Cook County officials, state leaders begin planning wildfire economic recovery

As firefighters continue working to contain wildfires burning throughout the Superior National Forest and Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, local and state leaders are beginning to shift their focus from emergency response to helping businesses recover from weeks of BWCAW closures and wildfire-related impacts.

Cook County/Grand Marais Economic Development Authority Director Lucas Wakefield said local organizations are working together to document the financial impacts on Cook County businesses and advocate for state and federal assistance.

“We’re in a period of deep concern and need for action,” Wakefield said. “A lot of entities have come together and said, ‘How can we work together?'”

The EDA is partnering with Visit Cook County and the Cook County Chamber of Commerce to collect stories and financial data from businesses affected by the wildfires and BWCAW closures.

“While anecdotes are good,” Wakefield said. “In my experience, data is really the gold standard. He said funding agencies will want to see the lost revenue, the number of cancellations, and the pain that businesses are going through in numbers.

Wakefield encouraged business owners who have experienced financial losses to submit information through the EDA’s website or contact the office directly. He said documenting those impacts now will help local leaders make the case for assistance from state lawmakers and potentially federal funding sources. Businesses can send an email to: director@cookcountymneda.org

“We owe it to our community. We owe it to our businesses and the work that they do, and the way that they give back and support this economy – to try to push and find aid and relief for them moving forward,” he said.

Canoes stacked at Gunflint Trail outfitter businesses amid the BWCAW closures | Photo by Kalli Hawkins

While immediate relief remains the priority, Wakefield said the broader goal is to build a more resilient business community capable of weathering future emergencies.

Communities across northeastern Minnesota are experiencing similar economic challenges.

During a wildfire briefing Monday in Ely, Mayor Heidi Omerza thanked the firefighters, emergency responders and agencies working to protect the region, along with residents who have remained patient throughout the wildfire response.

“I would like to thank every single person, every agency that continues not only to keep Ely safe but the area safe,” Omerza said. “It is awe-inspiring and amazing.”

Omerza also emphasized that, despite the wildfire impacts and temporary BWCAW closures, Ely remains open to visitors.

“We continue to be open,” Omerza said. “We don’t know what the future brings for us. There has been some economic downturn because of what is going on right now.”

She encouraged visitors to continue supporting area businesses, even if Boundary Waters trips have been disrupted.

“You may not be able to quite get the Boundary Waters experience that you want, but there are a lot of other things you can do,” Omerza said.

Omerza said she expects state leaders to play an important role in helping communities recover economically.

“I’m going to be leaning on everybody who loves Ely to help us move forward,” she said.

Gov. Tim Walz said the state is also beginning to look beyond wildfire suppression and prepare for the region’s economic recovery.

“We’re triaging this — protecting life, protecting property, containing the fires — but we simultaneously do need to plan for what this looks like,” Walz said.

Walz said Minnesota’s disaster contingency account could provide assistance if the wildfires do not meet the federal threshold for disaster assistance. The fund is designed to help local governments rebuild infrastructure and recover from emergencies.

Gov. Tim Walz speaking during the July 27 press conference in Ely Photo by Governor’s Office

The governor also addressed the state’s peacetime emergency declaration, which is currently set to expire Aug. 11. Walz said if conditions require extending the emergency, state lawmakers would be involved in the process, creating an opportunity to consider additional recovery measures for northeastern Minnesota.

“Should we get to August 11, we will talk together amongst leadership about what a special session would look like,” Walz said. “From my perspective, if there is a special session, it should focus on the fire and the recovery of northern Minnesota, and that’s it.”

Walz said legislative leaders have already begun laying the groundwork for what an economic recovery package could include, though he said it remains too early to know whether a special session will ultimately be necessary.

He also urged local governments and emergency responders to carefully document all wildfire-related expenses. “Keep every receipt for everything you’re doing,” Walz said. “Every bit of overtime for the folks that are there.”

Walz said the state remains committed to helping communities recover.

“This is one issue that binds us,” he said. “Protecting our neighbors, protecting our natural resources, protecting our economic growth.”

Senator Grant Hauschild (DFL-Hermantown), Representative Roger Skraba (R-Ely), and the Ely Chamber of Commerce held a roundtable discussion in Ely on July 24 to discuss the economic impact of the Northland wildfires on tourism and other industries.

The conversation will continue in Cook County when Sen. Hauschild and Rep. Skraba, in collaboration with the Cook County Chamber of Commerce, hold a roundtable discussion on Friday, July 31.

The roundtable event will occur at 11:30 a.m. on July 31 at Hungry Jack Lodge up the Gunflint Trail.  

For the public that is unable to attend the roundtable discussion, WTIP will be live streaming via video and audio on our WTIP Facebook page. Link here: https://www.facebook.com/WTIPNorthShoreCommunityRadio/

WTIP will also be live broadcasting the public meeting on our frequencies: 90.7 FM WTIP Grand Marais, 90.1 FM WGPO Grand Portage, and 89.1 WKEK Gunflint Lake. The live broadcast will be available via streaming on our website wtip.org and on the WTIP App. Access the WTIP website here: www.wtip.org.

WTIP’s Kalli Hawkins spoke with Cook County/Grand Marais EDA Director Lucas Wakefield about how the EDA is working to support local businesses affected by the BWCAW closures and wildfire-related economic impacts.

Below is a video recording of the July 27 press briefing in Ely with Gov. Tim Walz and state, federal, and county officials to address the wildfires throughout northern Minnesota and the economic aid plans. (Video courtesy of MPR).

Kalli Hawkins July 28, 2026