Grand Marias’ Arrowhead Building owner Virginia Palmer utilized Business Energy Retrofit (BER) grants to help pay for renovations to leaking windows, siding, insulation and a leaking roof in her multi-business commercial building.

Located in downtown Grand Marias, the building was originally constructed in 1918 as the Arrowhead Hotel. Palmer’s family purchased the building in 1997 and rented spaces to a variety of businesses over the years. In the past few years, the Arrowhead’s occupancy was reduced to about 65 percent due to economic markets and needed internal and external improvements.

Through BER grants and her own private investment, Palmer made the much needed improvements to create energy efficient and attractive lease spaces. Occupancy is now at 100 percent with seven tenants including Yellow Bird Fine Art, Mathison & Vos Attorneys at Law, Ancient Traditions Healing, Ascend Services, Country-Wide Insurance, Grand Marais Wellness Center, one residential unit and Palmer’s own Coldwell Banker North Shore Realty.

“The BER grants made it financially viable for me to spend more money on internal renovations that created desirable commercial rental spaces,” said Palmer. “I kept the existing tenants and attracted new ones. It is now a thriving commercial office and retail center which filled an important need in Grand Marais and strengthened the business community.”

Since BER’s inception in 2013, 285 grants have been awarded to help small businesses with energy efficiency upgrades that can result in reduced utility bills, improved building aesthetics and increased building life. The program is funded by Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation and 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.

The Two Harbors Curling Club will begin this season with new carpeting, offering its 140 members and visitors an enhanced winter recreation experience on the North Shore.

The club hosts four annual bonspiels that each draw between 80 and 120 curlers, two-thirds of which are from outside the region. In addition, the club was selected to host the U.S. Junior National Championship in January 2019. This is the top national competition for curlers 21 years old and younger, many who eventually compete in the Olympics. The nine-day event is expected to bring in approximately 200 visitors and national media attention to Two Harbors.

“The original carpet was 25 years old and becoming a safety issue,” said Chris Camper, curling club board member. “Installing new carpet in the public spaces prior to the national championship event was a top priority. Being the host site for the event is a huge honor and will benefit lodging, dining and retail in our local economy.”

The curling club staff is comprised of volunteers who have a common shared goal of introducing people to the sport of curling. The club hosts adult and youth leagues, as well as physical education classes for the Silver Bay and Two Harbors public schools in which an average of 100 children participate per school year.

Two Harbors Curling Club originated as the Two Harbors Jaycees Curling Club in 1963 when the DM&IR Railway gave permission to a group of curlers to flood the floor of its storehouse building. A year later the club built its own building and by 1968 added an artificial ice plant. In 1970, the club brought home its first state championship. The building was destroyed by a fire in 1991 and one year later the club constructed a new facility connected to the city’s municipal golf course clubhouse. The facility is utilized year round for winter and summer recreation and attracts guests from Duluth, Superior, Finland, Silver Bay and Two Harbors.

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

Blandin Foundation has selected four Iron Range entities for intensive, two-year partnerships with the foundation to advance local broadband initiatives.

East Range Joint Powers Board, Iron Range Tourism Bureau, Laurentian Chamber of Commerce and Tower Economic Development Authority all were successful in their bids to become Blandin Broadband Communities (BBC).

Made possible with funding support from Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation and St. Louis County, this selection is unique in that all organizations are located in Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation’s northeastern Minnesota service area.

Communities were selected based on demonstrated commitment to work together across sectors to set and meet information technology goals and bridge digital divides.

Blandin Foundation staff and consultants will work with the four communities to provide planning, technical and financial support as diverse, local leadership teams design and drive digital technology initiatives that position their communities and every resident for greater success.

This Iron Range cohort joins 36 rural Minnesota communities that have gone through the BBC program.

Next steps for each community include assessing the community’s current broadband access and use and, in early 2019, holding a series of public planning meetings.

The Application Fund Grant assists communities and non-profits with the costs of preparing and applying for a grant that can produce innovative economic growth.

Preparing an effective grant proposal, identifying funding sources, and navigating the application process can be costly and requires technical expertise to which small communities often do not have access. The Application Fund Grant helps pay for skilled and experienced grant writers who can do the research and legwork necessary to successfully secure state, federal, philanthropic and corporate funding.

In fiscal year 2018, the Application Fund invested $15,000 to area organizations that resulted in an influx of $1.78 million to the region from outside funding sources that helped support a performing arts center, commercial and residential building rehabilitation, historic landmark preservation, entrepreneurial assistance services, and a volunteer tutor program for K-12 public school students.

Grant writing assistance is part of Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation’s commitment to advancing innovative economic growth. For more information email Whitney Ridlon or call her at 218-735-3004.

Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation's biennial report is now available. The report highlights the programs and projects in which the agency has invested over the past two fiscal years. 

Over the biennium, strengthening the quality of life within northeastern Minnesota communities was a main emphasis. The agency partnered with grassroots groups, economic development entities, nonprofits and communities to support small and large business expansion, infrastructure development, downtown revitalization, broadband expansion, education and talent development and culture and tourism.

View the biennial report.