Chinese show interest in RTC

By Susan Larson | The Daily Journal

Published Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Officials of a Chinese university are interested in establishing an exchange program that could bring foreign students to the grounds of the Regional Treatment Center in Fergus Falls.

That’s the word from a 17-member delegation from Fergus Falls that just returned from a fact-finding mission to Hunan Normal University.

The delegation returned from China Saturday with a memorandum of understanding from the university, said Harold Stanislawski, economic development director for the City of Fergus Falls.

“That means they agree to learn more about how to proceed,” Stanislawski said. “It means they are interested in establishing an exchange program.”

The plan for the Minnesota Institute for Cross Cultural Studies (MICCS) was presented to colleges and universities in China during a two-week visit by a 17-member delegation. MICCS’s focus will be language immersion and business studies for Chinese and American students interested in international business and trade. Local leaders making the trip were Fergus Falls businessman Richard Anderson; Dist. 10 Sen. Dan Skogen (DFL-Hewitt); and Stanislawski.

The Nov. 10 meeting with officials from eight universities was described by Anderson as precedent-setting.

“It would be my impression they don’t normally sit down as a peer group and discuss” the selling points of their school, he said. “We had a frank conversation about what we’re doing here in Fergus Falls. It was a very positive meeting.”

Face to face dialogue, Skogen said, “is so much easier than letters or phone calls.”

“Some universities were interested in investing for a share in the university itself,” Stanislawski said. “Those things have to be worked out … We expect the first Chinese delegation to come to Fergus Falls in April,”

By the time the Chinese delegation visits, Legislature will be in session, Skogen said, and he will have a better idea of what kind of help can be extended. Extending JOBZ, or offering tax breaks to the developers are some possibilities.

“China is a booming country,” Skogen, “and they think the world of the United States.”

“Visiting with the students was the high point for me,” Stanislawski said. “Their eagerness to learn more about America. I was swarmed with students.”

Redeveloping the Regional Treatment Center/Kirkbride into the MICCS is the undertaking of Institute Acquisition Partners, LLC, (IAP). After buying the Kirkbride, IAP would lease it to MICCS. IAP’s project vision calls for construction starting in spring 2008 through 2013 (although a definite opening date has not been set); 1,000 university students attending each semester; faculty housing; 40 classrooms; and gymnasium and kitchen renovation to the Kirkbride.