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The best way to boost Minot's economy would be to bring in westbound air service and more workers.

That was the message delivered to Rep. Earl Pomeroy, D-Minot, at an economic roundtable held at Minot State University Monday. The visit followed up on Pomeroy's February stop in Minot to discuss a federal stimulus package with area business leaders and city officials.

Monday's event came on the heels of an announcement by e-Telecare that it is closing its Minot office and laying off 80 workers at the end of October. D. J. McIntrye, director of the Minot office of Job Service North Dakota, told Pomeroy that workers should be able to find other jobs locally.

"We are very confident that these people can be absorbed in the community, and the community wants to keep these people here," she said.

"One of the challenges we see is workforce development," said Karen Krebsbach, representing Minot Area Development Corp. "I don't personally believe that it's going to be hard to transition these people who are losing their jobs because of e-Telecare moving out. We are still in a demand for labor and workers in the state."

Krebsbach said MADC has strong prospects for new industry and new businesses but it needs to find the workers.

Mark Jantzer, a city alderman and manager of The Computer Store, spoke of hiring the former owner of a computer company in Michigan after the recession dried up business in that state.

"I would take a couple, three more guys like that," he said. His store is seeing continued growth in its business. Although summers typically are slower, the store was busy because of the money available to area schools to update technology, he said.

"By and large, we are doing very well here," he said.

Harley Neshem, owner of Gratech in Berthold, said his construction company benefited from the $8.5 million in stimulus money used to make safety improvements on U.S. Highway 83 between Max and the Garrison turnoff. The company also has obtained other projects this year that have enabled the company to increase employment by 20 to 30 percent to about 120 people, he said. Many of those workers have come from out of state, including 10 from Arizona, where the construction industry was hit hard by recession.

Minot Mayor Curt Zimbelman said Minot's economy might be leveling off after experiencing particularly good times. Building permits and sales tax revenues remain up, but the boom in housing construction appears to have met the need. Other than demand for more apartments, Minot has a good housing inventory now, he said.

Zimbelman said the biggest priority for the city is a westbound flight to Denver to accommodate the oil industry, the Air Force and other travelers.

Andrew Solsvig, airport director, said the city has talked with SkyWest, a regional carrier affiliated with United Airlines.

"They are crunching their numbers this week, and hopefully it will be positive," he said.

The city also continues to visit with Allegiant Airlines about possible flights to Las Vegas.

Solsvig requested any help that the congressional delegation can give in encouraging airlines to look positively at Minot. He also asked that Minot be considered for any federal funds for terminal upgrades. The city is renovating its terminal, but additional work needs to be done beyond available money.

Pomeroy also heard from local residents that Minot is being affected by the national recession in some areas. Chain stores are affected by systemwide cuts made by corporate offices, said John MacMartin, Minot Area Chamber of Commerce president. Community banks that didn't contribute to the national collapse are facing tougher regulations because of what other banks did, said Terry Zeltinger, president of United Community Bank in Minot.

Robert Dick, adviser with Raymond James Financial in Minot, said area residents have mixed feelings on the economy.

"I think they are feeling quite a bit better but it's also tempered. They are wondering if there's another shoe to drop at some point," he said. "They are wondering, here again, 'Is the government going to do something to derail our economic recovery?' There's getting to be a little bit more fear as to what's coming."

Business representatives at the meeting also voiced concern about increases in health insurance premiums, the impact of proposed energy legislation on consumer utility rates and the expiration of an $8,000 home buyers credit.

Pomeroy took note of the concerns, and said he is working to extend the home buyers credit past the Dec. 1 sunset. Funding is the obstacle.

"It's clearly stimulus," he said, "But if you have to raise taxes somewhere else, it's anti-stimulus. So I believe it's going to be hard to pass this."