Consolidated Telephone Company (CTC) is expanding its broadband fiber optic network to approximately 500 unserved or underserved homes, businesses and community institutions within the Cuyuna Lakes area. All locations will have a minimum service of 250mbps download and upload, with service of 1Gbps download and upload available. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported the project with a $742,850 Broadband Infrastructure grant to CTC. The total project investment is over $5.7 million.

“The existing communications infrastructure throughout the Cuyuna Range is outdated and does not meet the needs and demands of families, schools or businesses,” said Joe Buttweiler, CTC’s chief strategy officer. “This became very apparent with the onset of the pandemic and during the past three years when education, health care and the overall economy became incredibly reliant on broadband.”

The three largest employers in the area are Cuyuna Regional Medical Center, Crosby-Ironton School District and Graphic Packaging International. They represent industries that have come to depend on fast, reliable broadband for daily operations as well as providing online services such as telehealth and distance learning.

Buttweiler explained that access to broadband is as imperative today as electricity was 75 years ago. A reliable fiber optic network is the backbone necessary to provide rural residents, businesses, schools, community centers, remote workers, farmers and visitors with access to the benefits of unlimited bandwidth, cost efficiency and reliability. Residents in the Cuyuna Lakes service area do not currently have access to quality or affordable internet service for everyday needs and essential services.

CTC’s network infrastructure is anticipated to evolve into the future. The newly serviced locations from the project will have the capability to be upgraded and grow with CTC as it works toward broadband services of 2, 5 or even 10Gb.

Other project partners include the State of Minnesota’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)-CV Broadband Grant, Crow Wing County and CTC.

CTC is a member-owned cooperative established in 1952 and based in Brainerd, with additional offices in Baxter and Crosby. It has 16,000 residential and business members and 75 employees that serve as local support teams across northern Minnesota. It originated as a telephone service provider and has since added television and internet services for homes, businesses, cabins and apartment buildings throughout the state.

Email Whitney Ridlon for Broadband Infrastructure grant information, or call her at 218-735-3004.

Ely’s Historic State Theater (EHST) hosted End of the Road Film Festival earlier this month. The inaugural four-day event coincided with the 30th Annual Ely Winter Festival, a 10-day celebration of winter in the north woods. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported the project with a $12,210 Culture & Tourism grant to help pay for the film festival’s marketing and advertising. Total project investment was $96,160.

The festival organizing committee utilized an online platform, Film Freeway, to solicit film submissions by independent filmmakers. Over 165 submissions of feature films or “shorts” were received totaling almost 80 hours of content. The committee screened the films, which were all produced outside of Hollywood and other major film studio systems. Over 80 films were selected for the festival.    

Some of the movie titles included: After the Gunflint, Beyond the North Woods, Bring Her Home, Daughter of a Lost Bird, Freshwater, Musher, Spirit of the Peaks, The Butterfly Effect, The Race to Alaska and Waiting on Walleye. There were also several film production workshops and live musical performances in the theater during the festival.

“Ely is a small town in northern Minnesota that is surrounded by the Superior National Forest and Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Because of its unique location, Ely has become a crossroads of history and cultures,” said Jacob White, film festival director. “The festival’s goal was to entertain, inform and engage our audiences by sharing stories of adventure, advocacy, indigenous traditions, rural economies, crafting in nature, mental health awareness, comedy and horror.”

Leading up to the festival, a marketing campaign was launched that included a new website, videos, social media, digital and print advertising and billboards.

“Pairing the film festival with the annual winter festival showcased the wide variety Ely offers to residents and tourists,” said White. “The film festival attracted a new demographic of seasonal visitors to experience Ely. Over 1,600 tickets were claimed during the festival’s four days.”

Watch a short video about End of the Road Film Festival.

Learn more about End of the Road Film Festival.

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

The city of Aurora improved its primary outdoor community gathering space, Pine Grove Park. The existing ice-skating rink was relocated within the park and acquired new maintenance-free outboards. An ADA compliant parking lot is slated for near future construction adjacent to the splash pad that opened in 2021. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported the project with a $25,436 Culture & Tourism grant to help pay for the parking lot excavation and restoration of the rink system. Total project investment was $105,000.

When the new splash pad opened, the need for more accessible parking quickly became apparent. The optimal location was the site of the existing rink. The city developed a plan to relocate the rink and replace the outdated hockey boards with new multi-use boards that are customizable for summer sports such as roller ball, street hockey, bocce ball and horseshoes.

Pine Grove Park is located in the center of the city and offers a wooded setting with a playground, disc golf course, multi-use rink, splash pad and a baseball/softball field which is utilized by Mesabi East school district. Pine Grove is the East Range’s only outdoor non-scheduled hockey rink. It is maintained with a Zamboni ice machine and serves the youth of Aurora, Biwabik, Hoyt Lakes and surrounding areas. A blacktop path passes through the park and connects to the region’s 132-mile paved Mesabi Bike Trail.

Future park plans potentially include adding a half-court basketball court, warming shack, community pavilion and upgraded park lighting.

“Year-round outdoor recreation is one of the best ways to provide active, healthy amenities to our residents and visitors,” said Kimberly Berens, Aurora’s accounting clerk. “The improvements made the rink, splash pad and entire park more accessible to people of all ages. The new versatility of the rink allows the city to offer recreation options during all seasons.”

Project partners included the city of Aurora and the local nonprofit organization, Caring for the Kids Community.

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

A combination picnic shelter and warming shack was constructed at the Fayal Township Recreation Complex. The enclosed portion of the new structure accommodates a small warming shack for rink guests. There is garage storage for shovels, hockey nets and a snowblower. The picnic shelter portion of the structure provides four picnic tables and a shaded rest area. The new building will replace an aging and water-damaged structure. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported the project with a $24,000 Culture & Tourism grant. Total project investment was $64,500.

Fayal’s Recreation Complex features a playground, skating rink, volleyball court, basketball court, tennis and pickleball courts and community center. The amenities are utilized by youth, adults and seniors for healthy recreation and gatherings that add to the township’s quality of life offerings. The complex provides space for youth tennis lesson programs, a pickleball league, summer yoga classes and child birthday parties.

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