Aitkin County has for years been known as one of the lowest-ranked Minnesota counties for broadband development and usage.  

The city of Ely has faced reliability issues - and in some areas - a total lack of broadband.  

But that could be changing through a partnership between IRRRB, Blandin Foundation, and St. Louis County.  

Aitkin County, Ely, Hibbing, Bois Forte Reservation/ Orr/Cook, Mountain Iron and Chisholm will over the next two years receive broadband planning, technical support and assistance to advance local technology initiatives through the Blandin Broadband Communities program. The program has assisted 18 other rural communities across the state with broadband planning. 

“We’re excited about this on a couple levels because of the opportunities it can bring to our institutions and the things it can do to increase access to broadband,” said Ross Wagner, Aitkin County economic development and forest industry coordinator. “And if this can bring along the same kind of technology that other communities have like Wi-Fi hot spots and Wi-Fi in school buses, it would be great.”  

Development of high-speed broadband is critical to economic development, education, health care, small business growth, and quality of life, said IRRRB Commissioner Mark Phillips.  

Read the full article.

Pictured above: Terry Soderberg, a Morse Township supervisor, listens at the Nov. 30 Blandin Broadband Communities Program kickoff in Grand Rapids. 

An Iron Range co-working facility and business incubator is asking for your vote in a nationwide grant competition.

Iron Range Makerspace is a finalist in a competition for a $15,000 grant and $1,500 in supplies from Bernzomatic. Bernzomatic since 1876 has been an industry leader in handheld torches.

Iron Range Makerspace in the spring of 2017 opens a building in Hibbing that provides access to a metal working, carpentry and automotive shops, an electronics lab, 3D printing and laser engraving areas, kitchen, and conference rooms.

Iron Range Makerspace, which will offer various trade skill set classes to area high school students, entrepreneurs and others, will be housed in the former VFW building along Highway 169.

“We applied for the grant because it would allow us to increase the amount of personal protection gear that we can purchase and allow us to do workshops and partner with more people,” said Andrew Hanegmon, Iron Range Makerspace Optimizer. “We also want to create an Iron Man-like statue outside our building that represents the industry of the area and what we’re trying to do. We want to help miners, other laid-off workers and other people start new businesses.”

Iron Range Makerspace is sponsored by Iron Range Engineering, Range Engineering Council and Minnesota Power. Voting deadline is December 31.

Vote for the “Flame on! An Iron Range Makerspace Project.”  

The Recharge the Range Large Business Expansion and Attraction action group has created a new survey targeted at retired individuals in northeastern Minnesota. The purpose of the survey is to gauge retiree interest in secondary careers. All retirees in the region are strongly encouraged to complete this brief survey.

Complete the survey.

The survey deadline is Friday, Dec. 30. If you prefer to receive a paper copy of the survey, please contact Sara Ferkul at 218-735-3020. 

A report recapping IRRRB's activities over the past two fiscal years is now available. The 2015-2016 IRRRB Biennial Report highlights the programs and projects in which the agency has invested. 

IRRRB economic development initiatives during the biennium focused on value-added job creation projects, expansion of local businesses, meeting the workforce needs of local industry and making communities more attractive places to live and prosper. 

View the biennial report.

The Burnt Onion Kitchen & Brews will offer a five-course beer dinner on Wednesday, Dec. 14 at 6 p.m. Each course will be paired with a Castle Danger Brewery beer. 

Dinner courses are as follows:  

1st Course - Sage pesto flat bread with duck confit, Iowa Maytag bleu cheese and 20-year-old balsamic vinegar drizzle  
2nd Course - German Spätzle with maple smoked bacon and brown butter
3rd Course - Calamari Fritti with smoked jalapeno aioli
4th Course - Orange Ginger glazed Atlantic Salmon with cilantro sticky rice
5th Course - Petite Pots du Crème with Cranberry Ricotta

Cost is $40 per person, which includes tastings. Reservations are required; call 218-865-8061. 

The Burnt Onion Kitchen & Brews is located in the new Giants Ridge Chalet in Biwabik.