TOWER– What a weekend at the lake! Northeastern Minnesota’s exceptional quality of life and the breathtaking beauty of Lake Vermilion were on the forefront of many minds, including Gov. Mark Dayton, at the May 7-10, 68th annual Minnesota Governor’s Fishing Opener.

Dayton helped break ground on Minnesota’s newest state park, attended a community picnic, caught walleye, and fondly remembered his family’s ties to the area.

“Lake Vermilion is very, very special to my family,” Dayton said at a Friday, May 9 groundbreaking at Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park. “My grandfather bought a cabin on the Cook side in the depths of the depression for $5,000.”

Dayton reminisced about the propeller on the family boat breaking while crossing from the Cook end of the lake toward Tower. “It took me 25 years to get to the other side of the lake after the prop broke in Oak Narrows,” joked Dayton.

Several hundred media, outdoor writers, and dignitaries from across the Midwest attended the opener. Fortune Bay Resort Casino served as event headquarters.

“This is hugely important for us as a region,” said Casey Sunsdahl of Soudan, who guided Minnesota Lt. Gov. Tina Smith on the opener. “We have one of the most valuable resources in the world with the water we have here at Lake Vermilion. This is a great opportunity to bring attention to the area.”

About 300 fishing hosts and guests participated in fishing activities, according to Phil Bakken, fishing host chairman. “I can’t tell you how many people came up to me and told me how tremendous the event was and what a good time they had,” said Bakken. “Almost everyone caught fish, and several people told me they plan on coming back up here to go fishing.”   

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Pictured above: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Tom Landwehr, Bois Forte Band of Chippewa Chairman Kevin Leecy, Lt. Gov. Tina Smith, and Gov. Mark Dayton exchange greetings at the groundbreaking of Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park. (Photo courtesy of Explore Minnesota)

CHISHOLM – Delta Air Lines is flying toward completion of a $5.9 million renovation at its Iron Range Customer Engagement Center. The renovation transforms the 19-year-old, 40,000 square-foot facility into a modern, state-of-the-art customer engagement center.

Customer Engagement Specialists at the center provide reservation assistance for some of Delta Air Lines’ top customers. “It’s an investment in the community,” said Bobbie van Schoonhoven, Delta Air Lines Iron Range customer engagement center director. “This tells our employees and community that we plan to be on the Iron Range for a long time.” 

Currently, 430 full-time and part-time employees work at the center. With completion of the renovation, the center will employ 520. All new employees who are hired will be full-time.

Opened in 1996, the customer engagement center is one of northeastern Minnesota’s largest employers. The center is located along Highway 169 in Chisholm. However, after nearly two decades of operation, the center was in need of updating, said Tony Zupancich, Delta Air Lines Iron Range associate customer engagement center director. “The whole facility needed to be freshened up,” said Zupancich. “It was no longer conducive to the type of cohesive work environment that Delta Air Lines has."  

Included in the renovation are all-new, ergonomically-correct work stations; LED lighting; new windows; lighting and wiring; a new lobby; conference and training rooms; heating, ventilation and air conditioning updates; roof repairs, and bathrooms. All of the renovation work was completed within the existing 40,000 square-foot footprint of the facility.

IRRRB supported the Delta Air Lines renovation project with a loan.

The UMD Center for Economic Development announced the recipients of the 23rd Annual Joel Labovitz Entrepreneurial Success Awards during a luncheon at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center on April 22.   The "Labo" awards recognize small business owners who have dared to dream, taken risks and invested in the region. This year’s award recipients were selected from 44 nominees from throughout the Twin Ports and Arrowhead Region.

The following Iron Range business owners and entrepreneurs were among those honored. 

Micro-Entrepreneur
The Local Boy Inc
Todd Christenson, Grand Rapids
Success metrics for this garbage and recycling service are impressive: over 600 commercial dumpsters and close to 500 residential stops; satisfied customers; and profitability that allows for continued growth, including construction of a new transfer station, all while competing with a big name, nationwide company.

Environmentally Engaged Entrepreneur
Thermowood of Minnesota
John Bieganek, Palisade
Bieganek heads Superior Thermowood, one of the nation’s first commercial producers of thermally modified wood. The wood takes on value-added properties through a chemical-free process. The company continues to grow, working to keep both communities and forests vital while providing wood products and recycling all waste materials and by-products.

Entrepreneurial Leadership Award - Edward Williams
For the past 40 years, he has been the “Williams” in Nelson Williams, which provides industrial rubber lining for piping around the world. Williams is also part owner of Tritec of Minnesota, a steel fabrication, machining and design company which in nearly two decades has grown from three to 55 employees.

Pictured above: IRRRB Deputy Commissioner Mary Finnegan presents John Bieganek of Thermowood of Minnesota with the Environmentally Engaged Entrepreneur award. 

A Grant Compliance and Partner Funding Workshop was held on Tuesday, April 14 at Minnesota Discovery Center in Chisholm. Seventy-five individuals, representing 50 cities, five townships, and 13 organizations, attended this hands-on workshop. Participants learned about IRRRB/State of Minnesota policies and procedures and the IRRRB grant application process and requirements. Other topics included grant oversight and compliance, prevailing wage, state laws and wages, and compliance monitoring.

The workshop was presented by IRRRB, U.S. Department of Labor, Fair Contracting Foundation, St. Louis County Community Development Block Grant, and the City of Tower. 

Pictured above: Chris Ismil (left), IRRRB community development representative, presents with Linda Keith, city clerk - treasurer of Tower.  

Giants Ridge is offering a new club open to all runners and walkers, free of charge. The Ridge Runners & Walkers Club meets every Saturday morning at 9 a.m. in front of the Giants Ridge Rental Shop. Running and walking options include cross country trails or the private, paved Mesabi Trail. 

Participants are free to run or walk as far and as long at their preferred pace and should bring their own water and nutrition. Runners and walkers are required to sign a waiver. The club will meet through October, weather permitting. Email Marjory Wood with questions. 

In other news, Giants Ridge is offering a Father's Day special, where dads play free on Sunday, June 21 after 10 a.m., if they golf with a daughter or son who pays full price. To book a Father's Day tee time, call the Golf Shop at 218-865-3030. 

Get more information on Giants Ridge golf specials.

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