The Arrowhead Manufacturers & Fabricators Association (AMFA) Educational Trust has named IRRRB as its 2016 Most Valuable Partner. Given annually, the MVP award acknowledges an individual or organization’s efforts to support AMFA Educational Trust's mission. 

IRRRB has been a supporting member of AMFA for 16 years. Most notably, IRRRB has partnered with AMFA for the past several years to promote the region’s manufacturing capabilities at the annual FabTech Expo, North America’s largest metal forming, fabrication, welding and finishing event. IRRRB’s support and expertise have been critical in enabling AMFA to promote the membership at events in Atlanta, Chicago, and Las Vegas.

In 2016, IRRRB invited partnership from AMFA, APEX, and the Northland Foundation to launch AMFA Connection, a website designed to capture and quickly disseminate Requests for Quotation (RFQs) that align with the capacity and capabilities of manufacturers in the region. 

Visit the AMFA Connection website. 

The mission of the AMFA Educational Trust is to disseminate information about employment opportunities in manufacturing, provide grants to regional educational institutions, and support lifelong learning in technical education.

Pictured above left to right: Sandy Bryant, Hibbing Fabricators;, Matt Sjoberg and Lori Spielman, IRRRB; Mary Brandt, Advanced MN; Jeremy Lehman, Tritec Steel; and Dan Larson, Hydrosolutions of Duluth. 

A series of Blandin Foundation Broadband Community Vision public meetings are coming online to assist six IRRRB service area communities with improving internet access and use.

The first of six meetings is in Hibbing. 

“We are seeking to increase awareness of the project and issues surrounding broadband and the potential of improved broadband services,” said Michael Raich, Hibbing Community College provost and member of a Hibbing area Blandin Broadband planning group. “The ultimate goal is to come out of the Hibbing meeting with a framework of project ideas to move forward with initiative grant requests.”

The Blandin Foundation since 2003 has partnered with dozens of organizations to assist nearly 70 communities across the state with broadband planning.

With support from IRRRB and St. Louis County, Blandin is assisting the six communities with broadband planning, technical and financial support.

“Based on our experience, communities that step up to name and claim their own broadband futures get results,” said Bernadine Joselyn, Blandin Foundation director of public policy and engagement. “Local leadership really does matter. Enthusiasm is high in each of the communities, but we’re just getting started.”

Governor Mark Dayton has proposed investing $60 million in rural broadband in the state’s 2018-2019 budget.   

Persons interested in helping identify community strengths and gaps, brainstorm project ideas and prioritize potential broadband projects, are invited to the meetings. 

“The vision meetings coming up in February will be a unique opportunity for residents in each community to come forward and make their concerns and priorities heard to inform the investment choices ahead,” said Joselyn.

View the vision meeting schedule.

Photo Credit: Blandin Foundation

EVELETH – IRRRB has announced the recipients of its first round of FY17 IRRRB Culture and Tourism Grant Program awards.

Grants totaling nearly $150,000 were awarded to 14 projects across northeastern Minnesota. 

IRRRB Culture and Tourism grants are awarded on a competitive basis to non-profits within the IRRRB's service area for arts, culture, heritage and recreational projects essential to quality of life and the economy.

View the list of grant recipients.

A second application round will be open March 1-31, 2017.

Photo Credit: Northern Lights Music Festival

Nearly 150 bird watchers from at least 21 states and the District of Columbia are flocking to the tiny community of Meadowlands for a unique festival.

The 10th annual Sax-Zim Bog Winter Birding Festival is Feb. 17-19 at Meadowlands Community Center. 

“The festival certainly brings a lot of folks into town,” said Jeff Kletscher, festival coordinator. “Each year, about 75 percent of our participants are new first-time attendees to the festival. I think that shows that the word continues to get out about our festival.”

The Sax-Zim Bog covers about 300 acres of bog, aspen uplands, rivers, lakes, and meadows between the Iron Range and Duluth. The bog is prime habitat for the Great Gray Owl, Black-backed Woodpecker, Boreal Chickadee, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Connecticut Warbler, and other species.

A one-acre Welcome Center is open from December through mid-March. IRRRB provided assistance for development of the Welcome Center.

Beyond bird watching, presentations will be made by Dr. Gerald Niemi, a University of Minnesota Duluth biology and ecology professor, Dr. Ryan Norris of the University of Geulph, Ontario, Canada, and the Cable Natural History Museum from Cable, Wis.

New to the festival this year is a North Shore and Lake Superior field trip. 

“This trip will focus on some of the waterfowl that might winter in Lake Superior as well as include information on the geology of the North Shore and the natural history of the boreal forests in our area,” said Kletscher. 

View the schedule of events and get additional information.

Mesabi Daily News

BIWABIK — Winter can be a difficult time of year to enjoy the great outdoors, especially when the wind is blowing, the snow falling and the temperatures biting.

But the Nordic and Alpine kids clubs at Giants Ridge not only promote teamwork, foster friendships and build confidence in the youngsters, they also make them “tougher,” says Nordic Club Coach Jack Greenlee.

“It’s a good way for kids to get out and appreciate being outside in a tough time of year,” he said. “I think it builds toughness,” even when the north wind is blowing at the Ridge. “The kids don’t mind. They are pretty tough.”

Not to mention, skiing for eight weekends during the winter is good activity and exercise.

And let’s not forget, it’s just plain fun.

Giants Ridge’s Nordic Club, affiliated with the Minnesota Youth Ski League, teaches boys and girls ages 5 to 15 cross-country ski skills from 2 to 3 p.m. Sundays starting Jan. 8 and running through March 5.

The Alpine Club, for ages 8 to 12, meets from 1 to 3 p.m. during those same Sundays. Kids learn the basics of alpine racing and are introduced to the world of ski racing competition. They learn about proper form, run gates and do some fun drills. The club is open to children who are Giants Ridge season passholders and who can board, de-board and ride the chairlift independently; ski in control and confidently down Innsbruck, which is an intermediate/blue run; and turn and stop.

Read the full Mesabi Daily News article.

Photo Credit: Paul Pluskwik Photography