March 16, 2022
Itasca Community College (ICC) in Grand Rapids developed a new McMahon Student Center that opened earlier this year. The 10,000-square-foot center was created through the reconstruction of about 5,000 square feet of existing space in the library and media center, along with 5,000 square feet of new construction near Davies Hall. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported the project with a $175,000 Commercial Redevelopment grant to the city of Grand Rapids which helped pay for demolition. Total project investment was $5.475 million.
The project repurposed existing space instead of adding to the campus’s footprint. The center is centrally located where most every student passes on their way to class making it very accessible and convenient. New amenities at the student center include ping-pong and pool tables, a gaming station, fireplace, coffee shop, a relocated bookstore and an outdoor recreation equipment rental area. Students have access to the center weekdays, evenings and weekends.
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The idea for the new center grew from an assignment made to students in 2016 by ICC English professor Patrick Matthias. He asked students to write proposals to college administration about ways to improve their experience at ICC. Several student groups drafted proposals advocating for the need and importance of a student center.
“McMahon Student Center is one way that can help us retain existing and attract new students because it improves the overall campus experience. Students can connect with one another in person, meet new friends and peers, and develop a sense of community,” said Bart Johnson, ICC provost. “The facility is an important phase of a larger plan to continue expanding and updating the ICC campus to better serve students and build community connections.”
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ICC offers programs in accounting, American Indian studies, psychology and human services, arts, education, coaching, geography, engineering, environmental studies, health sciences, natural resources, nursing and health care, and wildland firefighting. Learn more about Itasca Community College.
Other financial project partners included Dr. Jack and Mary Margaret McMahon (the center’s namesake), Blandin Foundation, and ICC Foundation which is funded through community, college and alumni support. For more information about Commercial Redevelopment grants email Chris Ismil or call him at 218-735-3010.
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 Approximately 700 legislators, friends and family members attended a special evening on March 1 in honor of Sen. David Tomassoni, a 30-year state legislator who is battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Gov. Tim Walz and former Gov. Mark Dayton also attended the event.
At Tomassoni's insistence, the event doubled as a fundraiser for Never Surrender, Inc. which raises funds to fight ALS and help people with ALS and their families. Since being diagnosed with ALS last year, Tomassoni has dedicated his efforts toward funding ALS research, most notably by introducing legislation that would fund $20 million to research a cure.
Pictured: Current and former legislators who all served as Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation Board members pay tribute to Sen. Tomassoni in St. Paul.
North Country Café, a family restaurant in downtown Crosby, expanded its operations into an adjacent blighted building and doubled the size of its space. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported the project with a $61,435 Commercial Redevelopment grant to the city of Crosby which helped with interior demolition. Total project investment was $475,900.
Café owner Brad Holmvig purchased the adjoining building and structurally and cosmetically restored the property. He joined the buildings by opening a portion of the shared wall. The remodel and expansion created additional seating and kitchen space, and added two new restrooms.
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“The demand for dining in was growing, and we needed extra prep, cooking and table space to accommodate our local and tourism guests,” said Holmvig. “One of the goals with developing the property was to draw larger numbers of people passing through Crosby on Highway 6.
With the increase in capacity, the café added additional staff including a cook and several servers.
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“The expansion of North Country Café beautified a property on the main street of Crosby and grew a locally owned small business,” said Commissioner Mark Phillips, Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation. “The agency’s investment into the city of Crosby strengthened an already robust and growing area.”
Crosby was named as a “Best Place to Live” and one of “America’s Smartest Towns” in 2018 by Outside magazine. The award resulted from the way the community transitioned from a mining-based economy to one centered around adventure recreation. Crosby rebranded itself as a mountain biking mecca through the development of a 30-mile trail system spread across 800 acres surrounding reclaimed mining lands. According to an Explore Minnesota report, the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area has averaged over 185,000 annual visitors.
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Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation invests approximately $30,000 annually into Application Fund grants across its 13,000 square-mile service area. The grants help pay for experienced grant writers who can identify funding sources and navigate the application process to secure state, federal, philanthropic foundation, trust and corporate funding that create 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 city of Silver Bay was awarded an Application Fund grant to hire a professional grant writer who successfully secured a $341,800 grant from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources State Park Road Account to make improvements to East Lakeview Drive. It is a gravel access road to Black Beach Park and Campground which draws thousands of visitors each year. The road has become heavily utilized due to increased tourism, and Silver Bay businesses have benefited from the added traffic. The road improvement project will add parking, bike lanes, safer pedestrian crossings, and control dust in the area for the campground. “City staff typically prepare and submit grants for various municipal projects. However, the State Park Road Account required engineering expertise. Due to the scope and complexity of transportation projects, we needed a grant writer with engineering and road construction expertise who could submit the application on our behalf within a tight timeline.” - Lana Fralich, Silver Bay city administrator
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The City of Deerwood was awarded an Application Fund grant to hire a professional grant writer who successfully secured a $554,893 grant from the Department of Employment & Economic Development to rehabilitate ten single family owner-occupied homes, five commercial buildings and two multi-family apartment rental complexes. “The $3,750 grant from Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation resulted in an influx of over half a million dollars to northeastern Minnesota. Our city will significantly improve its building and housing inventory and make the city more attractive for existing and new residents.” - Michael Aulie, Deerwood mayor
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Application Fund grant amounts vary and require a 1:1 match. Cities, townships, counties, tribal governments and nonprofits located with the agency’s service area are eligible to apply.
Learn more about Application Fund grants.
Email Whitney Ridlon or call her at 218-735-3004 for Application Fund grant information.
Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation funds grants through taxes paid by Minnesota’s mining industry.
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