Minnesota House — Transcript
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
Story
Explore Minnesota Touts Significant Economic Contributions, $1,000 Annual Tax Savings for Households
Welcome and Introductions of members and staff
Approval of agenda and minutes from August 14th, 2025
Presentation by Explore Minnesota Tourism on Mississippi River Country
Promotion of Mississippi River and Great River Road by Explore Minnesota
International marketing efforts for the Mississippi River region
Membership and activities of the Mississippi River Country organization
Partnership opportunities between Explore Minnesota and the commission
Collaboration on content, marketing, and international alignment
Minnesota's America 250th anniversary initiatives and road trips
Podcast collaboration for promoting Great River Road experiences
Leveraging existing content for the Great River Road Corridor Management Plan
Transition of MRPC management to LCC and filling resource gaps
MnDOT's Great River Road signage initiative
Votes (1)
Approval of the agenda and minutes from August 14th, 2025.
Moved by Unnamed attendee · Seconded by Unnamed attendee
Notable Quotes (7)
You you have no idea how timely this conversation is. Especially if you had to stay if you got to stay for what's coming next you'd you'd see.
I'm going to underscore that we are about to we'll we will have a theme that will revolve around the 250th for drive month this year, which we're going to have later on the agenda. But, that's maybe something not only the outdoor recreation, but also during drive month the emphasis on the 250 experiences that you can have here in Minnesota on the Great River Road.
The really short version of that is that um what we're going to do for Drive the Great River Road month is build on a project that is up and running now for Minnesota America 250, which is um Min 250 road trips. And we have 10 itineraries with all kinds of history nerd things and not history nerd things.
So so what I what I saw here was that there's a lot of untapped synergy that that we that we could connect to. I I I'm kind of stunned by I mean I look at all the stuff you're doing that that in is about the road and the river and our site should link to that.
It's like, well, we don't have to invent a bunch of new content. There's more content than I knew of that's already there. We just got to bring it in.
And and everyone will see how important that's going to become in terms of our relationship with the LCCC. I don't know if you know Chris Miller was our executive director for about 17 years. And she did a lot of work. And now we've shifted to the LCCC managing everything. And and there's just a there's a difference between LCCC can do and and a contracted person can do. And we're trying to figure out how to fill that gap.
And you you have you have done Office of Tourism has typically really helped us out on as has the Department of Transportation over many many campaigns in the past. So, thank you.
People (20)
Opened the meeting and introduced remote participants.
Represents Senate District 34 (Champlin, Brooklyn Park, Rapids, Dayton, Rogers).
Part of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Attending another meeting; key contact for commission's partnership with Explore Minnesota. Also referred to as Lisa Havelka and Lisa Lee.
From Winona, joined remotely, attended another meeting with Lisa Haberkorn.
Introduced himself during the meeting.
Helps administrate the MRPC (Mississippi River Parkway Commission).
Started May 4th; familiarizing with Great River Road Corridor Management Plan and meeting key committee members.
Helping with a 10-state initiative on signage from the Great River Road to interpretive centers.
Leading the Minnesota America 250 road trip project. Also referred to as Deva Kellar.
Joined after attending another meeting.
Chaired the meeting when Senator Housley was remote; led the vote for agenda/minutes approval.
Presented on Explore Minnesota's tourism impact and the Mississippi River Country organization.
Suggested including commission representatives on the Explore Minnesota podcast.
Mentioned as a long-standing member and a resource for new hires like Jessica Cartwright.
Met by Jessica Cartwright as a resource for her new role at MnDOT.
Served for 17 years; her departure led to the LCC taking over MRPC management.
Co-hosts the 'Explore Minnesota More' podcast with Lauren Beginty Bennett.
Manages the 10-state Mississippi River Country organization and organizes international trips. Also referred to as Lynn Pilch Barnett.
Provided as a key contact for international marketing at Explore Minnesota.
Places Mentioned
Events & Meetings (7)
- Current Meeting (Remote and In-person, date not specified)
- Previous Meeting: August 14th, 2025
- Mississippi River Country Trade and Travel Mission to Japan (February)
- Meeting with Tokyo-based tourism organizations in LA (March)
- IPW (Largest international travel trade show)
- Drive the Great River Road Month Kickoff at the State Fair (typical annual event)
- Journalist visit from India (last week or earlier this week)