By Brad Arends, Greater Jobs Inc.

Greater Jobs Incorporated appreciates the comments and questions asked at Thursday evening’s educational forum, designed to provide information to the community about the proposed restructuring plan for economic development in Albert Lea. On behalf of Greater Jobs Inc., thank you for taking time to come out to listen and ask questions.

We felt it was important to communicate the plan in an informal setting, so individuals could become more informed about the new proposed system change. Developing and implementing change in any organizational structure can be cause for concern and create misconceptions on its intent. However, we hope for those individuals who attended the forum, there’s a better understanding of what benefits this new restructuring would provide for economic development here.

First of all we believe it would streamline the ability of the various local economic development entities to function in a more seamless manner and provide a mechanism where the county, city and private sector can work together. We also believe this system would provide enhanced assistance to companies and ventures that have a commitment to the Albert Lea area through local ownership and management commitments.

In the end though, Greater Jobs Inc. learned something as well last evening. We need to continue to tell our story or &uot;toot our own horn&uot; more so citizens can understand and be reminded of our development on an ongoing basis. We understand the community forums held in the last 12-18 months have been helpful and appreciated by the citizens as well.

Finally, although Greater Jobs Inc. is a private organization, memberships or investments to Greater Jobs Inc. is open to the public. We have investment options for individuals and organizations. As an investor you have the opportunity to be a voting member at our annual meeting, held in May every year.

Greater Jobs Incorporated looks forward to an exciting future for Albert Lea/Freeborn County. And we believe this is an opportunity for a new beginning.

(Brad Arends is the president of the Greater Jobs Inc. Board of Directors.)