OLIVIA -- Weekly newspaper publisher John Hubin brought his campaign to promote Renville County to commuters in the Twin Cities to the Renville County board of commissioners on Tuesday. Hubin is looking for financial support to erect three billboards along Interstate 394 during the summer. They will feature photos of county school children and tout the benefits of moving to Renville County.
The campaign is seeking to raise $12,000 by June 5. If able to do so, it could reserve space on three billboards to feature the promotion from July 4 though Labor Day.
The Renville County commissioners steered the request to the county's Economic Development Authority board of directors. It meets May 28.
Hubin also urged the commissioners to support the Southern Minnesota Area Rapid Transit or SMART campaign to see passenger rail service on the Twin Cities & Western railroad. The short line railroad is well poised to offer passenger service to the metropolitan area, according to Hubin.
He is the publisher of weekly newspapers in Hector, Bird Island and Buffalo Lake. He refers to the west central region as "the last outpost for economic growth'' in the state.
