ASV Holdings, designer and producer of compact track and skid steer loader equipment, is relocating its distribution center from Southaven, Mississippi to its headquarters in Grand Rapids, Minnesota.

For the relocation project, ASV is leasing 53,000 square feet of an existing building, located near the company's current production facility. The building is being converted into a distribution center that will be stocked with parts for ASV's construction equipment made in Grand Rapids. The new distribution center is scheduled to be fully operational in March.

The relocation will add approximately 13 full time equivalent jobs to ASV’s existing workforce of approximately 158 employees. New positons include those in management, customer service, technical support, buying, and shipping and receiving. Current open positions are on the ASV website.

“We are so pleased to bring this component of our business to Grand Rapids,” said Jim DiBiagio, ASV chief operating officer. “The move will strengthen our operational efficiencies as well as create positive economic impacts to Grand Rapids and northeastern Minnesota.”

ASV machines are known for their versatility and used primarily in construction, forestry, landscaping and agriculture. The machines are sold and distributed in North America, Australia and New Zealand. ASV was founded in 1983 and recently emerged as a publically traded enterprise on the NASDAQ market under the symbol ASV.

ASV Holdings was assisted with a direct loan by Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation for the distribution center relocation. Flexible financial assistance packages are available to help new and existing businesses with buildings, equipment, infrastructure, site work and workforce development. Businesses headquartered within the agency’s service area are eligible candidates. Email Matt Sjoberg for information on financial assistance packages or call him at 218-735-3037.

Steger Mukluks & Moccasins, world famous producer of moosehide footwear and Arctic mitts, recently brought its mukluk liner production to its Ely factory with the addition of a very unique piece of industrial cutting equipment. Bringing the liner production component in-house completes the robust company’s long-term goal of creating 100 percent of its goods in Ely by its team of 30 employees.

“Until recently our liners were cut and sewn by a company in Wisconsin,” said owner Patti Steger. “When we discovered the Union Special cutting system based out of Illinois, my goal of bringing all production in-house became attainable.”

Steger Mukluks are half the weight of traditional winter boots and reported by cold weather experts to be twice as warm. They have a native design that Patti learned about first hand in 1982/83 during a nine-month dogsled expedition in Northern Canada. Inuit women and Cree Indian women taught her how to hand-sew this type of footwear.

Patti founded Steger in 1985 out of her Ely home. The company has grown into an anchor storefront on Ely’s main street and become iconic not only in Ely but in the global outdoor apparel industry selling up to 10,000 pairs of its famous footwear each year. 

The designer, pattern maker, architect, mother and outdoor adventurer was born in LaCrosse, Wisconsin and moved to Ely in 1978 with her former husband Will Steger, the legendary Polar explorer. She ran a home-based industrial sewing and design business in both Wisconsin and Ely prior to launching the Steger storefront.

“I have been designing and sewing my own clothes since age 12,” said Patti. “As a young girl I was much taller than average, and clothes off the rack did not fit me properly. In order to be fashion forward I made my own clothes.”

Patti has designed everything from canvas wood carriers, motorcycle saddlebags, dogsled bags and dog packs. Now she focuses on footwear and mitts that are used by people world-wide in everyday life and by outdoor expeditioners in some of the coldest, extreme climates on the planet. 

Steger Mukluks & Moccasins was assisted with a bank participation loan by Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation for the new cutting equipment purchase. A bank participation loan is a low interest co-loan made to a borrower by the agency and a private lending institution. Businesses headquartered within the agency’s service area that have been operating under the same management for at least two years may be eligible candidates. Email Scott Sundvall for more loan information or call him at 218-735-3015.

Visit the Steger website.

Photo courtesy of Steger Muklus & Moccasins

Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation recently provided a $240,000 grant to the Martha Mordini Rukavina Loan Forgiveness Program of the Minnesota Dental Foundation (MDF).

This grant provides loan forgiveness funds to attract new dentists to practice in the Taconite Assistance Area of northeastern Minnesota. Each new dentist must commit to practicing at least five years in a city of their choosing on the Iron Range.

Since 2009, the agency has provided $750,000 to fund this program. 

Pictured at a ceremonial check presentation on Jan. 17 are: MDA President-Elect Dr. Dave Anderson; MDA Executive Director Carmelo Cinqueonce; MDF President Dr. Stephen Litton, Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation Commissioner Mark Phillips; and MDF Board Member Dr. Michael Zakula.

Learn more about this program.

The Northeast Minnesota and Duluth Workforce Development Boards, along with public and private partners, are teaming up to engage employers in the first of a three-part series, "Northeast Minnesota Workforce Solutions Series - Mind the Workforce Gap!," relating to attracting and retaining a skilled workforce.

The kick-off event is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 13 at Clyde Iron Works in Duluth. 

Duluth Mayor Emily Larson and Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation Commissioner Mark Phillips will provide opening remarks. Both encourage businesses to get engaged as soon as possible to get ahead of looming workforce gaps. 

Featured speakers include: Gerry Hoeffner, president of Personnel Dynamics Consulting Group and Susan Bower, State of Minnesota demographer.

Registration begins at 1 p.m., followed by the 1:30 p.m. program. Networking will be held after the program from 4:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. 

Cost is $20 in advance and $25 at the door. 

Register for the kick-off event.

View the event flyer.

Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation's Application Fund Grant Program is accepting applications for its second funding cycle of the fiscal year.  

The Application Fund Grant Program reimburses the costs of preparing and applying for a grant that will advance innovative economic growth within our agency's service area. Funds may be used for preparing and applying for a grant application for state (other than Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation), federal, or private grant programs.

The total funding amount for this cycle is $32,000. Grant awards range from $150-$5,000.

Deadline is Wednesday, Feb. 28. 

Learn more about Application Fund grant program and other grant opportunities.