Range Steel Fabricators (RSF) is entering its second century of industrial steel fabrication on the Iron Range, and new owners Jeff and Gina Halter are positioning the company for growth through equipment modernization.

RSF recently improved its manufacturing processes by replacing an ineffective piece of equipment with a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) profile cutting machine. CNC machines are electro-mechanical devices that manipulate machine shop tools using computer programming inputs.

This new machine precisely and efficiently manufactures components that RSF supplies to industries such as energy and utilities, mining and minerals, paper and forest products, commercial construction, and heavy equipment and industrial manufacturing.

RSF machines and fabricates steel and aluminum components for local companies who use them to assemble their products. Those final assembled products and the byproducts they generate (such as with mining and timber) are then sold and shipped all over the world from northeastern Minnesota.

“Gina and I have high expectations for the future of RSF,” said Jeff. “We intend to expand our services, create new job opportunities in Hibbing and meet our customers’ product needs with a modern manufacturing facility.”

The Halters purchased RSF in 2016 and moved their three children north from Orlando to Hibbing. Jeff was a real estate developer in Minneapolis and Orlando, Florida. Gina has a professional background in graphic design and marketing. Together they transferred their experience and knowledge of process and operations to managing a manufacturing business. Since 2016 RSF has grown from seven to 20 full-time and three part-time employees.

“Gina and I grew up in Grand Rapids, and northeastern Minnesota was always very special to us,” said Jeff. “After having our third child we decided to move home and give our children the same experience we had growing up in a small community and enjoying the outdoors. We now live in Hibbing where our children attend school.”

RSF was assisted with a bank participation loan by Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation for the new equipment purchase. A bank participation loan is a low interest co-loan made to a borrower by the agency and a private lending institution. Email Scott Sundvall for more loan information or call him at 218-735-3015.

Pictured is Jeff Halter, RSF co-owner, in front of the company's new CNC machine.

Visit the RSF website.

The Chisholm All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) trail was recently expanded 12 miles connecting the City of Chisholm to Side Lake as well as establishing potential linkages to many other off-highway vehicle (OHV) and snowmobile trails in northeastern Minnesota. The extension brings the trail up to a total of 25 miles which can attract tourists and overnight stays. ATVs, off-highway motorcycles (OHMs) and mountain bikes are permitted on the trail.

Northern Traxx, Chisholm’s local volunteer ATV club, secured $177,000 in financial support from many partners to complete the project including Yamaha Corporation, the Federal Recreational Trail Program, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources OHV Grant-In-Aid program and Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation. In addition, cash and service donations were made by local organizations such as Friends of Ed Walberg Jr., Charlie Leustek Sand & Gravel, Mark Riipinen Construction, E.H. Lawrence Construction and Frank Sever Dirt Works. Northern Traxx club members and friends donated volunteer hours to construct two handicap accessible shelters along the trail with off-trail parking, covered seating, resting benches, fire pits and wood fire grilling areas.

“This trail project was an excellent public-private collaboration,” said Larry Folstad, Northern Traxx president. “All of the partners knew that when completed the trail could positively impact both the economy and quality of life in northeastern Minnesota.”

According to Folstad, ATV use continues to grow rapidly in Minnesota where there are 268,000 registered ATVs. Minnesota has more than 2,300 miles of trails that cater to a mix of off-highway vehicles, and the Iron Range is home to hundreds of trail miles and the state’s only OHV park. The Chisholm trail is one of the few in the state that is open year round except during deer hunting firearm season.

The club’s next goals are to connect to the City of Buhl, the OHV park in Gilbert, the Taconite State Trail near Side Lake, Highway 53 and Big Aspen near Britt, and the Prospector Loop in process near Lake Vermilion. “If achieved, these connectivity goals could create a trail system that links Chisholm to the North Shore,” said Folstad. “That type of trail system could attract riders from across the United States and week-long stays.”

A grand opening celebration for the new Chisholm Trail will be held in early summer after the remaining work of signage installation and final grading is completed.

Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported this project with a Culture and Tourism grant. Culture and Tourism grant applications for the current cycle will be accepted through March 30. Email Danae Beaudette for details or call her at 218-735-3022. 

View the Culture and Tourism grant guidelines.

Minnesota's Iron Range made a memorable impact at the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration (SME) conference in Minneapolis, Feb. 25-28. 

Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation employees spoke with a steady stream of visitors to its exciting, new promotional booth regarding the agency’s impact on northeastern Minnesota and the rest of the state. Topics of discussion included mining and reclamation, economic diversification, reinvestment of production tax and outdoor recreational opportunities in the region.  

Employees met with several manufacturing companies that could supply to the mining and other industries and potentially expand to northeastern Minnesota. In addition, agency employees engaged with numerous mining engineering graduate students and potential industry employees seeking regional employment opportunities. 

Pictured are some of the many visitors to the agency's booth at the SME Conference.

The Iron Range Cool and Creative Get Together is set for Thursday, March 29, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Minnesota Discovery Center in Chisholm.

The Cool and Creative Get Together is a time for artists, arts organization leaders, economic developers, and civic leaders to get together to work on building arts across the Iron Range.  Attendees can expect an interactive day of connecting artists with each other and with community leaders. 

Laura Zabel, executive director of Springboard for the Arts, will be the keynote speaker. Zabel is an expert on inspiring artists and helping artists work with their communities. 

Sheila Smith, executive director of Minnesota Citizens for the Arts, also will be speaking on the recent Creative Minnesota studies that show the tens of millions of dollars of economic impact that artists and arts organizations have on northeastern Minnesota.  

There is $15,000 available for small grants (up to $5,000) to carry out the mission of the day. Details of the grants will be available at the event, and only groups that send a representative to the Cool and Creative Get Together will be eligible. 

To register or for more information, email Sara Ferkul or call 218-735-3020. Registration deadline is March 14. 

The Cool and Creative Get Together is sponsored by Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation, Arrowhead Regional Arts Council, Lyric Center for the Arts, Blandin Foundation and Bush Foundation.