The “Recharge the Range” community leaders forum was held at Minnesota Discovery Center in Chisholm on Monday. It was the second in a series of three strategic forums aimed at generating ideas to help shape sustainable growth on the Iron Range.  

Attendees included over 80 community leaders from across northeastern Minnesota, representing cities, townships, state and county government, labor organizations, school districts, and other community organizations.  

Leaders took part in interactive breakout sessions in a variety of topic areas, such as innovation and entrepreneurship, business development, education, broadband, community health, and arts, entertainment, and recreation.  

Betsy Olivanti, who represented the Mountain Iron-Buhl School Board, "thoroughly enjoyed" the forum.   

"It was energizing to be in a room with community leaders from across the Range talking about big ideas that can make a difference,” she said. “My hope is that this work moves our region forward and doesn't stop here."  

Jared Sabin, media manager for ReGen, a group of area young people ages 20-40, feels that the Recharge the Range initiative is "a brilliant way to approach the broad range of topics the Iron Range community needs to discuss."   

He said, "A unified voice is greater than the sum of its parts, and this initiative is a great way to write the speech for that voice. ReGen will certainly pull ideas away from this conversation."   

A similar gathering of business leaders was held on Feb. 1, 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, Range Association of Municipalities and Schools, University of Minnesota Duluth Center for Economic Development and University of Minnesota Duluth Natural Resources Research Institute are partnering to conduct the forums.

Catherine Cody was watering plants at Olcott Park Greenhouse as she often does when something surprising suddenly grew out of it.

Unexpectedly, a television production crew from WDSE-WRPT in Duluth walked into the historic greenhouse. 

“The greenhouse was closed, but they happened to stop by,” said Cody, a board member of Friends of the Greenhouse, a non-profit that operates the greenhouse. “We spent about three hours walking around with them explaining the names of the plants and the history of the greenhouse.”

The episode filmed at the greenhouse that day will be aired on WDSE in early March as part of the station’s “Great Gardening” series.

The first airing is at 7 p.m., Thursday, March 10. It will be rebroadcast at 5:30 p.m., Saturday, March 12. 

Olcott Park Greenhouse, the nation’s northernmost conservatory, is an integral part of Iron Range history.

Built in the 1920s and 1930s, the city of Virginia utilized the greenhouse for decades to grow bedding plants that were replanted throughout the city. 

Read the full article and learn about the greenhouse's upcoming Green Envy Equinox Celebration.

A website that features the many epic outdoor adventures and authentic cultural experiences available across northeastern Minnesota has a new look.

Heart of the Continent, www.traveltheheart.org, is a partnership of local organizations, businesses and National Geographic.

The website is a high-quality “one-stop” comprehensive travel guide to the best places to go, food and drink establishments, and things to do.

The Heart of the Continent partnership seeks to contribute to economic health by promoting geotourism in northeastern Minnesota.

Geotourism is defined as tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place – its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage and the well-being of its residents.

Check out the website, its photos and its guide to northeastern Minnesota.

IRRRB supported development of Heart of the Continent. 

Photo Credit: Kevin Bird 

The Entrepreneur Fund is opening a new office on the Iron Range.

An open house celebrating the opening of the organization's new office in downtown Hibbing is Thursday, March 24. A ribbon cutting will be held at 3:30 p.m. followed by an open house from 3:45 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The new office is at 301 East Howard Street, Suite 22, in the Andrew Mason Lees Professional Building.

Founded in 1989, the Entrepreneur Fund partners with entrepreneurs to stimulate the growth of successful businesses. Its service area includes Aitkin, Carlton, Cass, Cook, Crow Wing, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, Pine and St. Louis counties in Minnesota and Douglas County in Wisconsin. The Entrepreneur Fund is an award-winning national leader in business financing and entrepreneurial development.

For additional information visit www.entrepreneurfund.org.

It's time to dust off your best beach and luau costumes for the Giants Ridge Beach Theme Spring Carnival! 

The fun is set for Saturday, March 19. A highlight of the day is the slush cup, sponsored by TriTec. Other activities include music, an outdoor barbecue, and sale prices in the snow shop. 

Learn more about the spring carnival and other upcoming activities.

In other Giants Ridge news, spring season passes are on sale. Buy next year's season pass now and ski free for the rest of this season. This is a great offer for first time passholders. 

Spring Season Pass Sale Information

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