 Through an effort put together by the Bemidji Regional Airport Authority and Greater Bemidji, a group formed to help expand local companies has now taken flight. A dozen community members gathered to launch a new Bemidji Regional Airport Affairs Council with the intention to generate ideas and thoughts on the use of local aviation. A group that can just talk about the opportunities of general aviation in their community. It also came up at my board meeting and the opportunities for development related activity in the region and how can we set up a Bemidji to be expanded in general aviation. The ideas and information generated by this new council will be extremely beneficial to the growth and success of the airport. It's invaluable to get perspectives and information from the people that actually use the facility and use the airport. Meeting around the table were members from all different backgrounds who shared their thoughts and visions for what this council could be. For some, this will provide a valuable education on the benefits of local aviation. It's huge because it's going to open up a conduit for communication for people that are interested or people that don't know what general aviation can do for them and so it'll be a big deal. One of the objectives of the newly formed council is to see how aviation can support local companies and also attract new business. For Greater Bemidji, the regional airport has been a key tool in attracting new employers to the area. Let's face it, we're still remote. We're very northern Minnesota but the fact that you can jump in an airplane and be down in the Twin Cities in less than 45 minutes makes you less remote. With the council open to anyone who has an interest in aviation, the group has high hopes to soar into the future. In Bemidji, Josh Peterson, Lakeland News. If you enjoyed this segment of Lakeland News, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to Lakeland PBS.