Complete Streets is an approach to road planning and design that strives to improve the transportation system’s safety and functionality for all users including motor vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists. Improvements in Biwabik included the electrical system being upgraded to ensure adequate street lighting for drivers and pedestrians, and bringing the main street area to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and improvements to intersections and deteriorating sidewalks. During the reconstruction, a safety issue was identified and corrected at the intersection of Mesabi Annex and Highway 135 that involved a tight angle limiting visibility and making it dangerous to enter the highway.

Biwabik has a population near 1,000 and over 700 households. It is the gateway to Giants Ridge Recreation Area and the East Range. The city’s main street is utilized throughout the year by Iron Range residents and the tens of thousands of annual visitors to Giants Ridge.

“The city of Biwabik undertook a substantial transportation project that provides better access and safety for its residents and all that travel through the region,” said Commissioner Mark Phillips, Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation. “The agency’s infrastructure investment into Biwabik helped create foundational assets that are essential for the East Iron Range to grow and prosper. Roadways and infrastructure are some of the basic building blocks for a healthy economy and quality of life in northeastern Minnesota communities.”

Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation’s Community Infrastructure grants totaled $750,000. Other partners included Biwabik Public Utilities, MNDOT and Federal Highway Funding. Total project investment was approximately $7.2 million.

Watch a simulated video tour of Biwabik’s newly reconstructed main street.

Photos courtesy of Shawn Callahan, Green Gate Guest Houses.

The historic Edna G. Tugboat in Two Harbors celebrated its 125th anniversary in August with an event featuring a fish fry, pancake feed, live music, art show, food and craft vendors, children’s activities, education and historical presentations, and tugboat tours. The two-day event attracted about 1,500 local and statewide visitors. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported the project with a $3,000 Culture & Tourism grant to the help pay for event advertising and marketing.

The iconic boat was built in 1896 at the order of the Duluth and Iron Range Railroad. She is made almost entirely of steel, is 110 feet long, and has a single 4-bladed propeller of 9 feet in diameter. For nearly 100 years Edna G. traveled the Great Lakes helping iron ore boats navigate into and out of Agate Bay Harbor. Edna G. was especially utilized during World War II when Minnesota’s Iron Range was the single largest supplier of raw material for the nation’s war effort. For two years during the war, she hauled coal barges along America’s East Coast. Edna G. was later reinforced to serve as an icebreaker which facilitated her involvement in firefighting on burning boats, ore docks, and burning buildings near the waterfront. She also assisted with rescue operations after storms or collisions on Lake Superior. At the time, she was the finest and most powerful tug in the area. Her interior was considered lavish with polished birch paneling and brass fittings.

The tugboat retired in December 1980, is now a museum ship in Two Harbors and has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1974. She remains in a berth rocking at the tug dock. Pictured above: the Edna G.’s last tow was the Cason J. Calloway on Dec. 30, 1980.

“The 125^th anniversary celebration event brought a lot of tourists to our beautiful lakefront park along the harbor and to our downtown area. It heightened awareness among local residents of the historic significance of the Edna G.,” said Kathy Glenn, chairperson of Friends of the Edna G. “The community support was fantastic. So many organizations and businesses came together to host a spectacular event for people of all ages.”

Friends of the Edna G. is a nonprofit organization committed to preserving the tugboat and educating the public about her place in regional and world history. It was founded in 2018 to ensure her preservation as a historical landmark in Two Harbors. In conjunction with the 125^th anniversary celebration, the group commissioned a professional videographer to produce a video tour of the tugboat that can be utilized for future educational purposes.

For Culture & Tourism grant information email Danae Beaudette for grant information or call her at 218-735-3022.

Christmas tugboat photo courtesy of Donald J. Olson. 

Best of the North Shore Tourism Association hosted its first “Movies in the Park” this past summer to community members and regional tourists. The group purchased an inflatable outdoor theater system with a twenty-foot-wide by 11-foot-tall screen, audio and wireless features designed for in person and drive-in crowds of up to 450 people. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported the project with a Culture & Tourism grant.

The first event was held this past August at the outdoor area of Silver Bay’s William Kelley High School. Organizers plan to resume movies in spring 2022 and hope to offer bi-weekly shows through early fall. The goal of the project is to offer family-friendly events and increase foot traffic to local businesses such as restaurants, food trucks and gift shops.

“Silver Bay has experienced very positive economic and quality of life growth over the past several years,” said Floyd Baker, North Shore Tourism Association president. “We’ve seen growth and expansion in outdoor recreation and small businesses, and our community is drawing tens of thousands of visitors each year. The more offerings we provide, the more benefit to our year-round residents and tourists.”

Recent new development in Silver Bay includes the opening of North Shore Adventure Park in 2019 which is an aerial ropes course and zip line. Black Beach Park & Campground Area opened in 2020 and offers 49 campsites and access to Black Beach which is 31.6 acres with 3,500 feet of shoreline. The area has an abundance of biking, hiking, ATV and snowmobile trails, as well as four state parks including Gooseberry Falls, Split Rock Lighthouse, Tettegouche and Temperance River.

Other project partners included Lovin’ Lake County Association, North Shore AGE to Age, North Shore Area Partners and the North Shore Mental Health Group.

For Culture & Tourism grant information email Danae Beaudette or call her at 218-735-3022.

A Talent Development Program (TDP) grant of up to $10,000 per year is available to help Minnesota employers pay for skills training for full-time, permanent employees. TDP offsets the employer costs to train and upgrade the skills of current workers. Eligible businesses must articulate that by receiving funding assistance through the program their business will not only improve the skills of their workforce but also improve their business processes and competitiveness and/or avert a layoff. The grant is administered by JET - Northeast Minnesota Office of Job Training.  

Eligible applicants include: public or private educational institutions, trade associations or industry-specific trainers, community-based organizations, economic development agencies, unions and government agencies. 

Businesses must be located in Minnesota and in continuous operations for 18 months prior to application and registered with the MN Secretary of State’s office. Groups of employers are encouraged to collaborate on training for workers across organizations. 

TDP is not intended for onboarding new staff and usually requires at least six months of employment for the majority of participants being trained. Funding and TDP training must be delivered within program funding years from July 1 to June 30. Applicants are encouraged to apply early as funds are limited. 

JET can also assist with helping employers find training resources and providers.

Learn more about TDP.  

Email JET Outreach Specialist Renee Prout with inquiries or to request an application.