The newest chapter in Lundgren Ford’s long and storied history on the Iron Range is underway, with construction of a new showroom and service and parts shop. Work began earlier this year on the new 20,000 square-foot facility that will take Lundgren’s from eight service bays to 14, all with state-of-the-art equipment. The new shop opens in October. The new showroom opens next spring, featuring Ford and Lincoln new car models.

Service and sales to customers will not be interrupted, as demolition of the longtime dealership and new construction is occurring simultaneously. When complete, the new facility will be highly visible from Highway 53 in Eveleth, the main traffic thoroughfare that runs north and south through the Iron Range.

“The timing for a new facility lined up with the construction of the new Highway 53 bridge, and a Ford facility upgrade program,” said Bruce Lundgren, third generation co-owner of the dealership. “The current building was built in 1963 and was experiencing its age, so my sister LeeAnne and I decided to invest in a new facility to better serve our customers.”

Lundgren’s was founded as a family-owned and operated business in 1929 in downtown Eveleth, selling Model A Fords door-to-door. It eventually moved to its current location under the leadership of Lee Lundgren, Bruce’s father. Lee returned home in 1955 from the United States Air Force in Japan to run his family’s car business and operated Lundgren’s on a philosophy of treating everyone with honesty and integrity.

“Today, Lundgren’s is still operated under the same belief system my father passed on,” said Bruce Lundgren.

Lee Lundgren passed away earlier this year, and his son Bruce said his father would be pleased with the new facility and its continued commitment of a low-pressure sales and top-quality service environment. 

This project was assisted with a $150,000 grant to the City of Eveleth from Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation, through its Commercial Redevelopment program. The program helps fund the conversion of previously used commercial sites into viable development sites, an essential component to the vitality and economy of the region.

Visit Lundgren’s online or connect on Facebook.

Pictured above: Bruce Lundgren, co-owner of Lundgren's, looks forward to opening the new automobile and truck dealership.

The Northland Foundation and Minnesota Compass will host two listening sessions in northeastern Minnesota. 

These free sessions will offer information about Minnesota Compass data and tools for the Northland Region. They will also provide an opportunity for attendees to share ideas for how Minnesota Compass can improve data to meet community needs.

Breakfast will be provided at each session. Attendees should RSVP using the registration link for the session of their choice.

Minnesota Compass Northland Region Listening Sessions

• Tuesday, Sept. 12, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., Blandin Foundation, 100 N. Pokegama Ave, Grand Rapids
• Wednesday, Sept. 13, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., Park Hotel, 1402 E. Howard Street, Hibbing

Although the sessions are free, space is limited. 

Register for a session.  

Minnesota Compass provides free, accessible information for communities and tracks trends on topics such as education, economy and workforce, health, housing, and public safety throughout the state. The goal is to provide data and information for Minnesotans to identify, understand, and act on issues that affect our communities. 

Visit the Minnesota Compass website.

Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation's Drilling Incentive Grant (DIG) Program is accepting applications through Friday, Sept. 29. 

The DIG program is designed to stimulate exploration for new metallic minerals and/or new deposits of minerals within our service area.

For FY 2018, the program is funded at $100,000.

Qualified applicants must meet Minnesota requirements for exploratory boring procedures, and they must be authorized to hold a Minnesota exploration lease. DIG will match up to 40% of direct drilling costs not to exceed $20,000 per drill hole. Funding can only be used for exploratory drilling. 

Deadline is Friday, Sept. 29. 

Learn more about the Drilling Incentive Grant Program and other grant opportunities.

Upcoming FY18 Grant Program Deadlines: 

• Culture and Tourism application cycles: Sept. 1-29, 2017 and March 1-30, 2018
• Application Fund application cycles: Oct. 1-31, 2017 and Feb. 1-28, 2018
• Downtown and Business Corridor application cycle: Nov. 1-30, 2017

Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation publishes a print edition of The Ranger newsletter in the Mesabi Daily News, Hibbing Daily Tribune and Grand Rapids Herald-Review. 

Article topics in the latest issue include:

• A school on wheels: Wi-Fi opens up new learning doors on Iron Range school buses 
• Taking you to the top: Giants Ridge to unveil two new quad ski lifts for coming season  

Read the print edition of The Ranger.

Pictured: Joe Phillips, Chisholm Public Schools technology director, shows off Wi-Fi installed on district buses.