Destination Duluth, A Non-Profit Organization Highlights The City

DULUTH, Minn. — The passion of one Duluth leader was on display Thursday at a local rotary meeting.

Destination Duluth Managing Director Jerry Thoreson says he is spreading the gospel the gospel of Duluth. Thoreson will talk to anyone willing to listen about his enthusiasm for the city. He grew up in Superior and has fond memories of traveling over the now demolished Arrowhead Bridge with his father. Thoreson wants everyone to know what a special place Duluth is.

“Destination Duluth wants to inspire people to get out and appreciate what we have here in Duluth. Whether it is to watch a thousand-foot ship glide in through a life bridge or see the wonder of Split Rock Lighthouse, or go to Brighton Beach or to Gooseberry Falls,” said Thoreson.

Thoreson said the stagnation and decline that hit Duluth in the 1990s was due to the shift away from industrialization. But like so many cities, the ability to work from home during COVID was an economic opportunity, with people able to live in Duluth and work anywhere. He believes the key step to growth is to partner with other agencies who share a similar mission.

“There are a number of organizations who have specialties in various areas, and we believe a collaborative, collective effort would be so much more effective than any siloed type of approach we have had in in the past,” said Thoreson.

Thoreson says Duluth is poised for a bright future and Destination Duluth is thrilled to be a part of it.