An organization representing businesses in Moorhead, MN has announced its official support for the FM Area Diversion Project.

The Moorhead Business Association submitted a letter of support for the project to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) during the MN DNR’s public comment period on its Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) regarding the Diversion Project.

“I thought that was very nice to see,” said Kevin Campbell, Clay County Commissioner and member of the Diversion Authority board.  “I was also pleased to see that some additional Moorhead Council members sent out a letter to the editor in support of this project. So it’s not just Nancy Otto and Kevin Campbell in Minnesota who support the project.”

In its letter of support, the Moorhead Business Association cited an updated report by the Greater Fargo Moorhead Economic Development Corporation (GFMEDC) which found that the Diversion Project would protect approximately 13,377 people who live in Clay County and are employed on the North Dakota side of the F-M area in Cass County. That number represents 39% of Clay County’s workforce.

In the relatively recent flood events of prior years, businesses were negatively affected in many ways: flood damage to facilities or equipment; temporary loss of workers whose homes or property were subject to flood damage or who felt the duty to assist in the community flood- fighting efforts; temporary disruption to shipments, customers, etc. due to road blockages or detours to accommodate flood-fighting efforts; and requests that “non-essential” businesses cease operations during the height of flood-fighting efforts.