By Dan Dorman, Guest Column

In 1905, a group of concerned individuals saw a need and raised $5,000 to build Freeborn County&8217;s first hospital. In 1944, a similar group came together to fund the first community-owned industrial park in the nation, the Jobs Industrial Park. And in 1975, to build the current hospital, our community and the city of Albert Lea donated $5.7 million.

Like most of us, it always seems there is not enough time to get done all the things that must be done. When I chose not to run for re-election in 2006 I promised myself and my family to focus on the important things here at home. When Dr. Mark Ciota asked me to be a part of Albert Lea Medical Center&8217;s capital campaign, I knew that was one of those &8220;important&8221; things and I am pleased to be co-chairman of the Albert Lea Medical Center&8217;s campaign.

As the executive director of the Albert Lea Economic Development Agency I have the privilege of showing off our community to people interested in creating jobs here. These tours always include our medical center and visitors are always impressed that a town this size has such a great medical center.

While it may not be the only factor in why a business would choose to locate or expand here, access to quality health care can play a major factor in that process.

But, it isn&8217;t just about health care. Albert Lea Medical Center is one of our most important economic drivers and supports our local economy in many ways. They directly employ more than 1,300 people and support other local businesses resulting in additional jobs. And the jobs ALMC creates are high-tech, good-paying jobs that offer lifelong careers.

I am proud of my hometown. Here in Freeborn County we are the epitome of a united community; when something needs to be done, we all pitch in and get it done.

At one of our first capital campaign meetings it was noted that campaigns in other communities were completed with a few very large gifts. But that is not our tradition here; we don&8217;t have the Fortune 500 companies that can write the eye-popping checks.

Our strength is that we have a large group of dedicated people who come together to accomplish much. We have never expected someone else to provide for us.

The medical center expansion is a $19 million project, and over the past several years, ALMC had reserved $16 million to pay for it. That left $3 million to be raised and through early gifts from businesses, families, grateful patients and ALMC employees; we are already two-thirds of the way to that goal.

While we benefit from our partnership with Mayo Clinic, Albert Lea Medical Center is our community hospital and not simply an extension of Mayo Clinic. It is up to us to sustain the business and to ensure world-class medical care for our area.

Please join me and your friends and neighbors in investing in our future by making a personal contribution to Albert Lea Medical Center&8217;s capital campaign, &8220;Expanding Our Community Legacy.&8221; With your help this will be a successful campaign and in 100 years people with look back at our actions with the same respect as we have for those who came together in 1905.

Dan Dorman is the co-chairman of the Albert Lea Medical Center capital campaign.