Governed under Northeast Higher Education District (NHED), five independent colleges will soon merge into one accredited college while maintaining six unique campuses: Hibbing, Itasca (Grand Rapids), Mesabi Range (Virginia and Eveleth), Rainy River (International Falls) and Vermillion (Ely) Community Colleges. The one-college model will be finalized and operational by Fall 2022.

Each of the region’s five colleges are members of Minnesota State and separately accredited under the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Under a new model, area colleges will have a single shared accreditation which results in greater efficiencies for students, faculty and administration.

“The consolidation creates greater access and opportunity for all students to dozens of career programs and a comprehensive transfer curriculum offered at the six campuses,” said Dr. Michael Raich, NHED interim president. “Consolidation also produces greater operational, enrollment and financial efficiencies through shared services, resources and staff. Our region’s entire college system will be strengthened.”

Raich is closely involved in the consolidation process. He explained that each college believes strongly in maintaining their own identity and connection to their respective communities where they play a leadership role not only for education of college and high school students but also for training and certifications for incumbent workers at area businesses. Nearly all of the programs and career fields offered support industries across northeastern Minnesota including mining, construction, manufacturing, health care, law enforcement and transportation.

Under the current system students who are enrolled in courses at multiple campuses have a transcript and tuition billing for each campus. That will change under consolidation. As a counselor at Itasca Community College, Rebecca Niemi Saccoman believes that to be a major efficiency improvement for both students and administration.

“I counsel students on academic, career, personal and crisis matters as well as instruct in the classroom. Many students take classes at more than one campus,” said Niemi. “It can be very cumbersome for them to manage multiple transcripts and multiple bills. The consolidation will allow them to have one transcript instead of two, three or four transcripts.”

Another efficiency improvement is the expansion of academic programming across multiple campuses, both virtual and face-to-face. Brad Krasaway is the interim director of college operations at Rainy River Community College.

“Rainy River offers great programs in health care and in the Liberal Arts, but lacks programs in the trades,” said Krasaway. “Currently if a student in International Falls wants to pursue a career in the trades, those courses are not available. Consolidation can bring career programs to Rainy River through shared faculty and program expansion.”

The merger will support the local K-12 programs as well as address the needs of the region’s business sector.

“From a regional workforce perspective, this consolidation strengthens all interconnected fronts,” said Roy Smith, workforce development coordinator at Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation. “High school graduates will have broader access to liberal arts courses and career programs. Local industries will be served by greater access to talent pools that fill their workforce gaps. Overall our communities, schools, students, businesses and industries will be more efficiently served.”

Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported the consolidation with an $820,000 Higher Education grant, as authorized under the provisions of the Iron Range Higher Education Committee and the Iron Range Higher Education Account as codified under Minnesota Statutes, Section 298.2214 and 298.28, sub. 9d, respectively. For more higher education grant information email Roy Smith or call him at 218-735-3039.

As NHED advances forward in the consolidation process, it is gathering information from all people who have interacted with one of the local community colleges. This includes students, faculty, business owners, community members, tribal nations, local municipalities and nonprofit organizations. Take the five-question survey.

The city of Ely was one of 12 northeastern Minnesota communities that received a Taconite Area Community Relief grant from Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation. Ely received a $125,000 grant, matched $30,000 of its own money and has to date provided $77,000 in forgivable loans to four businesses that have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional forgivable loans with the remaining $73,000 could be provided to other Ely businesses in the coming weeks.

“Like all communities in northeastern Minnesota, Ely’s businesses experienced detrimental effects from the global pandemic,” said Harold Langowski, Ely clerk-treasurer. “The businesses’ largest struggles were the lack of operating capital, difficulty finding and retaining employees, and profitably operating at reduced capacities mandated by state restrictions.”

When considering how to structure the loans for the COVID relief, city officials conferred with local lenders and business owners. All parties agreed that businesses did not want to take on debt in a time of economic uncertainty. Many of them were poised for expansion due to the different ways they needed to operate in a new economic climate amidst a global pandemic.

“We structured the loan program with a forgivable element that still encouraged investment and expansion through hiring new employees,” said John Fedo of the Ely Economic Development Authority. “Based on feedback from our partners we were encouraged that we had the right balance. Supporting new jobs in Ely is a very good thing.”

The four businesses received forgivable loans up to $22,000 each with a 1% interest rate. They were required to hire up to two new fulltime employees at a minimum of $15/hour and maintain those employees for two years in order to move to forgivable status. The funds can be used for a variety of purposes, from equipment to operating capital as long as there is net increase in employees.

The Pebble Spa Company was one of the four businesses that received a loan. Owner Wendy Lindsay founded Pebble 18 years ago and now has three locations including Ely, Virginia and Duluth. She used the loan to hire an employee to launch a new website and online store: www.camppebble.com. Website guests can purchase spa boxes, learn about massage techniques and take wellness challenges.

“We launched the new online site four weeks ago,” said Lindsay. “It is designed to increase sales revenue as we continue our recovery from the two-month closure last spring at the onset of the pandemic. The financial impact was great, and the COVID Relief loan from the city of Ely allowed me to hire an employee who is solely dedicated to that new sales initiative.”

Pebble also hired a second employee dedicated to training staff in new techniques such as reflexology and safety protocols at the three locations.

Land of Lakes Insurance Co. also received a loan. Founder and CEO Shauna Vega has been in business for nine years as an independent agent and insurance broker. Prior to the pandemic, she was considering an expansion of her offerings to include MNsure and UCare, which are both health insurance marketplaces for Minnesota where individuals and families can shop, compare and choose health insurance coverage.

“I received many customer requests over the past couple of years for Land of Lakes to be a broker for health insurance, in addition to the insurance types I was already brokering such as auto, home, life, commercial and recreation,” said Vega. “The pandemic hit, and it did not seem like the appropriate time to expand my services. However, the loan from Ely enabled me hire the two additional employees I needed to accomplish the expansion.”

The Taconite Area Community Relief Grant was established in July by a unanimous vote of the agency’s Board. Twelve applications were received, and all were funded at various levels with financial participation from each community.

“The COVID Relief program enabled Ely to develop a community lending program tailored specifically to its local businesses,” said Commissioner Mark Phillips, Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation. “Ely can retain the loan repayments for future economic development purposes, and new jobs were created. The program embodies our agency’s ongoing mission of investing into northeastern Minnesota communities and businesses.”

Learn more about Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation COVID Relief programs.

The expansion includes the internal demolition of the adjoining wall that connects the two buildings. The wall removal will open up the space and allow access between the buildings. Additional improvements will be made to the storefront and interior of the newly acquired building, and the project is scheduled for completion by Memorial Day 2021.

Husband and wife Dennis Matson & Pamela Canelake-Matson own the candy story with Pam’s three siblings: sister Patricia Canelake and brothers John and Chris Canelake. The candy store was originally founded in 1905 as “Virginia Candy Kitchen” by their grandfather Gust Canelake and his three brothers, making Pamela and her siblings third-generation owners. Virginia Candy Kitchen was one of many candy stores on the Iron Range, and it is the oldest continuously operating one in Minnesota. It eventually became Canelake’s Candies with Gust’s sons Leo and John as second-generation owners until their retirement in 1982. Leo and John sold the store to Jim Cina who upon his retirement in 2018, sold it back to the Canelake family.

“Dennis, my siblings and I are thrilled and honored to be operating the candy store originally founded by our grandfather and continued by my father John and uncle Leo,” said Pamela. “We are using the same, original recipes and methods that they did to make handmade candies in small batches, hand-stirred in copper kettles.”

According to Pamela and Dennis, the upstairs of the newly acquired building is well-suited to accommodate an apartment and studio. When the candy store renovation is complete, they intend to develop the upstairs for added development along the city’s main street. In addition, a pocket park recently opened next door to the newly acquired building. Pamela anticipates the new public gathering space to be an asset to not only her family’s candy store but the entire downtown area.

Other project and funding partners include city of Virginia, Virginia Economic Development Authority (VEDA), Virginia Community Foundation and ReVive Virginia, a nonprofit organization formed to focus on downtown preservation and revitalization.

“The ingenuity of the Canelake’s family began on the Iron Range over 100 years ago,” said Commissioner Mark Phillips, Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation. “They are continuing that same resourcefulness now by reclaiming a dilapidated property, expanding their business, and creating positive economic and community change in one of the region’s historic downtowns. Our agency was very pleased to support this project and the city of Virginia as they continue their downtown revitalization work.”

For more information about Commercial Redevelopment grants email Chris Ismil or call him at 218-735-3010.

Iron Range Tourism Bureau (IRTB) launched a website to attract new talent to the area that can help address the region’s workforce needs. The website showcases the area’s best quality of life aspects for those that may be interested in relocating to northeastern Minnesota. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported this project through a grant to the Blandin Broadband Community program which was designed to advance broadband in northeastern Minnesota rural communities.

"The Iron Range truly is a great place to live and work,” said IRTB Executive Director Beth Pierce. “The Hello Iron Range website is designed to give anyone interested in moving here a positive view of our region and provide them with information to help make their decision to head north.”

According to Pierce, northeastern Minnesota does not have a steady immigration rate into the area which creates an economic and workforce challenge. Other regions of the state have greater influxes of people and workers. Northeastern Minnesota is also recording a higher number of deaths than births which results in a population decline, as well as more jobs than people to fill them. Pierce has conferred with many area businesses who intend to utilize the site for workforce recruiting efforts.

The site features testimonials of people who live and work on the Iron Range, as well as information on employers, cost of living, recreation, community resources, housing, health and fitness, schools, colleges, child care and shopping.

“The Iron Range offers shorter commutes, less traffic, lower cost of living, amazing trails and outdoor recreation,” said Pierce. “We want to promote all of this on one cohesive website that can draw people to the region, fill open jobs that our employers have now, and fill positions that are vacant in the future as the older population retires from the workforce.”  

Hello Iron Range was a collaborative effort spearheaded by Pierce with help from Workforce Strategy Consultant Shawn Herhusky of Minnesota’s Department of Employment and Economic Development.

View the Hello Iron Range website.

Billie Isham is the new Tribal Liaison at Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation. A member of the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa, Isham will support government-to-government relations between the agency and the four Native American tribal nations located within the agency’s service area: Bois Forte, Grand Portage, and portions of Leech Lake and Fond Du Lac.

Each of the four tribes are separate sovereign nations, and each has an independent relationship with the United States and the State of Minnesota. Isham will foster the agency’s relationship with tribal nations, including tribal partnerships related to economic development projects that impact infrastructure, broadband, child care, business and community development, tourism and recreational trails located within or near tribal lands.

”Our agency and the four tribal nations are strengthening our inter-governmental relationships to maximize economic development in northeastern Minnesota,” said Commissioner Mark Phillips, Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation. “We are very pleased to welcome Billie to our team and are confident in her abilities to enhance our relationships with the region’s American Indian tribes. Together we can accomplish economic and quality of life projects that positively impact the Native American people living and working in our service area.”

The Giants Ridge winter sports season began the Friday after Thanksgiving with the opening of the alpine mountain and the stadium area for Nordic skiing.

“Opening weekend was very strong,” said Benji Neff, Giants Ridge mountain sports director. “We had a great turnout of kids, families, vacationers and season pass holders. The opening of the ski area is always highly anticipated, but this year was even more so due to the COVID-19 pandemic and people longing for outdoor recreation close to home.”

Giants Ridge made some adjustments to its operations this winter due to state-wide restrictions to slow the spread of COVID-19. Changes include mandatory online pre-purchase of lift tickets, lessons and rentals before arrival. Indoor seating is restricted, and the food court is carry-out only. However, guests may set up outside warming stations each day such as pop-up tents and ice fish shelters for their individual households. Read "Know Before You Go Info” which includes helpful information to navigate Giants Ridge this season.

“Snow sports are an ideal way for people to play in the wide-open spaces of northern Minnesota, and both alpine and Nordic are inherently social distancing activities,” said Neff. “It is a challenging time, but our operating guidelines are designed to reduce the risk of transmission and keep our guests, employees and community safe and healthy.”

The changes made at Giants Ridge this winter are consistent with those recommended by Minnesota Ski Areas Association and with the National Ski Area Association’s Ski Well Be Well best practices.

Giants Ridge continues to make snow and open additional runs and terrain as conditions progress. Guests may enjoy alpine and Nordic skiing, fat tire biking and snowshoeing. The recreation area is open every day beginning Friday, December 18. Check the Giants Ridge snow report throughout the season for updated conditions and terrain openings.

Giants Ridge is owned by Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation and managed by Guest Services, a hospitality management company in the United States since 1917.