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Park Rapids is a small community in Northern Minnesota. For the last 100 years the town and surrounding area has been a hidden gem for summer getaways, retirement and fishing. However, due to cold winters and slowing tourism many locals have to earn their entire livelihood in the summer months. Over the years a large number of once bustling lake resorts were sold and became private lake properties. This resulted in fewer places for tourists to stay on the lake and therefore removed that weekly churn of fresh tourists spending money at local restaurants and businesses. In addition, the aging population and small-town amenities made it a challenge for employers to recruit and retain talent to fill jobs.