The city of Virginia and United Taconite are together restoring the native vegetation between the city and the active Thunderbird Mine operation. Two large barrier berms are being planted with a mix of conifer trees including white spruce, white pine, red pine and jack pine. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported the project with a Mineland Reclamation grant to city of Virginia.

The berms are located along the abandoned Trunk Highway 53 near the Midway neighborhood and the 2nd Avenue entrance within the City of Virginia. Both berms are highly visible from the heavily traveled U.S. Highway 53. When completed later this year, the project will elevate the community’s visual aesthetics as well as provide a sound and safety barrier.

Vegetation growth on reclamation sites can be challenging because the surface may not be conducive to plant growth. Successful long-term growth on berms requires adequate water and nutrient-rich soil. For this project, the nutrients of the surface were amended to create optimal growing conditions. Collected soil samples were tested at the University of Minnesota to determine what nutrients were present and what nutrients were lacking. Based on the lab results, wood ash was added to the soil for a nutrient and wood chip bark was added for surface moisture retention.

Minnesota state law requires that vegetation cover reach 90% within three years after the surface within a mining operation ceases and will no longer be disturbed. The law’s purpose is “… to control possible adverse environmental effects of mining, to preserve the natural resources, and to encourage the planning of future land utilization, while at the same time promoting the orderly development of mining, the encouragement of good mining practices, and the recognition and identification of the beneficial aspects of mining.”

“The restoration berms provide residents and tourists views of unique topography and naturalized landscapes as they travel the Iron Range’s main thoroughfare,” said Linda Johnson, Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation mineland reclamation director. “The project showcases how mining-impacted land is cared for in our region through partnerships between the mining industry, local communities and the state of Minnesota.”

For Mineland Reclamation grant information email Jim Plummer or call him at 218-274-7006.

The city of Orr used an Application Fund grant from Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation to hire a professional grant writer who successfully secured a $186,000 grant through the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to redevelop the 2,500-foot Mickey Elverum Bog Walk in Orr.

The Bog Walk leads visitors one-half mile through an ash bog to the shoreline of Pelican River. It attracts an estimated 24,000 visits annually including school groups, senior groups, hikers, bikers and environmental enthusiasts. The raised boardwalk was created in 1993 and needs major redevelopment. Renovation is scheduled to be completed June 2021. 

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 communities pay for experienced grant writers who have that expertise.

“Orr is a model example of how the Application Fund can improve communities in our region,” said Whitney Ridlon, Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation community development representative. “Orr hired a very knowledgeable grant writer to apply for the DNR funding to renovate a regional treasure that is part of our tourism industry and quality of life. When DNR awarded the grant, our agency also matched it with a grant from our Regional Trails program.”

For Application Fund grant information email Whitney Ridlon or call her at 218-735-3004. For Regional Trails grant information email Jim Plummer or call him at 218-274-7006.

Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation invests resources to foster vibrant growth and economic prosperity in northeastern Minnesota. Several grant programs are accepting applications for the fiscal year 2021 funding cycle: 

• Business Energy Retrofit (BER) - Assists small businesses with 100 employees or less with energy efficiency improvements to their buildings. Administered by Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency.
• Commercial Redevelopment - Assists communities with demolition of dilapidated commercial or industrial buildings and cleaning up brownfields for the purpose of redevelopment.
• Community Infrastructure - Assists communities with infrastructure projects that support residential and public facility development.
• Development Infrastructure - Assists communities with projects that support economic development.
• Development Partnership - Assists with research, education and development-based initiatives that support long-term economic growth.
• Downtown Building Rehabilitation (DBR) - Assists business and building owners with code compliance improvements. Administered by Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency. 
• Mineland Reclamation - Assists with highly visible development and restoration of mining-impacted land.
• Regional Trails - Assists with design, engineering and construction of various types of trails such as biking, hiking, walking, ATV, skiing and snowmobile.
• Residential Redevelopment - Assists communities with the demolition of dilapidated residential structures including single-unit residential homes, residential duplex homes, garages, sheds and barns.
• Iron Range School Collaboration: (1) Bricks & Mortar and (2) Innovative Academic Programming - Assists with regional multi-district collaborative initiatives that create greater availability and access to high quality education for students and training for educators.
• Workforce Development - Assists with education and training initiatives that emerge from industry sectors, schools or collaborations that address workforce needs.

Eligible applicants in our service area are encouraged to apply for one or more grants. Click here to learn more about application dates and view grant guidelines. Click here to access the grant application portal (FLUXX).

Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation funds its grants through taxes paid by Minnesota’s mining industry.

PHOTO: City of Hibbing used a Commercial Redevelopment grant to support an expansion of L&M Radiator’s manufacturing facility that resulted in 145,000 square feet of combined new and renovated space.

This year, Primary Election Day in Minnesota is Tuesday, Aug. 11, and General Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Secretary of State Steve Simon is encouraging you to Vote From Home in 2020 – it’s secure and easy to do in Minnesota.

Visit the Secretary of State website for all the voting information you need: how to register, how to request an absentee ballot to vote from home, how to vote and more.