BIWABIK – Jill Karkoska will always remember her wedding day - and her late grandfather.

On August 13, Karkoska married Jason Hirsch at Giants Ridge.

Karkoska was married where her grandfather Ed Karkoska in the 1950s was among a group of skiing pioneers who with axes and borrowed equipment carved the original ski hill out of the mountain.

“We put out a memorial table of him,” said Karkoska. “We learned how to ski at a pretty young age up there. One of the memories I have of my grandfather is hanging out with him in the old ski patrol building.”

More memories will be made at Giants Ridge with the opening of the new Giants Ridge chalet.

Like Karkoska’s wedding reception, the stunning 34,000 square-foot center is already hosting some large celebrations. 

“The Great Room of the new chalet is booked every Saturday through October and also for some Fridays and Sundays,” said Linda Johnson, Giants Ridge managing director. “And we already have 18 weddings booked for the 2017 season.”

Karkoska and her wedding party of 206 were among the first to use the new chalet. 

“It worked very well,” said Karkoska. “The vaulted ceilings were really nice because you don’t feel so crowded, and the set-up with the big front windows facing the ski hill is absolutely gorgeous.” 

The chalet also includes a rental shop, ticket area, gift shop, food court, and the already open-to-the-public “Burnt Onion Kitchen & Brews" restaurant.

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When the City of Ironton needed assistance applying for funding to extend the Cuyuna Trail System, a pedestrian crossing, downtown street lighting enhancement, and boulevard landscape enhancement, the city turned to the IRRRB’s Application Fund program for help.

The Application Fund program reimburses cities, townships, non-profits educational institutions, and collaborative organizations for the costs of grant writing for projects within the IRRRB service area.

For communities and organizations that don’t have the financial resources to pay for grant writing, the program is critical, said Amy Baratto, City of Ironton clerk.

“It’s been a huge benefit to us,” said Baratto. “We’re a small city, and it allows us to be able fund grant writing without having to increase our levy and apply for grants that we would not otherwise be able to apply for.”

For IRRRB fiscal year 2017, the program is funded at $50,000.

Eligible applicants can receive grants from $150 to $5,000 to help prepare and apply for grants from state, federal, and private sources other than IRRRB.

Applications to the program are being accepted Oct. 1 through Oct. 31, 2016 and March 1 through March 31, 2017.

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In honor of Health Professionals Week, Hibbing Community College (HCC) is holding a grand opening for its Healthcare Simulation Center on Tuesday, Sept. 27. A reception and demonstrations will run from 2 p.m to 4 p.m. in the Nursing Department, Building C. 

HCC's nursing program boasts state of the art training equipment, including high fidelity simulation mannequins. The high tech simulation facilities offer students life-like clinical experience. The facilities were funded in part by grants from IRRRB and Central Mesabi Medical Foundation. 

Click on the image to learn more about the Healthcare Simulation Center.

IRRRB has been recognized by Minnesota Power for its energy conservation actions.

Minnesota Power, a Duluth-based utility that serves northeastern Minnesota, recognized IRRRB for its participation in Minnesota Power’s Power of One Business energy conservation program.

IRRRB has undertaken a variety of energy conservation projects at its Eveleth headquarters which have resulted in cost savings and reduced energy usage.

Details about IRRRB's new Downtown & Business Corridor Grant Program and other agency programs that benefit businesses will be presented at a Tuesday, Sept. 27, Laurentian Chamber of Commerce “Lunch & Learn” at IRRRB headquarters in Eveleth.

The 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. “Lunch & Learn” will also include information on the FLUXX grants management program and a question and answer session. 

Laurentian Chamber of Commerce members can RSVP by contacting krissya@laurentianchamber.org prior to Sept. 23. Box lunches will be available for purchase via RSVP.

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