The State of Minnesota is leading the nation in requiring 70% more energy efficient state buildings in an effort to have all state construction carbon neutral by 2030. 

Designed to increase energy efficiency and sustainability, the State of Minnesota’s Buildings, Benchmarks, and Beyond (B3) programs were developed for and are required on state-funded projects in Minnesota. 

On Thursday, Oct. 26, the third annual Best of B3 Recognition Luncheon was held at International Market Square in Minneapolis to recognize the achievements of B3 program participants. Up to three finalists were recognized in each of eight Best of B3 categories. The winners in each category were selected by a committee made up of staff from the Center for Sustainable Building Research and the Departments of Administration and Commerce.

Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation was named the winner in the "Best of B3 Benchmarking – State Agency" category. Through energy efficiency strategies ranging from replacing windows to adding motion-sensing thermostats, the agency was able to achieve an energy use intensity that is 5% lower than the code-based benchmark, a 10% reduction from the previous year.

Pictured at the Best of B3 Recognition Luncheon are Mike Skenzich, building maintenance coordinator, and Marianne Bouska, chief operations officer, both of Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation. 

A renovation of the arrival and departure building at Grand Marais Cook County Airport was completed this fall, positioning the rural North Shore airport to create added economic activity and tourism revenue for its primary service areas of Grand Marais, Lutsen and the Boundary Waters.

The renovation created a first class experience for the aviation community with an upgraded visitor’s room and a new private conference room. The facility now has high speed internet needed for flight planning and is ADA compliant.

Prior to the building renovation the airport widened and extended its runway to 5,000 feet, creating improved access for fire-fighting aircraft and air ambulances to provide critical public emergency services. The runway expansion coupled with the upgraded arrival and departure building has generated inquiries from aircraft owners who previously could not fly to the airport due to length requirements. 

According to airport officials, aircraft owners can now fly their larger aircraft directly to northeastern Minnesota and have a first class experience. An increase in private aircraft, charters and business travelers who often take company retreats in the area is anticipated by the airport. 

“The airport is now poised to attract aviators to further develop the airport, which in turn can increase local activity and broaden the property tax base,” said Rodney Roy, airport manager. “The region may also see peaked interest in other private real estate sales.”

Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported the total airport expansion project with $400,000 in development infrastructure grants.  

Pictured is the upgraded visitor's room at the Grand Marais Cook County Airport. 

Cornerstone Villa nursing facility in Buhl is adding an attached 10-room apartment building to fill a care need gap in the region’s assisted living and nursing care market. 

These new rooms are slated for individuals who can remain in an independent setting (similar to assisted living) but still need skilled and custodial assistance such as restorative therapy services, diabetic management, mechanical lift transfer assistance, wound management and modified diets.

“This new expansion will serve individuals who need more care than is provided in assisted living, but less care than what is standard in nursing care facilities,” said Debbie Doughty, Cornerstone Villa administrator.

Cornerstone Villa currently has 44 private rooms and residents in its nursing facility and employs 68 trained individuals. Five to 10 new fulltime equivalent staff will be added with the expansion. 

Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation provided a $14,800 commercial redevelopment grant for the demolition portion of the project and a $99,500 development infrastructure grant for the expansion and addition of the ten rooms. 

“Improving the quality of life is a primary goal of our agency,” said Mark Phillips, Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation commissioner. “The agency was happy to support the City of Buhl and Cornerstone Villa, enabling them to provide vital services to the region’s 55 and older population.”

The new rooms are scheduled to open spring 2018. 

Pictured: Work is underway on Cornerstone Villa's 10-room apartment building addition. 

School students in the Taconite Assistance Area participated in unique career awareness activities this fall, in part due to a workforce development grant from Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation that helped offset bus transportation and other costs.

For the first time, Iron Range school children were invited to take part in the 64th Annual North Star Expo in Grand Rapids, Minnesota’s largest logging, trucking, and sawmill equipment show. Approximately 200 students had the opportunity to learn about the forest products industry. Exhibitors showcased over $15 million in the latest logging, trucking, sawmill and firewood equipment and technology. Students interacted with and asked questions directly to loggers, vendors and timber industry representatives.

The Iron Range STEM Showcase in Hibbing drew 2,000 fifth- and sixth-graders, who explored opportunities in science, technology, engineering and math. Range Engineering Council volunteers guided the students through hands-on learning activities such as magnetized goop, liquid nitrogen explosions, robotics and breaking down the process of baking a pie. The experiments and processes connected kids with industries that are vital to the Iron Range economy. Local seventh graders will attend the Iron Range Science & Engineering Festival in May 2018.

Approximately 450 students in grades 10 through 12 learned what it might be like to work in the skilled trades at the 2nd Annual Construct Tomorrow in Eveleth. Trades professionals such as plumbers, painters, pipefitters, carpenters and electricians worked side-by-side with the kids to wire circuits, trowel cement, set tile and more. Kids were exposed to careers in the building trades and learned about union apprenticeship training program opportunities.

At Itasca Community College (ICC), 200 pre-engineering high school students gathered for an engineering design experience. Teams of students were challenged to design and prototype a sustainable system in the area of power, water, housing, transportation or agriculture for a hurricane-devastated Puerto Rican village. The teams worked through the EPICS (Engineering Projects In Community Service) design cycle to create and present their final prototype. 

Sponsors of these career awareness initiatives are Northeast Minnesota Office of Job Training, Minnesota Workforce Center, Applied Learning Institute and Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation.  

Pictured: Students enjoy hands-on activities at the Iron Range STEM Showcase. Photo courtesy of Range Engineering Council. 

On Thursday, Nov. 9, the third Entrepreneur’s on Tap forum will take place at the Minnesota Discovery Center in Chisholm. 

This event will focus on growing an exceptional staff and culture. It will highlight experiences, lessons learned, and practical how-to’s from real experiences. 

Anna Anderson from Art Unlimited will facilitate the forum. Panelists include: Shelley Robinson, The Range Center; Don Negley, Rural Living Environments; and Kerri Waschke Collie, Ken Waschke’s Auto Plaza. 

Panelists will focus on identifying and hiring on core values, effectively sourcing and selecting the right staff, developing and training staff and nurturing leadership from within. 

Doors will open at 5 p.m., with the event beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Register for Entrepreneurs on Tap.

Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation's Downtown and Business Corridor Grant Program is accepting applications through Thursday, Nov. 30.

The Downtown and Business Corridor Grant Program is designed to incentivize further investment in downtown areas and business corridors by promoting safe and attractive environments for residents, shoppers, workers, and visitors. This program will provide funding for highly visible and creative projects to create excitement, encourage citizen engagement, and generate visible improvements.

For FY 2018, the program is funded at $200,000.

Learn more about the Downtown and Business Corridor Grant Program and other grant opportunities.