Twenty-three businesses in the Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation service area that have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic received a combined total of $900,000 in loans.

The Taconite Area Business Relief Loan Program was recently established by a unanimous vote of the agency’s Board and funded at $5 million. Local businesses that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic are eligible to apply for 2% interest loans of up to $40,000 to be used as working capital or any legal purposes. No repayment on the loans will be due for the first six months, followed by 60 payments of principal and interest. Applicants must intend to re-open if currently closed due to the pandemic.

“COVID-19 has created extraordinary challenges to businesses and communities in northeastern Minnesota,” said Mark Phillips, Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation commissioner. “The Relief Loans can help area business who have been disrupted on a financial level, on a supply and demand level and on a workforce level due to the pandemic. Funding is still available, and business can apply for a loan to help them through their economic recovery.”

The Entrepreneur Fund is administering the Business Relief Program. $900,000 of the $5 million was approved for lending in the first two weeks, and over $4 million is still available. It is anticipated that when completed, approximately 200 local businesses could receive a low-interest loan. Click here for details.

For more information on the Taconite Area Business Relief Loan Program email Matt Sjoberg or call him at 218-735-3037.

The city of Buhl improved the Judson Mine Recreation Area to increase public use and enjoyment. An 18-hole disc golf course was added and upgrades were made to existing trails for hiking, cross country skiing and snowshoeing. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported the project in 2017 with a Mineland Reclamation grant.

Buhl began the project several years ago, and the course opened free to the public last year. It hosts disc golf events and tournaments that generate revenue to maintain the course which is a low-expense city amenity.

The Recreation Area is mining-impacted property in Buhl, an Iron Range community located along Highway 169, a main thoroughfare in the region. It is the former site of Judson Mine, an underground iron mine established in 1913 and later renamed Judson-Balkan Mine when two active mines merged. It later became an open pit mine and eventually closed.

Judson Mine Lake (also referred to as Judson Mine Pit) is 20 acres and 64 feet deep. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation led the original reclamation of Judson Mine after the 1969 Minnesota Mining Reclamation Act was passed. The law’s purpose was to control possible adverse environmental effects of mining, preserve natural resources, encourage land use planning, promote orderly development of mining, and encourage good mining practices. The agency reshaped pit walls, stabilized erodible areas and stocked it with rainbow trout in the early 1980s. Buhl maintains two carry-in non-motorized boat accesses.

“The project represents how mining-impacted land can be responsibly reclaimed for the betterment of northeastern Minnesota,” said Linda Johnson, Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation Mining Reclamation Director. “The disc golf holes wind around the lake and give players very scenic views of a mine that over time was transformed into a living recreational landscape.”

Project partners included the city of Buhl, Minnesota Department of Corrections Sentence to Serve, Airborn Disc Golf Association and Hibbing Disc Golf Association. For Mineland Reclamation grant information email Jim Plummer or call him at 218-274-7006.

Kelsey is located in southern St. Louis County about six miles west of Cotton. Kelsey Volunteer Fire Department provides fire protection to Canyon, Cotton, Elmer, Ellsburg, Meadowlands, Melrude, Ness, Paine, Sax and Zim. In addition, an active Canadian National Railway track runs through Kelsey. Each year during the dry spring and fall months, grass fires are caused by the passing trains. The Kelsey Fire Department extinguishes the grass fires to prevent them from spreading to surrounding homes and communities.

“One of our agency’s goals is to help communities invest in their foundational assets, such as emergency service facilities, various types of infrastructure and broadband,” said Mark Phillips, Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation commissioner. “The agency’s investment into Kelsey and its volunteer fire department prepares that region of northeastern Minnesota for its future by developing modern facilities to protect and serve residents, homes and businesses.”

Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported this project with a Commercial Redevelopment grant which helped demolish the old firehall and a Community Infrastructure grant which helped build the new fire hall. For grant information email Chris Ismil or call him at 218-735-3010.

Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation invests resources to foster vibrant growth and economic prosperity in northeastern Minnesota. Below are two grant opportunities:

NOW OPEN

Downtown Streetscapes - Designed to incentivize investment in downtown areas by promoting safe and attractive environments for residents, shoppers, workers and visitors. Applications due by Aug. 31.

OPEN SOON

Application Fund - Reimburses the costs of preparing and applying for a grant that will advance economic growth. Applications accepted Sept. 1 - 30.

Culture & Tourism - Assist nonprofits by supporting strong arts, culture, heritage and recreational activities to enhance the quality of life in the region and attract visitors. Applications accepted Sept. 1 - 30.

Eligible applicants in our service area are encouraged to apply for one or more grants. Click here to learn more 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.