Bass Brook Community Center opened last year in a newly constructed city-owned building located adjacent to Cohasset Elementary School amidst a neighborhood residential area. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported the project with $500,000 in Community Infrastructure grants that helped pay for water and sewer utilities and roadway repaving. Total project investment was $3,182,000.

The new facility houses a 6,000-square-foot child care and pre-school center and a 3,000-square-foot senior center with gathering space, a fireplace and kitchen that may be used for special events, meetings and community celebrations. The city partnered with Independent School District 318 in the facility design and development. The community center project coincided with the remodel and expansion of the elementary school and offers needed child care options for families in the school district.

The city contracted Little Red Wagon (LRW) to operate the child care center. LRW has four other locations within the state of Minnesota including Blaine, Cambridge, Park Rapids and Princeton. The Cohasset location has an 84-spot capacity and can serve 16 infants, 28 toddlers and 40 pre-Kindergarteners. The senior center can serve an estimated 350 senior citizens annually and provides them a place to socialize, gather and access services.

“The new community center helped offset the child care shortage in Itasca County and improved the quality of life for aging adults," said Max Peters, Cohasset director of finance and city operations. “The needs of our youngest and oldest residents were integrated into one facility. The center is an excellent example of community and economic development that improves quality of life in Cohasset and prepares the city for future growth.”

Little Red Wagon has 12 full and part-time employees, and the senior and community center has two. The facility created approximately 50 construction jobs and is open year-round.

“Child care shortages can have very negative impacts on our local communities, economy and families. A shortage can impact family income, create longer commutes for parents, and prevent people from relocating to a community,” said Commissioner Mark Phillips, Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation. “Quality and ample child care is an important piece of economic development in our region. Cohasset took on a project that will strengthen their community and economy, as well as the neighboring communities of Grand Rapids, Bovey and Nashwauk.”

Other project partners included Blandin Foundation who contributed a $250,000 grant to help pay for the new child care rooms.

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

The roadway and infrastructure along three street blocks in west-central Chisholm were reconstructed as part of the city’s five-year capital improvement program. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported the upgrades with a $250,000 Community Infrastructure grant. Total project investment was $2,030,000.

The renovated area spans approximately 1,375 feet within the right-of-way on 3rd Street Northwest from 7th Avenue to 8-1/2 Avenue. The sanitary sewer, water and storm sewer utilities were replaced. The road surfaces were repaved, and the sidewalks, curbs and gutters were replaced with new concrete. Pedestrian handicap ramps were added to the sidewalks making them ADA compliant. The facilities, which were originally constructed between the 1940s and 1960s, were failing and had reached the end of their useful life. The project resolved several safety and liability issues including differential settlements on the concrete pavement and malfunctioning sanitary sewer collection systems.

“The new infrastructure improved the health, safety and aesthetics of the community,” said Jim Johnson, Chisholm city engineer. “It also will reduce labor, treatment and maintenance costs over time for our wastewater treatment plant. Overall, the pressures, flows and reliability of the distribution system have been significantly improved.”

The new infrastructure served 32 single family residential homes, several adjacent undeveloped properties, and the 5,000 residents of Chisholm who drive on the newly paved surface. The project created 12 construction jobs. A final wear course will be added to the roadway surface.

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

Mineland Vision Partnership (MVP) is a regional collaboration of mining, business, government and community interests who represent Minnesota’s Iron Range. The group works to develop opportunities for minescapes and preserve lands to sustain current and future mining.

MVP developed a new website that showcases some of the region’s mineland reclamation projects:

• Eagle Ridge Golf Course, Coleraine.
• Fish Stocking Mine Pits, Region-wide.
• Hull Rust Mine Mahoning Mineview, Hibbing.
• Judson Mine Recreation Area & Disc Golf Course, Buhl.
• Kinney Pit Recreation Area, Great Scott Township.
• Redhead Mountain Bike Trail, Chisholm.
• Restoring Native Vegetation, Virginia.
• Sherwood Campground at Lake Ore-Be-Gone, Gilbert.
• The Quarry Golf Course at Giants Ridge, Biwabik.

The site also has downloadable maps of the region’s active and inactive mines and mining operations. Some of the maps are three-dimensional. There are also strategic plans available that can help provide the public with a greater understanding of how and when mining stockpiles are planned for redevelopment.

Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation is a member of MVP. The agency convenes the partners and hosts the quarterly meetings where topics are explored such as cutting-edge reclamation practices, land use planning and mining’s future green economy.

“Local residents and tourists drive by and often recreate at the beautiful minescapes and may not realize the work that has led up to reclaiming the mining-impacted land for the betterment of the region,” said Linda Johnson, Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation mining and property development director. “Northeastern Minnesota has been uniquely and profoundly shaped by the mining industry. Many groups and individuals have worked since as far back as the 1970s to restore the land so that it may be enjoyed in new ways once mining ceases in a particular area.”

MVP is open to the public. All stakeholders including private property owners, mining company representatives, business owners and community members are welcome and encouraged to engage in the organization’s activities. Learn more about MPV and view their new website.