The first of three strategic forums focused on generating ideas to shape sustainable growth on the Iron Range was held on Monday. Over 130 regional business leaders gathered at the "Recharge the Range - a strategic roadmap for economic development" forum at Minnesota Discovery Center in Chisholm. 

These leaders, representing industries such as manufacturing, forestry, health care, tourism, technology, mining, service, and agriculture, participated in interactive breakout sessions on a variety of industry and focus topics.

IRRRB Commissioner Mark Phillips said, "I was pleased with the high level of engagement from those in attendance, as well as the number of innovative ideas that emerged."  

A forum for community leaders is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 29, and a public forum is tentatively planned for June. 

IRRRB, Allete, Area Partnership for Economic Expansion, Blandin Foundation, Minnesota Power, Northeast Higher Education District, Northland Foundation, Northspan, University of Minnesota Duluth Center for Economic Development and University of Minnesota Duluth Natural Resources Research Institute are partnering to conduct the forums.

For decades, the fountain in Virginia’s Olcott Park served as a centerpiece of the Queen City.

From 1937 to the early 2000s, the fountain was a place of quiet retreat, tranquility, beauty, and as a scenic backdrop for weddings and family gatherings.

A group of volunteers is now working to restore the fountain to its glory.

The Olcott Park Fountain Restoration Committee hopes by 2017 to have the fountain restored and again operating as a major attraction. 

“We’ve been trying for four years or more to get the fountain back in operation,” said Greg Gilness, a Virginia resident spearheading the restoration effort. “It’s been a great attraction to the community, though it’s changed quite a bit from what it once was. What we want to do is restore it, make it attractive, and safe and secure so people can again enjoy it.”

By August 2016, $100,000 in private donations need to be raised. Once the $100,000 is raised, along with other grant funding, restoration can begin. In the two-phase project, $500,000 will be budgeted for Phase 1 to restore the foundation to working order. Phase II will focus primarily on American with Disabilities Act compliance, landscaping, and other amenities. The total restoration estimate is $900,000, including in-kind services. 

As of this week, about $60,000 of the $100,000 has been raised through donations from private individuals and businesses. 

Read the full article and learn how to support this effort. 

IRRRB has provided support to the project for grant writing expenses.

NORTHFORCE, an online hands-on talent matching tool that connects job seekers with employers, has been awarded the Economic Development Initiative of the Year award by the Economic Development Association of Minnesota (EDAM).

The award was made at the EDAM Winter Conference Jan. 21 at the Minneapolis Marriott Northwest.

"It’s an awesome team effort,” said Brian Hanson, president and chief executive officer of the Duluth-based Area Partnership for Economic Expansion (APEX), which markets NORTHFORCE. “I really like how the region has gotten behind it.”

People seeking a job can visit the NORTHFORCE web site www.northforce.org and view available jobs in the region. Job seekers can also create a confidential career profile, which NORTHFORCE will then match with a potential employer.

Read the full article.

IRRRB, APEX, Northspan Group, City of Duluth, and City of Superior are development partners for NORTHFORCE.

Communities within the IRRRB service area can now submit applications for a Public Works Stimulus Grant Program.

The program is designed to provide funding to assist cities and townships in the IRRRB service area with funding public works projects to support economic and community development.

Under program guidelines, IRRRB would provide a 1:1 match per project. Applications will be evaluated based on economic impact, job creation, leverage, project readiness and timeliness, and community resourcefulness.

View the guidelines and application forms.  

The deadline to apply for the program is February 10.

For additional information contact Chris Ismil at chris.ismil@state.mn.us. 

Nearly 150 birders from 20 states and two from the United Kingdom will be on the watch for great gray owls, northern owls, boreal chickadees, pine grosbeaks, and a variety of other birds at the Ninth Annual Sax-Zim Bog Winter Birding Festival.

This year’s festival is Feb. 12, 13 and 14.

“It a really big event that brings people in from all over,” said Jeff Kletscher, Sax-Zim Birding Festival coordinator. “And typically, 65 to 70 percent of the people who attend are people who haven’t been to the festival before.”

The Sax-Zim Bog, located between the Iron Range and Duluth near Meadowlands, has become one of the nation’s top year-round birding locations.

Since the winter festival began, bird watchers have arrived from 39 states, Australia, Philippines, Italy, and the United Kingdom, to participate in festival activities. 

The festival includes field trips to the Sax-Zim Bog, birding areas in Lake County, Duluth and Superior, special speakers and an open-to-the-public Audubon Center of the North Naturalists presentation at 2 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 13. A vendor and artists’ area and a buffet breakfast on Feb. 13 and 14 are also open to the public.

Read the full article.

This winter, Giants Ridge again offered a Mountain Explorers Youth Camp for beginners and intermediate level skiers and boarders. Openings are still available in the final session of the season, which will be held Feb. 27, March 5 and March 12. 

Participants will improve their skills, explore the mountain and have tons of fun with professional instructors. The camp is open to skiers ages 7-15 and boarders ages 8-15. 

Details & Registration

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