Minot

FEMA has been preparing a Long Term Recovery Plan for the Upper Souris Basin in North Dakota, following floods in the summer of 2011. Flooding caused extensive damage in Ward County and the Cities of Minot and Burlington. Michael Stumpf has been a part of the team preparing the plan.

Through a number of community meetings, residents have identified and prioritized a lengthy list of projects they feel are important in both a short-term and long-term horizon. Some are directly related to issues caused by flooding, while others were concerns even before the river rose. The issues include creating a greenway through the river corridor, addressing housing shortages and affordability, expanding the retail base, business development, transportation, revitalizing the downtown and the Burdick Expressway Corridor, and others.

Michael's role is specifically oriented to economic development topics. Business development will address initiatives in oil-related development opportunities, entrepreneurship and small business growth, economic gardening, and workforce shortages and training.

Within the Burdick Expressway Corridor, key actions will include analysis of traffic patterns, developing a hospital/medical district, land use changes, and linking key community attractions including the Roosevelt Park Zoo, Corbett Field, and State Fairgrounds.

Retail development is focused on market analysis and an attraction strategy, as well as identifying sites for immediate development of large scale retail uses.

Actions for the downtown include establishing an organization modeled on Main Street, targeting areas for mixed-use and residential redevelopment, and creating gathering places and ties to the proposed greenway.

History is another topic addressed through recovery planning for the flood-damaged historical museum, creating a railroad heritage corridor, and improving online access to archives and collections.