The city of Hibbing was one of 12 northeastern Minnesota communities that received a Taconite Area Community Relief grant from Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation. Hibbing received a $400,000 grant and combined it with $450,000 from Hibbing Economic Development Authority (HEDA) to provide $324,000 in interest-free loans to 10 pandemic-distressed businesses. The loans combined impacted 71 jobs. Additional loans with the remaining $526,000 could be provided to other Hibbing businesses in the coming weeks.

“The economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on our community and businesses have been staggering, especially during the times of tighter restrictions required for public safety management of the virus” said Hibbing’s Executive Assistant Candie Seppala. “The city was pleased to offer financial relief to our businesses. The first round of 10 loans is complete, and funding is in place to assist more businesses as we move into 2021.”

The 10 businesses received zero-interest loans ranging from $5,000 to $40,000 with a five-year term beginning after a six-month deferment period. Following the six-month deferment, only principal is paid for 60 months.

Arrowhead Motorcycle Apparel & Supplies was one of the businesses that received a COVID Relief loan. Owner Tina Serich received her business license in March 2020 and delayed opening her store until July due to the shelter-in-place order earlier this spring. Arrowhead Apparel sells motorcycle rider apparel and supplies including jewelry, belt buckles, chaps, vests, ladies and men’s clothing and boots, leather jackets, belts, gloves and helmets.

“I currently rent a building on Third Avenue East, just off main street Hibbing. The response since the store opening has been fantastic, and I am already seeing the need for more space and larger inventory volumes,” said Serich. “I am going to use the loan to increase my inventory and potentially transition to a leased space on Howard Street, the heart of downtown Hibbing.”

Serich explained that opening and expanding a business amidst a global pandemic is extremely unique and challenging for a small business owner. The restrictions have presented financial setbacks, yet the local consumer support and patronage has offset many of the challenges.

The Taconite Area Community Relief Grant was established last year 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 Hibbing to utilize the resources locally as they best saw fit,” said Commissioner Mark Phillips of Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation. “Hibbing retains the loan repayments for future economic development purposes. 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.

Iron Range Plumbing & Heating owners and brothers Brice and Craig Walli utilized two small business grants to help with the expansion of their family-owned and operated business in Hibbing. They relocated their business into the former Johnson Floral building on First Avenue from a smaller building one-half mile away that their company outgrew. 

With a Business Energy Retrofit (BER) grant (designed for energy efficiency upgrades) and their own private investment, the Wallis added insulated garage doors, enhanced HVAC system, LED lighting and spray foam insulation. A Downtown Building Rehabilitation (DBR) grant (designed for code compliance upgrades) assisted them with plumbing and electrical improvements, an ADA bathroom, ventilation work and asbestos removal.

In addition to the improvements made with the BER and DBR grants, the Wallis renovated almost the entire building including a new roof, siding, storefront and exterior signage. The building’s exterior and interior aesthetics were significantly increased by the renovation. The final upgrade underway is the renovation of the second story scheduled to be completed this spring.

The new building was reconfigured to have a warehouse, sheet metal shop and offices and is approximately three times as large as the company’s former location. With the additional space, Iron Range Plumbing & Heating added five new plumbers to its staff of 15 that includes Master and apprentice plumbers, journeymen and office personnel.

“The increase in space and employees will help us meet the needs of our residential and commercial customers,” said Brice. “Our projects range in scope from a small home bathroom and toilet to a complete mechanical overhaul of an outdated system at a local high school.”

Iron Range Plumbing & Heating was founded in 1987 by Brice and Craig’s father Kevin Walli. The brothers began working with their father in high school, and they purchased the company in 2014 upon his retirement.  

“We were committed to staying in downtown Hibbing. That was very important to us,” said Brice. “The BER and DBR grants helped us make the needed improvements in our new downtown location and continue to grow our company in northeastern Minnesota.”

Learn more about Iron Range Plumbing & Heating.

Since BER’s inception in 2013, over 400 grants have been awarded to help small businesses with energy efficiency upgrades that can result in reduced utility bills, improved building aesthetics and increased building life. DBR was established in 2018 and has provided 26 grants to date. BER and DBR grants are funded by Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation and administered through a partnership with Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency (AEOA). To learn more email Vince Meyer at AEOA or call him at 218-735-6828.

A program was launched to bring affordable quality broadband service to downtown Hibbing including 30 low-income households. Six households are currently being served with another 54 households eligible. The initiative was developed through the Iron Range Blandin Broadband Communities (BBC) program which is supported by a grant from Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation. When completed:

• 60 low-income households at the First Avenue Apartments will have quality internet up to 10 Mbps for $25/month with an option to purchase additional Mbps at affordable rates.
• Anyone within the 2300 block of First Avenue in Hibbing will have access to free internet up to 1 Mbps.
• Infrastructure will be set for the Hibbing Housing Redevelopment Authority (HHRA) to install better quality security cameras.

“We eliminated affordability barriers that many low-income families have to high-speed quality internet,” said Jackie Prescott, HHRA executive director. “The new connectivity gives residents in the First Avenue Apartments internet access for uses such as telehealth, job searches, working from home and online education. The security cameras were an add-on project to improve safety and security for our residents and the community.”

BBC advances 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, Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation and St. Louis County.

Other project partners include Blandin Foundation, Hibbing Chamber of Commerce, sisuLink, Hibbing Housing Redevelopment Authority, Paul Bunyan Communications, Tromco Electric, PCs for People.

For broadband grant information email Whitney Ridlon or call her at 218-735-3004.

The virtual professional development opportunities are Feb. 16 and 25, March 16 and 25, April 20 and 29 and May 18 and 27. Each has a different theme and purpose such as internship opportunities, personal branding, employment coaching services, personality profiles and meet-and-greets with area businesses. Students who register to participate are asked to attend at least four of the eight virtual gatherings. NORTHFORCE Student Connect programming is free to students, will be held virtually through ZOOM and has unlimited space. Learn more and register for Student Connect.

Hansen explained that Student Connect is also an opportunity for local businesses to recruit future employees. Businesses interested in participating may email Elissa Hansen or call her at 218-590-5133.

NORTHFORCE is a community program powered by Northspan. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported NORTHFORCE and its Student Connect programming with a Development Partnership grant through taxes paid by Minnesota’s mining industry. To learn more about Development Partnership grants email Whitney Ridlon or call her at 218-735-3004.

Minnesota Homeownership Advisors Network

This statewide network of nearly 50 public, private and nonprofit organizations offers free, non-biased and confidential counseling services to current and prospective homeowners in northeastern Minnesota. Types of counseling include:

• Foreclosure prevention counseling.
• Reverse mortgage/home equity conversion counseling.
• Pre-purchase education.
• Pre-purchase counseling.
• Pre-purchase financial wellness.

Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency (AEOA) in Virginia is one of the nonprofit originations within the network that provides housing counseling.

Learn more about AEOA’s housing counseling.

Homeownership Capacity Providers

This organization serves home renters with a goal of becoming homeowners. Services include:

• Guidance to improve credit scores.
• Develop a spending and/or savings plan.
• Advice to reduce debt.

Learn more about the Homeownership Capacity providers in Greater Minnesota.

Minnesota Housing helps fund the Minnesota Homeownership Advisors Network and the Homeownership Capacity Provider program. Minnesota Housing is the state’s housing finance agency that works to provide access to safe, decent and affordable housing and to build stronger communities across the state.

People interested in learning about child care careers may attend a virtual career fair on Friday, Jan. 29 from 1 to 2 p.m. A panel of experts will discuss:

• Differences between working in a larger child care facility versus an in-home family care provider.
• Resources to fund child care career training.
• Local career options.

Representatives from CareerForce and NORTHFORCE are participating to connect & assist you with local career options. You may participate via Zoom.

Learn more and register for the child care-focused virtual career fair.

After registering you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.

NORTHFORCE is a community program powered by Northspan. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported NORTHFORCE with a Development Partnership grant.