About EADA

The Ely Area Development Association (EADA) was originally founded in 1959 with a mission to create, promote, and facilitate economic and community development. The organization's vision is to work cooperatively to create economic opportunity for a stable and diversified economy while maintaining Ely's quality of life.

The EADA is a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) corporation with two employed staff and a volunteer 30-member Board of Directors with diverse occupational backgrounds.  The daily operations of the organization are overseen and directed by a nine-member Executive Board elected annually from the Board of 30.  The Executive Board has an officer board consisting of a chairman, vice-chair, secretary and treasurer.

The EADA meets quarterly at Grand Ely Lodge and the Executive Board meets monthly at the Ely Economic and Technology Center, a building that houses the EADA, Vermilion Community College Customized Training and Continuing Education, and True North.

2011 Board of Directors

Betsy Leustek, Chair                 
Heidi Omerza, Vice-chair                    
Roger Skraba, Executive Board 
Meg Heiman, Executive Board
Shawn Bin               
Bea Brophey
Len Cersine
Bill Erzar
John Fossum
Cathy Braun

Eric Mayranen
Ely Butler
John Huisman

                                     

Lee Tessier, Treasurer
Kelly Klun, Executive Board
Tom Omerza, Executive Board
Nancy McReady, Executive Board 
Kerry Davis
Mike Forsman
Chris Hartman
Al Maddern 
Kathy Skala, Midge Davis
Rob Wilmunen
Keith Trembath
Anne Moravitz

EADA Partners

EADA Goals

EADA Action Items 2006-2010

  1. The Leadership Perspective/The Common Good
    Need to address the Common Good and Common Goals
    Need to bring people to the table and get them to stay at the table talking/working together to address challenges in a spirit of cooperation
  2. The Focus Perspective/Economic Development
    • Attract and develop jobs
    • Foster innovation and entrepreneurship
    • Build out of Tech Center
    • Venture accelerator
    • Homegrown innovation
    • Project Firefly
    • Marketing Committee
    • Asset inventory
  3. The Support Perspective/Community Development
    Support Community Infrastructure/Develop and use marketing brochure to promote area
    1. Schools
    2. Housing
    3. Hospital
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