Nelson Wood Shims in Cohasset, the largest shim manufacturer in North America, recently redesigned its sawmill production line to meet the market share demands for its patented Beddar Wood® shims which are uniquely processed in order to snap, nail and perform better than traditional pine or cedar shims.

Nelson tested a proof-of-concept “u-shaped” production line in a temporary location beginning in 2014, and the outcomes were positive. This propelled Nelson’s purchase of a nearby building from Minnesota Power in 2017 that could accommodate “straight line” production and be a permanent location for the sawmill. The reconfiguration enabled greater efficiencies and additional growth potential of the Beddar Wood® shims. Nelson now produces the lumber used to supply the Beddar Wood® shims in the new sawmill, while its other products are still produced in the company’s original neighboring production plant.

The new sawmill configuration also increases both the number of wood species and overall volume of wood needed from local loggers within a 150-mile radius of Cohasset. According to Nelson leadership, this creates additional logging and trucking jobs at the front end of the supply process.

“We are proud to provide additional volume and security for our region’s logging community,” said Brian Peterson, Nelson’s chief financial officer. “The loggers helped us create the Beddar Wood® product line in the United States, and we have great partnerships with them that provide opportunities for after-hour deliveries, mileage bonuses for traveling long distances, and even volume contract guarantees with bonus incentives.”

Nelson has been producing shims for 58 years. The company was founded in 1960 as a one-person operation, and 50 employees now produce its products that are distributed nationwide. Nelson’s product sales are primarily in the United States and Canada, however some distributors such as The Home Depot, Lowes and Ace Hardware carry their products into Mexico, Australia and other countries.

This project was supported by a development infrastructure grant and a low interest bank participation loan from Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation. Email Scott Sundvall for more information or call him at 218-735-3015.

Visit the Nelson Wood Shims website.

The City of Nashwauk is restoring and expanding a heavily-visited landmark, Hawkins Mine Pit Overlook, which offers a sweeping and breathtaking view of a once active iron ore mine. Like all communities on Minnesota’s Iron Range, Nashwauk has a rich mining history. Thousands of visitors each year stop at the overlook to view the open pit mine that has been reclaimed into a lake with deep, blue water and rock ledges that showcase the unique geological layers found in the region.

The overlook will receive a new elevated viewing deck with an ADA-accessible ramp, kiosks with historical and project donor information, a picnic area and mini mine-themed children’s park, bike racks, and a refurbished parking lot. The project will be completed this fall, and a second phase renovation is being considered that could include a pavilion.

Hawkins Mine established Nashwauk as the first mining community to develop in Itasca County on the western Mesabi Range. The mine was named after E.B. Hawkins of Duluth, a state senator who was a well-known contractor and civil engineer in the region’s mining industry. The first iron shipment from Hawkins occurred in 1902, and in 1903 Nashwauk was officially incorporated with a population of 220. The town quickly flourished with homes and businesses and by 1910 the population was 2,080. Hawkins first operated as an underground mine and eventually as an open pit mine. The mine closed in 1962 after 60 years of mining and producing hundreds of thousands of tons of iron ore that were transported by rail to the rest of the nation for the growth of America.

“We’ve received $12,000 in private donations for this community project. Many of the donors don’t live in Nashwauk, but their grandparents and great grandparents worked in the Hawkins Mine,” said April Kurtock, City of Nashwauk administrator. “Our community is very excited to honor Nashwauk’s history for both our residents and tourists.”

This project was supported by a Downtown and Business Corridor grant from Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation. Email Whitney Ridlon for information or call her at 218-735-3004.

Situated along the Superior National Forest Scenic Byway between Hoyt Lakes and Silver Bay is the historic Toimi School that was constructed in 1913 by Finnish immigrants who settled in northeastern Minnesota. Until 1942 the building was a two-room schoolhouse for children grades first through eighth. It now serves as a community center for the Toimi-Brimson residents as well as a popular stopover point of cultural and historic interest for tourists traveling between the North Shore and Iron Range.

The facility is managed by the Toimi School Community Center (TSCC), a non-profit organization comprised of alumni, spouses and children of alumni and local residents. TSCC acquired ownership of the building in 1991 from Lake County and has since worked diligently to restore the building and manage it exclusively as a community center for historical, recreational, cultural and civic activities. TSCC also manages an adjacent wayside rest in partnership with the Lake County Highway Department, which adds to the appeal of the scenic byway’s stopover point.

School restoration efforts will continue this summer and include work to the building’s siding, soffits, fascia and foundation, bringing it to a pre-1942 configuration. Following the exterior work, future renovations will focus on improving the interpretive displays in the building that showcase numerous artifacts, pictures and memorabilia donated by local families such as school report cards and oral histories about the school and growing up on a Finnish farm.

According to TSCC volunteers, their restoration and maintenance efforts are preserving one of the last historic schools in northeastern Minnesota and the last vestige of the Toimi Finnish community.

The school is open 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Saturdays now through Labor Day and is the host site of the annual Kesa Juhla (midsummer Finnish festival) on June 23.

The restoration project was supported by a Culture and Tourism grant from Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation. Email Danae Beaudette for grant information or call her at 218-735-3022.

The City of Eveleth is enhancing its downtown cityscape with “A Salute to Hockey.” The community beautification project includes recent significant improvements to Big Stick Plaza and the Eveleth Area Community Foundation Plaza.

Big Stick Plaza has long been the city’s most popular attraction and home to the world’s largest hockey stick, measuring 107 feet long and weighing more than three tons. A new hockey-themed art mural created by Butternut, Wisconsin artist Kelly Meredith was installed earlier this month, replacing the existing 25-year-old mural that had weathered over time. A metal sculpture was also commissioned and will soon be installed in Big Stick Plaza, mounted on a large piece of taconite. The sculpture is of hockey legend John Mariucci, who grew up in Eveleth during the Great Depression, played hockey and football at University of Minnesota, and then was the head coach for the Minnesota Golden Gophers hockey team. Plans for a second sculpture are underway, and its honoree has not yet been selected. Both figures are being created by metal sculpture artist Jeff Kreitz of Brainerd, Minnesota.

A second art mural will be installed in the Eveleth Area Community Foundation Plaza. This plaza last year was enhanced with new planters, a park bench and signage.

The hockey-themed cityscape project is a collaboration among the city and its economic development authority, the Eveleth Area Community Foundation and the Eveleth Merchants Association. 

“A Salute to Hockey has engaged both our citizens and businesses and created a lot of excitement in Eveleth,” said Jackie Monahan-Junek, Eveleth city administrator. “When people think of Eveleth, they think of hockey. Our community’s rich history is interwoven with this sport, and it has positively impacted our people, youth, economy and culture for more than a hundred years.”

This project was supported by Downtown and Business Corridor grants from Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation. Email Whitney Ridlon for information or call her at 218-735-3004.

The Virginia, Hibbing, Cook and Tower Farmer’s Markets open this month. Area farmers and artisans will sell locally grown fruits, vegetables, eggs, meats, canned goods and wild rice, along with homemade roasted nuts, coffee, baked goods, bug repellent, crafts and soaps.

According to Iron Range Partnership for Sustainability (IRPS), farmers’ markets enhance the quality of life in our communities by strengthening agricultural economic development, fostering social gathering, and providing access to fresh locally grown foods.

“Farmers markets create an affordable way for local growers to generate product sales and revenue,” said Marlise Riffel, Virginia Market manager. “The markets enable small farms to stay in business and sustain jobs without incurring high costs that go along with distribution through a middleman.”

To increase fresh food access, several of the markets accept EBT cards, which is part of a nutrition assistance program for limited-resource families. In addition, the Power of Produce (PoP) incentive program will be offered this year at some of the markets. All Iron Range children ages 4 to 12 can receive a $2 token to spend each week on fresh fruits and vegetables.

Market dates and hours are:

• Virginia: Thursdays, 1-5 p.m. beginning June 7
• Tower: Fridays, 4-6 p.m. beginning June 15
• Cook: Saturdays, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. beginning June 16
• Hibbing: Tuesdays, 2-5 p.m. and Fridays/Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. beginning June 19

The four markets are collaborating their social media reach and advertising this summer in order to attract more local and tourism-based customers. The collaboration is being facilitated through IRPS and was supported with a Culture and Tourism grant from Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation. Email Danae Beaudette for details or call her at 218-735-3022.

The Business Energy Retrofit (BER) grant program can help alleviate energy upgrade costs for businesses located within the Taconite Assistance Area. The next grant cycle will be open July 1-14, 2018 with $750,000 available in total funding. A small business with an aging building can benefit immensely from energy efficiency upgrades, benefits such as reduced utility bills, improved building aesthetics and increased building life. However, these upgrades can be financially cumbersome to small businesses that often operate on smaller margins.

BER will fund projects based on the following criteria and priorities:

• A business located within a community that has been previously underserved by BER
• A business that has not received a prior BER grant
• A business located within a downtown corridor
• Projects that are ready to begin within 30 days of application submittal
• Projects that include construction/work bids with the submitted grant application

Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation funds the BER program, and it is administered through a partnership with Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency (AEOA). To learn more email Vince Meyer at AEOA or call him at 218-735-6828.

Read a recent BER success story.