"City of Destiny"

In 1870, Duluth was booming and regarded itself as a "City of Destiny."  The future suggests it is again. 

The job market, that has disappointed for many years, is poised to see a big increase in new hires due to the retiring baby boom.  It is estimated that the Northland will witness 75,000 baby boomers retiring in the next decade.  These baby boomers will start retiring in 2015 and by 2025 there will be more retiring than there are young, replacement workers available to replace them.  Source:  Department of Employment and Economic Development - DEED.  More information is also available at www.mcknight.org.

This influx of new workers will alter the social landscape of the Duluth region, as younger workers bring with them younger families.  Schools, social networking, and living conditions will become more and more important.

Economically, the infrastructure of Duluth is in place to help it become an even more significant port city than it has ever been.

Duluth is the largest port on the Great Lakes and one of the largest inland seaports in the world, shipping products from the Great Plains, Midwest, and Canada's western provinces.  As China grows so does it hunger for steel imports, and as the steel manufacturing business goes, so does the iron ore business.

Duluth, as the hub of extensive railroads, trucking, and shipping, stands to gain substantially from increased exports.

Duluth is already one of the hottest tourist destinations in the United States with 2 million annual visitors.  As events such as Bluesfest, Grandma's Marathon, SnoCross, and the Air Show expand, so does tourism.

Duluth's school system is among the best in the state, with many higher level institutions available to high school graduates.  These include the University of MN-Duluth, St. Scholastica, Duluth Business University, and Lake Superior College.

The health system is Duluth is incredibly diverse and extensive with its hospitals like St. Mary's, St. Luke's, Duluth Clinic, and Miller Dwan. In fact, health care jobs are ranked 2nd, 5th, 10th, 14th, 15th, and 17th in occupations in demand in the city of Duluth.  Source:  Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), March 2008. The majority of the jobs within this sector are projected to have above to well above average growth rates.

Recreation opportunities are bountiful in Duluth, even for those with special interests like curling, rowing, etc.  There are numerous parks and recreation areas such as Park Point, Chester Park, Skyline, and Lincoln Park.

If shopping is your thing, you've got many malls to pick from.  Miller Hill Mall is the largest, but Duluth also has the Holiday Shopping Center, Burning Tree Plaza, and the Village Mall.

The days where young workers had to leave their life here to find employment somewhere else is looking like it will finally end.  Duluth is looking again like a city of promise, a "City of Destiny," where one can work, get educated, and raise their families.  Yes, the good days are coming again!