Arrowhead Regional Development Commission

09/08/2026

The Arrowhead Area Agency on Aging is seeking engaged community members to serve on its Advisory Committee on Aging (ACA). We especially have a need for members from Aitkin, Carlton, Koochiching, and Lake counties.

The Older Americans Act recognizes the importance of community voices in shaping services and supports for older adults. ACA members from across the Arrowhead region help ensure older adults’ perspectives and needs are reflected in regional planning and decision-making.

If you are interested in serving—or know someone who would bring a valuable voice to this work—we encourage you to get involved.

Please consider joining the ACA and helping shape the future of aging services.

More information and membership application are available on the Arrowhead Area Agency on Aging, Advisory Committee on Aging webpage here: https://arrowheadaging.org/volunteer-opportunities/advisory-committee-on-aging-section/

Arrowhead Area Agency on Aging is a Division of the Arrowhead Regional Development Commission.

Carlton County, MN - Government Koochiching County - Minnesota Lake County - Minnesota Visit Aitkin

05/14/2026

Last opportunity for CEDS Survey!

The deadline for the Northeast Minnesota CEDS Survey has been extended through May 18.Your input will help identify key challenges, priorities, and opportunities that can strengthen the region’s future.

Please take a few minutes to complete the survey and share it with others across your community and networks.

Take the survey here: www.surveymonkey.com/share/76d4451d-fee0-49eb-b6f5-eb7290be2dc4

Arrowhead Regional Development Commission is made up of three divisions: ARDC Planning, Arrowhead Area Agency on Aging, and the Duluth-Superior Metropolitan Interstate Council

05/06/2026

We are thrilled to see this news! Congrats to Arrowhead Transit and really to all who use this great service in our region on the development of a new mobile app! 🎉🚌

The Arrowhead Regional Development Commission's ARDC Planning works closely with many transit providers through their work with the Regional Transportation Coordinating Council, and this new app will also support efforts from our other two divisions Duluth-Superior Metropolitan Interstate Council and the Arrowhead Area Agency on Aging.

05/05/2026

Our ARDC Planning Division has a survey open right now to gather input about economic development in our region. Check it out! 👇

Do you live in northeast Minnesota? We'd love to hear from you!

The Arrowhead Regional Development Commission (ARDC) is developing a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) to guide regional priorities and investments.
Building on recent community engagement across the region, we’re seeking broader input to validate what we’ve heard and ensure we haven’t missed important perspectives.

We invite you to take a brief survey (5–7 minutes) to share your insights:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ARDC_CEDS
Your input will help:
• Confirm the most pressing challenges facing communities
• Prioritize key areas of focus for the region
• Identify additional ideas and opportunities

Please feel free to share this survey with others in our region!

The survey will remain open through May 8, 2026.

Thank you for taking a few minutes to share your perspective—your input will directly inform the region’s economic development strategy.

ARDC Planning is a Division of the Arrowhead Regional Development Commission.

04/22/2026

Happy 🌎 Day!

Today we highlight some of the efforts and policies that ARDC has undertaken to help our employees and help our planet!

ARDC offers:

🚌 Employee Transit Benefit (ARDC pays for half of a bus pass for its employees)

🚲ARDC provides indoor parking for employees who bike to work to store their bicycles

🚴ARDC has a company ebike that employees are allowed to check out to get to nearby meeting locations

🛞Bike parking is located in front of our offices for folks coming to meetings at our office to use

🖥️ Many ARDC employees are able to work in a hybrid fashion, saving vehicle miles traveled

The Arrowhead Regional Development Commission is made up of three divisions: Arrowhead Area Agency on Aging, ARDC Planning, and the Duluth-Superior Metropolitan Interstate Council

03/23/2026

The Arrowhead Regional Development Commission is convening engagement sessions to inform the development of the 2027–2031 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS).

This five-year plan helps guide regional investment priorities and coordination. Your participation will help identify shared priorities, surface systemic barriers, and clarify where regional alignment can
strengthen local outcomes.

We hope you will lend your leadership perspective to this important conversation.

Each session is open to the public. Light snacks or refreshments will be provided. Check out the slate of meetings below to see if we are coming to your community! 📊🤝🚀📈

Learn more on our project website here: https://ardc.org/ceds

Arrowhead Regional Development Commission's ARDC Planning Division is working alongside communities to gather input.

03/19/2026

The Arrowhead Regional Development Commission, located in Duluth, MN, has two exciting career opportunities available.

For more information and how to apply, please see below:

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Job Summary: The Executive Director serves as the chief administrative officer of the Arrowhead Regional Development Commission (ARDC), leading strategic and operational efforts across its seven-county northeastern Minnesota region. The position oversees fiscal, personnel, and administrative functions and ensures effective implementation of Commission-approved policies and programs.

View the full position profile and learn how to apply at https://www.ddahumanresources.com/active-searches.

and

FINANCE DIRECTOR
Job Summary: The Finance Director provides leadership for ARDC’s financial operations and long-term fiscal health. Reporting to the Executive Director, the position oversees accounting operations, budgeting, financial reporting, forecasting, internal controls, and regulatory compliance while leading the finance team. The role also prepares financial analyses, supports audit activities, reviews financial components of contracts and resolutions, and provides strategic financial guidance to leadership.

View the full position profile and learn how to apply at https://www.ddahumanresources.com/active-searches.

Application Deadline: April 12, 2026

Finalists will be selected on April 17, 2026, and final interviews will be held on April 24 and 27, 2026.

Please direct any questions to Liza Donabauer at [email protected] or 612-920-3320 x111.

The Arrowhead Regional Development Commission (ARDC) is comprised of three divisions: Arrowhead Area Agency on Aging , ARDC Planning, and Duluth-Superior Metropolitan Interstate Council.

12/31/2025

Did you receive a Bridge to Health Survey?

The goal of the Bridge to Health Survey is to assist organizations and communitygroups in addressing important health issues. Survey results are shared at both thecounty and regional levels and are free and available for anyone to use. Receiving a good sample size of survey respondents is really important and the groups conducting the survey would like to see more survey respondents from Itasca County, Koochiching County, and St. Louis County. Hoping you can help spread the word!

You can learn more here, too: bridgetohealthsurvey.org

St. Louis County MN Public Health Get Fit Itasca Northeast SHIP Lake County - Minnesota Itasca County

08/27/2025

The Arrowhead Regional Development Commission and White Earth Land Recovery Project are part of the second round of the Empowering Small Minnesota Communities program.

07/24/2025

Let’s talk transit!

Did you know all three of Arrowhead Regional Development Commission's divisions work on connecting people to the places we all need to get to?

Minnesota Department of Transportation is developing a transit plan for greater Minnesota and wants to hear from you. Your input will help identify transit needs across the region and guide policies and recommendations to address them.

Visit the website below to:
- Participate in the transit investment activity
- Share a transit story
- Map out how you use or would like to use transit in greater Minnesota

talk.dot.state.mn.us/greater-minnesota-transit-plan

Arrowhead Area Agency on Aging ARDC Planning Arrowhead Transit Big Woods Transit Duluth-Superior Metropolitan Interstate Council Duluth Transit Authority Northeast SHIP