IRRRB News - Oct. 5, 2016
 We were saddened to learn of the passing of former IRRRB Commissioner Jack DeLuca on Monday, Oct. 3, in Hibbing. Below is a brief look back at his tenure at the agency.
Jack DeLuca’s four-year
tenure as IRRRB commissioner was highlighted by a focus on business development.
Appointed in February 1987 by Gov. Rudy Perpich as the IRRRB’s 12th commissioner, DeLuca initiated new IRRRB programs that assisted local
businesses with developing strategic business plans.
The Northeastern Minnesota
Metro Advisory Board, composed of private and public sector people interested
in strengthening the Iron Range economy, was initiated along with RangeView, an
IRRRB publication designed to promote northeastern Minnesota as a great place
to do business, live, and recreate.
DeLuca helped lead efforts to reopen Reserve Mining
Co. in Silver Bay and Babbitt.
Businesses assisted under DeLuca’s leadership included Minnesota Twist Drill,
Bluefin Bay, Steger Designs, Buhl Water Company, Superior Shores Hotel &
Convention Center, Hibbing Fabricators, CWDC Industries, and Northshore
Manufacturing.
Under DeLuca, IRRRB also started programs to help businesses renovate
storefronts and to assist municipally-owned buildings with improvements.
Tourism, mineland reclamation, building demolition, infrastructure development
at Giants Ridge, completion of a pavilion at Ironworld USA, and loans to
numerous businesses for start-up and expansion were other earmarks of DeLuca’s
service to northeastern Minnesota.
“As we move into a new
decade, the IRRRB will continue its efforts to build a brighter future for
northeastern Minnesota and its people,” DeLuca said in the IRRRB 1989-1990
biennial report.
View DeLuca's full obituary.
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 HIBBING – Can you walk on water? Make ice cream in 60 seconds? Or make a magnet float in mid-air with no strings attached?
The excitement of hands-on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) comes to Hibbing Memorial Arena from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 7, at the 2016 Iron Range STEM Showcase.
The showcase is free and open to the public.
Range Engineering Council, Iron Range Engineering, Hibbing Community College, Itasca Community College, and University of Minnesota Duluth graduate school are partners in producing the event.
Last year, more than 1,900 local students attended the showcase.
For additional information, visit Range Engineering Council's Facebook page.
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 Minnesota Manufacturing Week is underway, highlighting the importance of an industry that contributes $48.2 billion to the state economy.
The manufacturing industry is a dynamic part of Minnesota’s economy and promotion of this sector’s strength, success and high quality of life is an integral part of Minnesota’s economic development strategy.
In northeastern Minnesota (outside of Duluth), manufacturing had 5,733 jobs in 2015 that paid a total of $333 million in wages.
Here are some additional fast facts about Minnesota manufacturing:
- Manufacturing is the second-largest industry (16 percent) contributing to our private gross domestic product.
- Manufactured exports brought $18.9 billion into the Minnesota economy in 2015.
- Manufacturing provides over 317,200 highly skilled, high paying jobs, which significantly contribute to Minnesota’s high standard of living and economic vitality.
- Manufacturing pays an average annual wage of $63,251. That's $9,287 (or 15 percent) higher than the average wage in all other industries.
 The funding cycle for IRRRB's Application Fund program is now open. The program reimburses cities, townships, non-profits, educational institutions, and collaborative organizations for the costs of grant writing for projects within the IRRRB service area.
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 are being accepted until Oct. 31, 2016 and March 1 through March 31, 2017.
Learn more about the Application Fund program.
Contact IRRRB Application Fund Program Administrator Whitney Ridlon at whitney.ridlon@state.mn.us or 218-735-3004 with questions.
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 Governor
Mark Dayton has proclaimed October as “Cybersecurity Awareness Month” in Minnesota. During this month, Minnesota IT Services will actively work to educate agency leadership, policy
makers, and Minnesotans about how the State of Minnesota is working to keep its
data safe from cyber threats. Read Governor Dayton’s press release.
To help educate Minnesotans about the importance of
cybersecurity, Minnesota IT Services
will be sharing important cyber tips in October that state agencies and their
employees, in addition to Minnesotans, can all learn from.
Please join the state by learning more. Share the
importance of cybersecurity with your coworkers, friends, and family by
visiting mn.gov/mnit/cybersecurity.
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The Ranger is a publication of Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board (IRRRB). Our mission is to promote and invest in business, community and workforce development for the betterment of northeastern Minnesota.
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