Minnesota-based Twin Cities Hospitality LLC recently purchased Coates Plaza Hotel in downtown Virginia, rebranded it to a Quality Inn & Suites and is extensively renovating the 75,000-square-foot facility.

Restorations to the 77 rooms are nearly two-thirds complete and includes upgrades to the flooring, walls, furniture, fixtures and bathrooms. Renovations to the pool, meeting spaces and hallways are scheduled once all hotel rooms are completed. The food service has already been converted from a pub style restaurant into a full continental breakfast area for hotel guests.

Twin Cities Hospitality (TCH) is investing approximately $1.2 million into the Virginia project and owns other properties in St. Paul, Brainerd and Albert Lea, Minnesota as well as in Superior and Hurley, Wisconsin. All of the TCH properties are operated under the Choice Hotels corporation which owns brands such as Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality Inn, Clarion, Cambria Hotel & Suites and Mainstay Suites, which all have access to its worldwide reservation system.

“The new owner is bringing the hotel up to franchise standards and making a considerable investment into the downtown corridor which can benefit the entire community,” said Cory Trachsel, general manager of Virginia’s new Quality Inn & Suites. “Other downtown Virginia businesses have reported an increase in consumer traffic since the renovation began.”

The new Quality Inn attracts business travelers, tourists and youth sports teams for events such as hockey tournaments. According to Trachsel, access to the Choice Hotels worldwide reservation system has increased the overall guest volume and diversified the customer base.

Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported this project with a Development Infrastructure grant to the Virginia Economic Development Authority. Email Chris Ismil for grant information or call him at 218-735-3010.

The 35^th Annual John Beargrease Sled Dog 300-mile marathon along the North Shore of Lake Superior is the longest sled dog race in the lower 48 states and this year will enhance its historical connection to the region’s Native American culture.

The event’s namesake, John Beargrease (pictured) was the son of an Anishnaabe chief and played a significant role as a mail carrier along the rocky shoreline between Two Harbors and Grand Marais. Beargrease and his two brothers delivered mail by canoe, row boat, horse and dogsled from 1879 to 1899, a time when communication was limited in the region due to extreme weather, challenging terrain, varying altitudes and violent storms.

Most other areas in the nation were receiving regular mail delivery in the 1800s, and Beargrease recognized the opportunity to utilize his knowledge of the land gained by years of hunting and trapping. He and his brothers transferred their outdoor skills to delivering mail to the European settlers that were establishing along the North Shore. Their mail delivery was instrumental in the region’s growth. Beargrease made his last delivery in 1899 when the route he had traversed for 20 years was finally developed into a trail that could be traveled by horse and buggy.

The six-day event will commence on Friday, Jan. 25, 2019. More than 60 world-class mushers, up to 700 sled dogs, hundreds of spectators and 500 volunteers from across the nation including 20 veterinarians are anticipated. The Beargrease mushers not only compete against one another, they also compete against the extremes of northern Minnesota weather and its rugged terrain through the Sawtooth Mountains. The marathon is a qualifier for Alaska’s famous Iditarod race.

Included within the six-day itinerary is the swearing in of the mushers as official United States Post Office carriers; “Painting for Pups” painters class; Whiskeys of the World tasting; cutest puppy contest; photo exhibit; BEERgrease beer and food event at Glensheen; silent auction; easily accessible checkpoints and road crossings open to the public for photography, winter camping and campfire gatherings; Cub Run for novice mushers ages 3 to 14; and, a mid-distance race for intermediate mushers.

“The Beargrease race truly honors some of the earliest entrepreneurialism on the North Shore,” said Monica Hendrickson, the event’s marketing and outreach consultant. “Mr. Beargrease’s contributions continue today through the marathon which has become an important part of North Shore winter tourism impacting lodging, dining and retail in our local economy.”

Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation provided a Culture & Tourism grant to help enhance the event, particularly the cultural awareness components. In addition to reflective trail signage and advertising to reach new markets in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois, the grant helped support a dance and drum troupe performance during the opening ceremony as well as the display of “Why Treaties Matter” traveling exhibit. Descendants of John Beargrease, Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior and Minnesota Humanities and Indian Affairs have provided guidance on incorporating the additional cultural components into the event.

Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation grants are provided through taxes paid by Minnesota’s mining industry. Email Danae Beaudette for grant information or call her at 218-735-3022.

PHOTO CREDITS: John Beargrease, Cook County Historical Society. Sled dogs, Root River Photography, Heidi Pinkerton.

Enterprise Minnesota (EM) is a statewide nonprofit organization that provides business consulting to small and medium sized manufacturers to help them improve operations, compete and grow profitably. The organization advocates for the manufacturing industry’s value and impact to the state’s economy.

EM assisted Builtrite Manufacturing of Two Harbors through three skills building sessions centered around practical problem solving. Builtrite constructs material handlers and attachments for the waste, scrap, railroad, mining, foundry and general construction markets. Founded in 1989, it manufacturers its products in Two Harbors and distributes them across the United States and Great Britain.

EM steered the Builtrite staff through an “A3 process” which was first utilized by Toyota. A3 involves employees working through a process to identify problems and develop solutions to make the process more efficient. The Builtrite training team (comprised of nine employees and several EM consultants) went through simulations of fulfilling product orders in which the client had specific custom design requests that veered from standard orders. The staff identified ways for departments to communicate and fulfill the special orders in a timely fashion and deliver the products to the customer with no delays.

“The skills building sessions involved all of our company’s departments, from engineering to sales and purchasing,” said Tom Cavallin, Builtrite president. “The whole-business approach strengthened our employees’ abilities to identify problems, work together on creative solutions, and ultimately make our company stronger.”

Cavallin also participates in EM’s Iron Range Peer Council, one of its 12 regional councils in the state comprised of manufacturing executives from a variety of industries. The Iron Range Council has eight members who meet monthly to discuss business challenges and learn from one another on key manufacturing topics.

“I joined the Iron Range Council two years ago and have gained from our discussions on best practices related to plant security, personnel and how to improve processes, problem solving and workforce scheduling,” said Cavallin. “Enterprise Minnesota provides us with affordable consulting services that are specifically geared towards manufacturing.”

EM is supported through a Development Partnership grant from Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation. The organization also receives federal funding through its affiliate, the National Institute of Standards & Technology Manufacturing Extension Partnership, a nationwide network of technical experts. For more information email Whitney Ridlon or call her at 218-735-3004.

The Bavarian Market Village will open in Biwabik next spring offering local residents and tourists an outdoor boutique-style shopping experience along the city’s main street corridor. The market area will have four insulated Bavarian-themed chalets that range in size from 144 to 192 square feet. The four stores as well as a gathering area with benches, picnic tables and a stage for potential musical performances are part of the first phase plans.

The market is a business incubator system that supports entrepreneurs and start-ups by providing them with a small space and limited overhead expenses to help them develop and market-test their business. Similar markets have been launched in Muskegon, Michigan and Tionesta, Pennsylvania.

“Some of the start-up businesses may outgrow their small space and expand into a brick and mortar storefront,” said Kim Sampson, Biwabik Area Civic Association (BACA) member and project coordinator. “Others may remain in the small space, and some may discontinue their business but with limited risk and losses.”

The market will be open Memorial Day through Labor Day, and possibly select weekends during the winter months to capture the Giants Ridge Recreation Area skier traffic.

“Approximately 5,000 cars per day drive on Biwabik’s main street. The market will have excellent exposure and be a tremendous asset to our downtown,” said Sampson. “In addition, Biwabik is part of Minnesota Department of Transportation’s Complete Streets program that will bring significant improvements to our corridor’s streets, sidewalks and parking in the year 2020. All of this is exciting change for Biwabik.”

BACA will manage the market and oversee vendor lease agreements and building maintenance. Leases will be seasonal and include rent, utilities, WiFi and marketing. BACA will solicit lease applications from vendors such as artists, artisans, hand craftsmen, clothiers, antique retailers and bike rentals.

Project partners include the city of Biwabik, Biwabik Public Utilities Department, Arrowhead Regional Arts Council who provided a grant, and a private landowner who provided use of the land at a reduced price.

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. Interested entrepreneurs may email Kim Sampson or call her at 218-260-9112 or email Peter Senarighi or call him at 218-310-4748.