Lake property owners OK funds for LADA

By Tom Hintgen (Contact) | The Daily Journal

Published Tuesday, July 29, 2008

In an effort to assist the Lakes Area Development Association (LADA), formed in Battle Lake in March, the Otter Tail Lakes Property Owners Association approved $1,000 as a founding member of LADA.

The lake association board, which met Thursday evening at the community center in Ottertail, represents property owners at Otter Tail, Walker, Blanche, Long, Round and Deere lakes as well as Otter Tail River North.

Lake association board member Marlyn Kruschke also is a LADA board member. LADA was formed this year to address primary factors affecting the Battle Lake area.

“Benefits of LADA,” said Kruschke, “will be felt in many areas of central Otter Tail County.”

On June 28, during the annual meeting of the Otter Tail Lakes’ Property Owners Association, LADA founder Dan Malmstrom addressed members of the lakes association and asked for their support. The membership authorized the association board to make a financial donation to LADA.

Malmstrom spoke about diversifying the economic climate beyond tourism in the lakes region, while at the same time preserving and enhancing the infrastructure around area lakes.

“It’s one thing for a community to say it has a committee working on economic development. More impressive,” said Malmstrom, “is when a community of people rolls up its sleeves and comes up with a tactical plan for economic development.”

The tactical plan is designed to guide people and economic development activities for the next several years in Battle Lake and the surrounding area.

For the past several months Malmstrom, Kruschke and about 50 other people have framed up what they refer to as “a compelling vision” for economic expansion in the lakes area. Malmstrom, a Battle Lake native and his wife, Lisa, operate North Point Professionals, a strategic and business services firm that’s leading the planning effort.

The goal of Malmstrom, Kruschke and others is to diversify the lakes area economy with businesses that are capable of exporting goods and services. The idea behind this effort is to augment what Malmstrom refers to as “tourism economics.”

Another goal is to capitalize on the quality of life that attracts many people to the lakes area in all four seasons of the year.

“Through LADA we’ve unveiled marketing and community infrastructure plans to fuel this trend — with fervor,” Malmstrom said. “Community, city, township and business leaders will work to ensure this economic expansion does not happen in random fashion.”

To that end, LADA’s role will be dependent upon strong collaboration among many stakeholders in the area. Included, with unanimous support Thursday evening in Ottertail, are Kruschke and other members of the Otter Tail Lakes Property Owners Association.

Participants of LADA have become members of focus teams to develop approaches to business attraction, community and infrastructure enhancements and comprehensive marketing.

LADA is providing assistive guidance to businesses that are currently considering expansion to the lakes area. Members look forward to addressing others who are emerging during the summer months.

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