A Diversified Economy
Continued growth in the Brainerd Lakes area has attracted a variety of firms to the region. While tourism remains a key industry, other companies have a strong hold in the area as well including manufacturing; forest and wood products producers; health care; builders and architects; business, financial, legal and computer service providers; high-tech firms; publishing, design, and advertising; and a host of specialty firms.
Learn more about the following industries in the Brainerd Lakes Area:
Manufacturing
Since 1975, the number of manufacturing firms operating in the Brainerd Lakes area has more than doubled. There are currently 121 companies employing more than 2,600 people in a variety of manufacturing, from plastics to precision machining and metal fabrication.
Construction
The construction industry is one of the largest industries in the region. There are currently close to 300 area construction firms employing nearly 2,000 people.
Financial Services
The financial services industry is well represented in the region. There are currently over 100 firms, providing more than 1,000 jobs. Workers in this industry are highly skilled and have substantial experience in back office services and the management of pension funds. One of the areas largest financial services employers is Bisys, which employs more than 400 people in its Brainerd and Baxter offices.
Forest/Wood Products
Twenty firms, employing more than 600 people in the primary and secondary forest and wood processing segments are represented in the Brainerd Lakes area. Trus Joist McMillan and Lexington Manufacturing are the region’s primary processors followed by numerous small and medium sized businesses.
Health Care
Health care in the lakes region is advanced and abundant, employing more than 3,000 area residents. St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Brainerd and Cuyuna Range Medical Center in Crosby provide both primary and secondary care services. Both hospitals employ board-certified specialists in most major fields. Long-term and specialized care is also available and professionally staffed.
Printing, Publishing & Mailing
Both established firms and spin-offs in the printing, publishing, and mailing industry have grown to become a significant part of the Brainerd Lakes economy. This sector benefits from the strong local demand for tourism marketing materials and from the graphic design/photography program at Central Lakes College in Staples.
Specialty Firms
The Brainerd Lakes area is also home to several specialized companies serving niche market needs, like Hunt Technologies, provider of information and control systems to utilities; US Link, a telecommunications firm; Riverwood International, a packaging systems provider; Nature Vision, creators of the Aqua-Vu underwater camera; and In Fisherman, providing programming and publications for the recreational fishing market.
Tourism
Tourism is a vital part of the Brainerd Lakes Area economy. In Crow Wing County alone, the lodging, amusement and recreational industries brought in more than $87 million in gross sales in 2000, resulting in a total tax of more than $5 million according to the Minnesota Department of Revenue. Several area organizations, led by the Brainerd Lakes Area Chambers of Commerce, drive tourism marketing efforts for the region.
For more information on industries in Crow Wing County, visit:
