Business View Magazine | Volume 8, Issue 8

172 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 8, ISSUE 8 the pandemic, as it seems more and more people are choosing to move away from the urban centers. He acknowledges, “It also means more business, and this is why we are being so forward- thinking. We are trying to reach out and attract those businesses owners. We are poised and ready for growth. Our regional airport has to start providing the same services that they are used to. So perhaps we can offer more flights to Minneapolis, or perhaps we can even add another hub. I have my eyes set on Denver. Then there is the demand for hangars that we have to address and continuing to develop that 25 acres I talked about.” Looking to the future, he emphasizes, “We also have to talk about sustainability. We just cleared a plan in partnership with our Brainerd Public Utilities to use a portion of the airport property to build a solar field. This arrangement will not only offset the power consumption of the airport but we hope to also be able to contribute power to the grid to achieve the sustainability requirements of our community. It’s a very unique project to work on, as well as being kind of fun!” PREFERRED VENDORS/PARTNERS n Visit Brainerd www.visitbrainerd.com Located in central Minnesota, along the Mississippi River, is the community of Brainerd/Baxter. Known as the economic center of the Brainerd Lakes Area, it has something for everyone—shopping, dining, entertainment, hotels, public parks, and beaches. From here, you can explore all this lake and outdoor recreation area offers. n Brainerd Helicopter Services Inc. www.brainerdhelicopters.com