November is National Entrepreneurship Month. Northeastern Minnesota is full of entrepreneurs who have a relentless spirit of launching and operating businesses. They are men and women who have taken financial risks to turn their ideas and innovations into a profitable business. They are dedicated and hard-working pioneers in many of the region’s industries including: manufacturing, mining, timber, health care, retail, apparel, construction, industrial equipment, communications, outdoor recreation, transportation and aviation.

Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation has the privilege of knowing and working with many of the region’s entrepreneurs who are at the center of the area’s economy. Their small, medium and large-sized businesses provide products, services and jobs to local residents. Some of them ship their products around the nation and globe, and some provide services here in our local communities.

The business and community development staff at Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation work to help local entrepreneurs and their businesses gain access to funding for building acquisitions and renovations, new building construction, machinery and equipment purchases, land improvements and equity capital.

Learn more about how Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation can help entrepreneurs launch a new or grow an existing business.

Congratulations to all of the entrepreneurs in northeastern Minnesota. Thank you for making our economy and communities better and stronger.

BoatHouse Brewpub & Restaurant in Ely completed an expansion project that renovated the second floor and doubled seating capacity to serve 100 people upstairs. A new fire suppression sprinkler system was installed to accommodate the expansion which also required enlarging the nearby water main serving the facility. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported the project with a $73,449 Development Infrastructure grant to the city of Ely. Total project investment was $335,583.

The renovation also included the addition of new front and back-of-the-house staircases, a horseshoe bar with new bar equipment, eight additional craft beer tanks in a walk-in beer cooler, bathrooms, service elevator, a private meeting room, a lounge area, tables and chairs. The expansion allows BoatHouse to host live music, small and larger events, conferences and meetings. The new second story space features an open floor plan with six-foot picture windows, exposed ceiling beams and a refurbished hardwood floor that was original to the 1905 historic building.

Ely native Brian Tome and his wife Helen co-own BoatHouse with Mark Bruzek of Duluth. Brian was a chef at BoatHouse for numerous years prior to becoming an owner in 2020.

”We’ve been working for many years to continually improve our business and add to the local economy,” said Brian. “The expansion has increased the value of the building and generated economic growth in the community. We have 15 full-time employees, five of whom were hired as a result of the expansion.”

BoatHouse is the only brewpub in the Ely area that makes their own beer on-site which is available in 64 oz. glass and plastic growlers that are approved for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Some of the original local ales include Blueberry Blonde, Pontoon Ride, Winton Wy, Basswood, Two-Hour Goodbye Boundary Waters. There is a full restaurant menu featuring appetizers, pub sandwiches, salads and burgers. BoatHouse is open daily 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

“The city of Ely appreciates the continued support that Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation has provided to assist businesses in our community to expand and provide additional jobs,” said Harold Langowski, city clerk-treasurer. “Brian and Helen have done a tremendous job at the BoatHouse, and the expansion is a great addition to our downtown.”

Watch a BoatHouse Brewpub & Restaurant video, produced by Ely Chamber of Commerce.

Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation’s grants are funded through taxes paid by Minnesota’s mining industry. Email Chris Ismil or call him at 218-735-3010 for Development Infrastructure grant information.

Breitung Township upgraded McKinley Park Campground located on Lake Vermilion. Electrical circuits to 11 campsites and the picnic canopy were upgraded, and new decking was added to two existing docks for safer boat access and lake activities. The public boat launch and pedestrian ramp were made ADA compliant. New bike racks and benches were installed, and a promotional map of the campground and amenities was developed and made available for guests. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported the project with a $23,000 Culture & Tourism grant. Total project investment was $48,000.

The 60-site campground area has increased in popularity year-round due to its proximity to Minnesota’s new Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park. There is a township-owned, multi-use wooded trail that safely and conveniently connects the campground area to the new state park. The trail provides a route for guests to travel back and forth between the state park and the campground area which has access points to Lake Vermilion. It is used by visitors who are snowmobiling, boating, fishing, ice fishing and camping.

“The new state park resulted in an increase in visitors to our township, surrounding area, businesses and amenities such as McKinley Park. Revenue from the campground receipts paid for the improvement project,” said Tim Tomsich, Breitung Township chairman. “The upgrades to the campground area enhance the overall experience for tourists in our region and also improve the community for local residents.”

Breitung Township is larger than many other townships. It is 38.9 square miles including 23.1 miles of land and 15.8 miles of water. Breitung encompasses the community of Soudan, surrounding rural areas and Lake Vermilion. The township has approximately 600 year-round residents with a rapidly growing number of seasonal residents and tourists due to the new state park.

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

The grant also helped pay for creation of a new logo that reflects the facility’s goal of becoming a year-round outdoor sports venue with summer recreation offerings. Mt. Itasca currently offers downhill skiing, ski jumping, snowboarding and terrain park, snow tubing, cross country skiing, biathlon and a full-service chalet with a slope-side view. The chalet may be rented for weddings, meetings, reunions and parties. It has an indoor capacity of 75 and greater outdoor capacity.

The website project was led by Itasca Ski & Outing Club (ISOC), a nonprofit organization that operates Mt. Itasca. ISOC’s goal with the new site is to grow revenue through digital advertising and increased web traffic, which in turn drives online ticket and season pass sales and chalet rentals.

“We’ve seen about a 50% increase in lift ticket sales the past couple of years. Some of that is due to the increase in outdoor recreation created by the pandemic. Another contributing factor was selling our lift tickets online,” said Robert Conzemius, ISOC treasurer. “The new website allows us to keep building on that success.”

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

Saturday, Nov. 26 is Small Business Saturday – a day to celebrate and support small businesses and all they do for their communities. This year, small businesses need support more than ever as they navigate, retool and pivot from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Please join organizations across the country in supporting your local small businesses by shopping at a small business.

Founded by American Express in 2010 and officially cosponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration since 2011, Small Business Saturday has become an important part of small businesses’ busiest shopping season. Historically, reported projected spending among U.S. consumers who shopped at independent retailers and restaurants on Small Business Saturday reached an estimated $23.3 billion according to the 2021 Small Business Saturday Consumer Insights Survey.