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In 1991 the Chase Lake Foundation, a non-profit group comprised of North Dakota citizens, was founded to launch the North American Prairie Wetlands Interpretive Center (NAPWIC). It was the vision of the late Senator Quentin Burdick to secure federal appropriations to build this facility. Due to his untimely death in office, this did not occur. Throughout the decade of the 1990s the Foundation worked hard to secure individual donations and commitments from State and Federal agencies. As a result, it now has sufficient commitments to build the first phase of the Interpretive Center. This Business Plan demonstrates the feasibility of the project. The NAPWIC plans to open March 14, 2003, commemorating 100 years of the establishment of the first wildlife refuge by President Theodore Roosevelt. Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge in south central North Dakota was one of the earliest established by President Roosevelt in 1908. Located near the Refuge, the Interpretive Center will foster an understanding of and appreciation for our natural resources through an educational showcase that demonstrates the coexistence of wildlife, agriculture and the benefits they provide for all people. The primary service provided at the Interpretive Center will be educational. It will cater to the general public, especially families with children, as well as providing guidance to the serious bird watchers, hunters, and fishermen/women. It will also serve as a rendezvous center for self-guided tours for the more interested visitor to the Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge and adjoining privately owned farms. The gift shop at the Interpretive Center will sell a variety of educational products and tourism memorabilia with the Center “logo.” The Center’s site will be located on the South side of Medina, ND, approximately 30 miles west of Jamestown, and 70 miles east of Bismarck, North Dakota. It will have significant economic impact on Medina and Jamestown and some on Bismarck, which will serve as the major regional airport access to the site. The primary market will be the I-94 visitor, especially those traveling west bound from Minneapolis - St. Paul, Minnesota and other cities further east of the Twin Cities. Interstate 94 will also be the major corridor that North and South Dakotans use to reach the site. Demographics of the local market are challenging. The total local market area (0-150 mile radius) has a population of only 742,889, of whom 537,703 are age 18 and over. Traffic count at Exit 233 has an average annual growth rate of 4.3% over the last three years. Based on the directly relevant experience of the National Buffalo Museum in nearby Jamestown, it is projected that 13,060 visitors will use the Center in the first year and increase at the same rate as the projected traffic increase, i.e. 4.3% annually. This projected market and growth will create sufficient revenues to bring the Center to “break even” in year three and all subsequent years should become increasingly profitable. The Chase Lake Foundation (CLF) will, utilizing grant funding, construct The North American Prairie Wetlands Interpretive Center (NAPWIC) building. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) will provide CLF with an easement to construct the building on USFWS land. Although this business plan reflects the Chase Lake Foundation operating the center, the Board of Directors is requesting that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) provide the core interpretive staff and assume ongoing maintenance of the Center. The Foundation will provide continuous support to the professional staff by recruiting and supporting community volunteers to assist them in interpretation and guiding and to provide management to the proposed gift shop. CLF will also continue to raise funds to supplement the revenues of the Center for future development. This plan reflects management and operation of the Center by CLF.
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Send mail to clf@chaselakefoundation.com with
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