The new store features full-service grocery, delicatessen, bakery and butcher shop to complement the new liquor store for convenient one-stop shopping. The 57,000-square-foot building was developed by Miner’s Inc., a family-owned and operated business with 32 grocery and 11 liquor stores in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported the over $12 million project with a $350,000 Development Infrastructure grant to the city of Crosby.

The grocery store comprises 38,200 square feet and the liquor store 8,000. The remaining 10,800 square feet is leased to Cuyuna Regional Medical Center (CRMC) to expand its health care services with a walk-in clinic, pharmacy and wellness center. The clinic is scheduled to open later this summer and will serve adults and children with non-emergency medical needs. Patients may schedule an appointment in advance or walk-in to receive care from a family physician and other health care providers.

The new building was constructed less than a mile from the previous store’s location on a 12-acre site that included the former E.W. Hallett Family Estate. The project created approximately 100 short-term construction jobs while the grocery and liquor stores provide employment to over 80 people. Rice Lake Construction Group of Deerwood, Minn. was the general contractor.

Other project partners included Minnesota Department of Transportation (MNDOT) and Crow Wing County (CWC). They identified the transportation needs required by the new facility and partnered to construct efficient access roadways including a roundabout at the intersection of Highway 210 and County Road 31 with no cost share to the city of Crosby or Deerwood Township.

“Miner’s is committed to the Cuyuna Lakes area, the revitalization of Crosby and bringing a better shopping experience to its residents and seasonal customers,” said Patrick Miner, president of Miner’s, Inc. “The new store location is much larger with expanded departments and offers spacious and convenient parking for all recreational visitors. We are looking forward to our new partnership with Cuyuna Regional Medical Center."

Crosby has experienced economic growth related to the community’s transition 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 amidst the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area (CCSRA). According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources,  CCSRA had approximately 300,000 total users last year, of which 119,000 were bike users. The DNR anticipates those numbers to increase this year due to an expansion in trail miles.

Miner’s Inc. is a fourth-generation, family-owned business. The company’s team includes over 3,000 employees. Miner’s is headquartered in Hermantown, Minn. near Duluth and also operates a 200,000-square-foot distribution center and its own trucking division.

For Community Development grant information email Chris Ismil or call him at 218-735-3010.

Bois Forte Band of Chippewa expanded its Head Start and Early Head Start facility. The expansion included the addition of a new large motor room to the Vermilion Sector site for children ages zero to five. The new Vermilion Motor Room provides space for children to participate in skill building and physical activities that aid in their physical and mental development and prepare them for Kindergarten. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported the project with a $70,000 Community Infrastructure grant. Total project investment was $732,250.

In addition to the extra space for the children to learn and play, the new room may also serve as a central command center during public emergencies. With a large storage room, emergency supplies can be efficiently stored and accessed during times of crisis.

The Head Start and Early Head Start facility has seven year-round employees with an additional four during the school year which runs September through May. Head Start and Early Head Start programming is open to band members and non-members.

“The child care expansion was extremely important to tribal families, businesses and employers located within the Bois Forte reservation,” said Commissioner Mark Phillips, Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation. “Parents and children across northeastern Minnesota and in tribal nations need reliable, high quality child care. Our agency’s community infrastructure grant was a perfect match for the new motor room.”

Bois Forte Band of Chippewa (also referred to as Ojibwe) is a sovereign, federally recognized Native American Tribal Nation whose people have lived in northeastern Minnesota for centuries. Their reservation land is located within the Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation service area.

Other project partners included the federal Child Care Development Fund and Northland Foundation. The construction project was completed by local Hibbing-based contractors: Max Grey Construction and Architectural Resources, Inc.

For more information about Community Infrastructure grants email Chris Ismil or call him at 218-735-3010. For information about Tribal Relations email Billie Isham or call her at 218-735-3017.

Photos courtesy of Adrian’s Photography.

Al Hodnik, retired ALLETE chief executive officer, and his family were honored in a unique and meaningful way - with the dedication of the Hodnik Family Forest.  

The Rajala Woods Foundation (RWF) named a 1,000-acre parcel of land between Aurora and Hoyt Lakes, in honor of Hodnik, his late sister Margaret, former Minnesota Power vice president of regulatory and legislative affairs, and their late father Ralph, a former Minnesota Power employee. According to signage at the forest site, the land was dedicated to Al, Margaret and Ralph - and to all members of the Hodnik family - who have done so much to make the region a special place to live and work. At the June 9 dedication, about 700 white pines were planted.   

Pictured above: Speakers at the Hodnik Family Forest dedication were: Bethany Owen, ALLETE chief executive officer; Kurt Anderson, Minnesota Power and RWF; Al Hodnik, retired ALLETE chief executive officer; John Rajala, Rajala Companies and RWF; and Rep. Dave Lislegard. 

The Hodnik Family Forest was made possible by ALLETE's donation of land to the RWF, a private operating foundation focused on the restoration of long-lived tree species in their native habitat. 

“This gift opens the door for us to plant and manage thousands, if not millions of trees,” said Anderson. “This is going to make an incredible property even more incredible and make the forest as spectacular as the family it's named after.”

The Hodnik Family Forest is open to responsible public use. The trails, waterways and forest lands contained within the property are an ideal place for hikers, sportspersons, nature enthusiasts and members of the community to visit the region's natural spaces.  

Pictured above: Al Hodnik holds a white pine seedling before planting it in the Hodnik Family Forest.

There are numerous “mine pit” lakes across northeastern Minnesota. All of them are former iron mines that over time naturally filled with water. The mine pits at one time produced iron ore which was turned into steel that helped build America.

The bodies of water are up to hundreds of feet deep and bordered by nearly all solid rock. The water is clear, cool and clean.

Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation, in partnership with Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), began stocking the open pit lakes in 1984 as part of its mineland reclamation work. Between June and September of this year, Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation will stock four area lakes with approximately 6,000 rainbow trout totaling 2,800 pounds. The fish are about one-third to three-quarters of a pound each. The mine pit lakes included:

• Kinney Pit, Kinney.
• Mott Pit, Mountain Iron.
• James Pit, Aurora.
• Tioga Pit, Cohasset.

The open pit mines are popular among trout enthusiasts, anglers and families. The lakes are a part of the local quality of life and the region’s tourism.

For fish stocking information email Jim Plummer or call him at 218-274-7006.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected people in many ways, including financially.

Some have lost a job or had work hours reduced due to COVID-19. Others have experienced increased child care costs, household size, healthcare expenses, or other financial hardships. As a result, some homeowners could lose their homes due to foreclosure or eviction.

If you or someone you know is in that position, HomeHelpMN might be able to assist.

HomeHelpMN

Managed by Minnesota Housing, HomeHelpMN provides up to $35,000 to eligible pandemic-impacted homeowners who have fallen behind on housing-related payments. The program covers overdue mortgage payments, past-due taxes and other housing-related costs incurred since January 2020.

For more information, call 800-388-3226 or visit the HomeHelpMN website.