Essentia Health releases study highlighting economic and community impact

DULUTH, Minn — Essentia Health released an economic impact study Tuesday morning showing the health care providers’ impact on the Twin Ports.

The third-party study highlighted over $4.5 billion in economic output and over 14,800 jobs directly and indirectly in the Twin Ports. 

Officials said the report found that for every full-time job at Essentia, .94 jobs are created in the community.

Essentia Health is the largest employer north of the Twin Cities.

The economic investment in the community through local businesses,  family-sustaining jobs, housing, dining, recreation, and hospitality was highlighted by Essentia Health CEO,  Dr. David Herman.

“If we can get more people to Northern Minnesota, more economic development,  what we’re hoping is that some of these numbers will help other organizations recognize that making an investment in their hometown, the areas that we’re privileged to live in and serve, can make a sustainable economic impact and continue to grow the sustainability of our region,” said Herman.

According to Jack Carlson, the President of the Duluth Building and Construction Trades Council, every dollar spent locally through Essentia is circulated seven times, and the work done on the St. Mary’s Medical Center benefited the region’s workers greatly.

“There was almost 2.6 million work hours on this project. That is many years of work, for our folks that are within the trades, their families that they work with,” said Carlson.

The report was created by third-party Northspan and used economic impact modeling software to determine Essentia’s total economic impact within the Twin Ports.

Across Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin, Essentia supported over 24,000 jobs and generated $7.69 billion in total economic impact annually.