Red Wing, MN

The 250 flower baskets scattered around the downtown area were what really caught my wife’s attention when we first visited Red Wing, MN some six years ago. I returned this week to give my BoomtownUSA talk and the baskets are still there. They really accent an incredible downtown that is in the midst of a revival.

Red Wing (population 16,116) sits right along a bend in the Mississippi River with incredible bluffs surrounding it. They’ve historically had a very strong manufacturing base with such famous companies as Red Wing Shoes and Red Wing Pottery still headquartered in the community. However, in the past five years they’ve lost about 20% of their manufacturing jobs and the community is searching for a new vision for their community.

New Mayor Donna Dummer has started Imagine Red Wing, a long term planning process that involves citizens from all walks of life. They’ve had a series of meetings and continue to work on what they want their town to look like in the future. I was impressed with the participants that I met and some of their ideas for their community. I’ll share some of the best over the next couple of days on this blog.