Veterans Outpatient Clinic

The following description of an immediate economic development opportunity, the ultimate success of which would be immensely enhanced with state cooperation, will out of necessity be somewhat vague and sketchy - particularly with respect to how the state might lend its assistance in helping to capitalize it.

Superior-Douglas County officials are in the midst of a competitive bid process with officials from Duluth, Minnesota, for the siting of a Veterans Outpatient Clinic.  Initial specifications call for a professional medical staff of 47 that will provide for 20,000 patient-visits per year.  Further private discussions will take place between Superior-Douglas County and Wisconsin officials as a cooperative plan and bid is formulated.  The following historical information is provided as a contextual basis for these discussions.

During the latter part of 1985, Superior-Douglas County officials learned of the decision by the Federal Veterans Administration to locate a site for a Veterans Outpatient Clinic.  This clinic, once leased and staffed, is designed to serve veterans in northeast and north-central Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin.

Consistent with the aggressive economic development efforts that characterize the area's local elected officials, an innovative proposal combining resources from both the private and public sectors was submitted to the Veterans Administration for the siting of this facility in Superior.  Concurrent with these efforts, Duluth likewise submitted its own siting proposal.

In response to the interest expressed by both Duluth and Superior to locate the outpatient facility in their respective cities, a Veterans Administration Office of Facilities representative made "initial" site visits to both communities in 1986.  As a result of these visits, the Veterans Administration has delineated areas in both cities that it feels equally meet the objective criteria for the siting of an outpatient clinic.

Subsequent congressional pressure on the Veterans Administration from both the Minnesota and Wisconsin delegations has been intense.  The Veterans Administration recently announced that it will make repeat site visits to both Superior and Duluth in March 1987, an action that informed insiders believe was prompted by the formidable political pressure being brought to bear and the related concern that the site selection process remain entirely objective.  Detailed, formal proposals will be solicited following the March site visits, and all indications are that given the prevailing competitive circumstances the decision will be based exclusively on economic criteria.

With state cooperation and assistance, the Superior-Douglas County area is confident that it can prepare and submit a proposal that will be difficult to exceed from an economic standpoint.  Full advantage of medical care to Wisconsin and other area veterans in the most convenient manner possible, the facility would also have significant economic impacts on the area.  The professional employment and visitations generated by the clinic would yield considerable direct and indirect local economic benefits.