space is limited and preparations are made for refreshments.

For more information, call toll-free (888) 241-0720 or 828-2273 to indicate which session will be attended.