Today is a great day to do business in Moorhead

‘One fight, one community’ was the strong message at the Chamber’s Business Leaders for Permanent Flood Protection Taskforce: F-M Diversion Minnesota Impact meeting, which was held recently at the Hjemkomst Center. Moorhead has a lot at stake and is actively involved with the process for the good of its citizens.

It is estimated that upon completion of its flood work in 2015, Moorhead will have approximately only 30 homes and no commercial properties in the flood zone. Additional good news is that the Minnesota side of the river is several feet higher in elevation than the North Dakota side; therefore, the City is in a good flood position because of geography and the foresight and pro-activeness of its leaders.

However, the main purpose of the meeting was to explain the importance of flood protection to the local Moorhead business community and the regional implications. Even though Moorhead is much better protected today on residential properties than in the past, the focus of the discussion was on the negative economic impacts of major flooding for Moorhead and its residents.

The message that we all have a financial stake in flood protection regardless of which side of the river we may be viewing from was reinforced by a number of prominent Moorhead business leaders. Executives from Eventide, D & S Beverage, Sanford, and others explained that a major flood event would have a serious financial impact not only on the businesses, but also on many of the city’s workforce. Approximately 60 percent of Moorhead’s working population travels daily to their jobs across the river. Therefore, any interruptions of the normal workweek could have devastating income issues for those many Moorhead families.

The flood protection process has had its difficulties and Minnesota has several important concerns that must be taken into account. The Moorhead Business Association understands the dynamics and trusts that the interested parties can work out the details so all residents can continue their daily activities protected from major flood damage of their homes and businesses. .