June 3, 2020
 Nelson Wood Shims (NWS) in Cohasset, the largest shim manufacturer in North America, began a new chapter in its 60-year history when it became an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) last October. Within an ESOP a company’s stock is held only by its employees who earn shares with each year of service. Shares cannot be bought, they can only be earned which enables all employee owners to share in the success of the company.
“At a time when corporate greed makes most people steam with anger, there exists a company in northeastern Minnesota that swims against the stream and has chosen to share the profits with the employees,” said Brian Peterson, NWS chief financial officer. “We are all owners in the same ship destined for the same future that we decide. Together we will all share in whatever success or hardships lie ahead.”
Prior to the ESOP and since 1996, Fred Bills owned NWS. He grew the company with a philosophy of believing in his employees and investing in improvements. Bills sought the ESOP structure based on his belief to put people ahead of profits and provide quality jobs in the Cohasset area. “It may have been easier to sell the company to a larger conglomerate, but I wanted to ensure that the jobs remained in Cohasset and that every employee in every department had the potential to influence the value of their own company stock shares,” said Bills.
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NWS began its relationship with Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation in 2010 when it received its first loan to start a 12” patented Beddar Wood™ production line. NWS nearly tripled its gross sales and more than doubled its number of employees. The profits earned were reinvested back into the growth of the company. In 2017 and 2018, two additional loans were acquired to add new equipment to its manufacturing operations to meet the growing market demands for its shims. The loans also helped purchase a nearby building from Minnesota Power to accommodate “straight line” production and be a permanent location for the sawmill.
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“NWS wouldn’t be where it is today without the help from so many partners in our community,” said Peterson. “The low interest loans from Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation were a tremendous benefit. We are grateful to our other partners as well including the city of Cohasset, Minnesota Power, Itasca Economic Development Corporation, the region’s logging industry, Lonza and many others. It’s truly impressive what we have accomplished together.”
NWS was founded in 1960 as a one-person operation, and 50 employees now produce its products that are distributed nationwide. 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.
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In addition to the demand for its shims, Nelson’s patented Winbag® sales at Menards and Home Depot have been the company’s third largest selling product. The Winbag® is a quick shimming tool for installing doors, windows, cabinets and countertops. It helps with leveling appliances, lifting doors back onto hinges and can lift up to 300 pounds.
“Our agency has long-term relationships with businesses in northeastern Minnesota,” said Mark Phillips, Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation commissioner. “Businesses grow, change and evolve, and our agency works to support them to reach their goals. Nelson Wood Shims has been a strong and consistent employer and economic driver in our region.”
Nelson Wood Shims has job openings for a full-time Electrical & Mechanical Specialist and Sawmill Laborers. These positions offer full health benefits, 401K match, competitive wages and a share of ownership in the company through the ESOP. View job openings here. For more information email Lisa Wohlsdorf.
For business loans information email Scott Sundvall or call him at 218-735-3015.
Note: Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation provided the city of Cohasset a development infrastructure grant in 2017 to assist NWS with a building expansion.
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A new purpose-built mountain bike trail is scheduled to open near Minnesota Discovery Center (MDC) in Chisholm next month. The trail traverses amidst 1,225 acres of mining impacted land with rich red earth surfaces, steep and rugged rock ledges, lush green forestry, and open mine pits full of clear blue water. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported the project with Mineland Reclamation and Trail grants to the city of Chisholm.
The first trail section that will open is approximately 15 miles and was completed last fall. The remaining 10 miles is under construction and scheduled to open later this year. The park has beginner, intermediate and advanced trails, and Minnesota Discovery Center will serve as the trailhead. Watch a video here to see a preview of the Redhead trail.
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“Northeastern Minnesota is wide-known for outdoor adventure. People travel here for golf, hiking, hunting, fishing and ATV riding,” said Linda Johnson, Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation mineland reclamation director. “Our region is also being poised as a national mountain biking destination with development of the Redhead trail, along with several others throughout the area.”
Other mountain bike trail systems in the region that are either developed or on the horizon include Tioga in Cohasset, Giants Ridge in Biwabik, Cuyuna Lakes Recreation Area in Crosby, Hidden Valley in Ely, Tofte/Lutsen/Grand Marias system in Cook County, and Split Rock Wilds in Lake County.
Redhead is located on mining impacted land that once yielded iron ore that was transferred to America’s steel mills. The majority of the Redhead land is now owned by Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation which developed and funded the project. Smaller portions of the park are owned by St. Louis County. The park is being leased to the city of Chisholm who will be responsible for trail maintenance along with MDC and Iron Range Off Road Cyclists.
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“The reuse of mining impacted lands for recreation can have significant and positive economic impacts in rural areas,” said Mark Phillips, Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation commissioner. “The Redhead trail can add to the quality of life for local residents, attract tourism spending, and be a business recruiting tool for the health care and other large industries.”
The bicycling industry in the State of Minnesota supported an estimated $777.9 million of economic activity in 2014, including 5,519 employees and $208.8 million in wages, salaries and benefits. The manufacturers and wholesalers connected to the industry generated $616.6 million in economic activity. (Source: “Economic Contribution of Bicycling Industry in Minnesota” report by Minnesota Department of Transportation and University of Minnesota.)
Redhead project partners include city of Chisholm, IROC, MDC and St. Louis County. For more Mineland Reclamation grant information email Jim Plummer or call him at 218-274-7006.
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East Range utilizes broadband to improve emergency services
East Range Joint Powers Board recently implemented five new broadband projects that improved public safety and essential emergency services as part of the Iron Range Blandin Broadband Communities program (BBC). The Joint Powers Board encompasses the communities of Aurora, Biwabik, Hoyt Lakes and Town of White.
Police squad car laptops: East Range law enforcement received upgraded laptops in each squad car. With all squad cars operating on the same system, the police increased their efficiency, communication and response time serving the East Range communities.
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Ambulance laptops: Hoyt Lakes Ambulance Service updated its technology to keep communication connections with St. Louis County’s new Computer Automated Dispatch (CAD) system. This ensures timely and efficient response times by Hoyt Lakes EMS, and it provides them with information about patients, call locations and safety of the scene.
EMS training laptop: Hoyt Lakes Fire & Ambulance Service received a laptop to conduct training for their staff and first responders. Trainings include: Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Advanced Medical Life Support, Prehospital Trauma Life Support and Pediatric Advanced Life Support.
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Public safety building SMART board: Hoyt Lakes Fire & EMS departments received an interactive whiteboard to use for mandatory emergency response and public safety training.
Fire department iPads and hotspots: Palo Volunteer Fire Department received new iPads and hotspots to assist with locating homes when responding to residential fires.
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Fairview Range adds iPads to ambulances and emergency vehicles
Fairview Range is adding iPads to local ambulances and emergency vehicles that will link them through WiFi to area emergency rooms and provide critical visual communications between first responders and emergency department (ED) staff. The initiative is part of the Iron Range Blandin Broadband Communities program (BBC).
The iPads will be provided to Fairview Range ED, Hibbing Fire Department (HFD) and Chisholm Ambulance Services. Nashwauk Ambulance Service will use existing iPads to connect to the Fairview Range ED. The iPads are aimed to save lives that previously would have been lost due to non-visual communication, and they will better prepare EDs and care providers when patients arrive. Patients from all local clinics will be served including Fairview Range, Essentia and St. Luke’s.
According to HFD the iPads provide evidence-based medicine. Matt Ashmore, Battalion Chief/EMS Director, explained that it is sometimes difficult to paint a clear picture to the ED physician of how a patient appears and what care has been provided. The iPads offer a live video of the scene, the patient, and the care they are receiving. Using the iPad, the physician can talk with the medics and the patient and give direct patient care in the field much like they do in the hospital. Physicians may also assess the need to divert a patient to higher medical care that is available outside of the region.
“Fairview Range continually seeks new ways to save lives and strengthen communication between teams,” said Jessica Valento, Director of Information and Technology Innovations at Fairview Range. “Using technology in this way makes our region’s health care more robust.”
The BBC is designed to advance broadband in rural Minnesota communities which is critical to economic development, health care, education, workforce and quality of life. The participating communities have access to technical expertise, planning assistance and an opportunity to obtain financial resources to implement their broadband initiatives. BBC is a collaboration between Blandin Foundation, St. Louis County and Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation.
“Fast, reliable and affordable broadband access in northeastern Minnesota is an economic and public safety necessity, not a luxury,” said Mark Phillips, Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation commissioner. “Our health care systems, families, workers, businesses and senior citizens are using it like never before, especially during the recent months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our agency will continue to work to bring it to every acre and corner of northeastern Minnesota.”
For broadband grant information email Whitney Ridlon or call her at 218-735-3004.
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Strong arts, culture, heritage and recreational activities are essential to the quality of life and economy of our region. Four projects were recently awarded Culture & Tourism grants.
Does your community have a project that improves the region’s arts, culture or recreation? Click here to learn more about the grant guidelines and application process. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation funds the Culture & Tourism grant program through taxes paid by Minnesota’s mining industry. Email Danae Beaudette for details or call her at 218-735-3022.
Pictured: A Culture & Tourism grant helped expand a raised observation deck at the Vince Shute Wildlife Sanctuary in Orr. The sanctuary is owned and operated by the American Bear Association.
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The Minnesota Opportunity Collaborative will host a virtual workshop to update northeastern Minnesota stakeholders on the opportunity zone incentive, including a review of its basics, clarifications in federal guidance on its use and its use for businesses.
Dannielle Lewis of Wipfli, who has worked on numerous opportunity zone deals, will share her expertise on the tool's use for economic recovery. The Minnesota Opportunity Collaborative team will discuss the importance of a shared community vision for equitable development and discuss how opportunity zones can advance recovery and resilience.
The workshop is set for Tuesday, June 9 from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Registration is required to receive the workshop Zoom link.
Register for the workshop.
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