Reynolds Manufacturing and Reynolds Enterprises utilized bank participation loans from Iron Range Resource & Rehabilitation to purchase the assets and real estate of Northland Machine, Inc. in Grand Rapids. There are currently two buildings with 32,000 total square feet of floor space that house Northlands’ state-of-the-art CNC machines used for large capacity, high-speed, high-efficiency and automated parts handling.

John Reynolds is the founder of both Reynolds Manufacturing and Reynolds Enterprises. His purchase of Northland Machine secured the retention of the existing staff and kept the company whole and operating for its existing and new customers that he brought on.

Northland Machine is a manufacturer of products comprised of materials such as plastic, steel, stainless steel, castings, forgings, aluminum, brass, bronze and exotic alloys. Its services include CNC machining, inspection via quality lab with CMMs and a state-of-the-art hand-held CMM, welding/fabrication, assembly, painting, prototyping, 3D modeling, detailing, fixture design and fabrication. The products manufactured in Grand Rapids are sold and delivered to customers throughout the state of Minnesota, much of the Midwest and Canada.

“The industry demand for precision machined parts is strong, and we are building to meet that demand for existing and new customers,” said Matthew Ollestad, Northland Machine’s general manager and vice president. “We have a seasoned staff of 29 full time equipment operators, machinists and welders, managers, and could potentially hire an additional seven to nine more production employees in the near future. The new ownership combined with our technically skilled trained staff presents great growth potential for the company.”

Northland Machine was founded in 1980. The company has been successfully operating in northeastern Minnesota for over forty years. It is currently a veteran-owned business under John Reynolds.

Learn more about Northland Machine.

Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported this project with bank participation loans totaling $1.01 million. Total project investment was $3.12 million. The agency’s business loans are funded through taxes paid by Minnesota’s mining industry. Email Scott Sundvall for more loan information or call him at 218-735-3015.

Small business owner John Dickinson utilized a Business Energy Retrofit (BER) grant to acquire an energy efficient ice cream freezer and dipping cabinet for The Freeze, a 400-square-foot food and ice cream stand located in the city of Virginia. The new stainless-steel freezer has the capacity to hold more barrels, as well as other frozen treats. Urethan insulation keeps the cabinet energy efficient.

The Freeze has been an iconic favorite in the Virginia community since 1956. Dickinson and his wife Kimmy purchased it in 2018. The Freeze offers a menu of American favorites such as chili dogs, burgers, sandwiches, tacos, fries, onion rings, cheese curds, soft serve ice cream and other frozen desserts. There is walk-up service and outdoor seating.

John is employed fulltime at Cleveland Cliffs. Kimmy is a secretary at Rock Ridge School District and operates The Freeze during the summer months when school is out of session.

“The BER grant enabled us to acquire new equipment that not only creates a better product but can also reduce our utility bills,” said Dickinson. “The cost savings will be very beneficial to our small business.”

The Freeze is open every day 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. June, July and August. It employs about 30 people during the summer months; many are local teenagers from nearby school districts.

Learn more about The Freeze 32 Degrees.

Since BER’s inception in 2013, over 624 grants have been awarded to help small businesses with energy efficiency upgrades that can result in reduced utility bills, improved building aesthetics and increased building life. The program is funded by Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation and administered through a partnership with Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency (AEOA).

Email Erik Bennett at AEOA or call him at 218-322-6512 to learn more about BER.

Arts, culture, history, tourism and recreational activities are essential to the quality of life and economy of our region. Twenty-one projects were recently awarded Culture & Tourism grants.

• Aitkin County Friends of the Arts: $29,537 to develop an outdoor terrace for community events.
• American Bear Association: $15,000 to construct a three-season building.
• Breitung Township: $18,000 to improve two outdoor recreation areas.
• City of Aitkin: $3,000 to replace community welcome signs.
• City of Aurora: $10,000 to surface the parking lot for the splash pad, rink and activity courts at Pine Grove Park.
• City of Buhl: $11,084 to renovate a community park.
• City of Kinney: $10,000 to renovate a community playground.
• City of Virginia: $20,000 to improve the aesthetics, accessibility and safety of the entry and exit points to Olcott Park.
• Crow Wing County Land Services: $30,000 to add a fishing pier, swimming beach and picnic shelter to Little Emily Lake Park.
• Friends of the Finland Community: $7,500 to construct a community outdoor hearth at Clair Nelson Center.
• Goodland Township: $30,000 to renovate and expand a community park and playground.
• Hibbing Dylan Project: $3,000 to upgrade the city of Hibbing’s downtown speaker and sound system to accommodate community events.
• Iron Range Off-Road Cyclists: $21,250 to launch a collaborative advertising campaign that promotes the region’s mountain bike trails: Redhead, Cuyuna, Tioga and Giants Ridge.
• Itasca County Agricultural Association dba Lights in the Pines: $8,903 to launch a marketing campaign and purchase supplies for a winter lights drive-thru at the Itasca County Fairgrounds.
• Jim Gillach Memorial: $15,000 to renovate existing tennis courts into pickleball courts.
• John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon: $4,000 to update the event’s website.
• Iron Range Partnership for Sustainability: $2,500 to construct a concert stage shelter at Virginia Market Square, a local farmers market.
• Kootasca Community Action: $30,000 to develop a new playground at an early childhood hub.
• Lake County Historical Society: $8,600 to replace the Two Harbors Lighthouse beacon.
• Laurentian Arts & Culture Alliance: $3,000 to purchase portable audio and lighting equipment for music, theatre, arts, civic, cultural and educational programs at the Lyric Center in Virginia.
• Wabana Township: $30,000 to enhance the community park and outdoor recreation complex.

Does your community have a project that improves the region’s arts, culture or recreation? Email Danae Beaudette for Culture & Tourism grant information or call her at 218-735-3022.

Learn more about Culture & Tourism grants.

Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation funds Culture & Tourism grants through taxes paid by Minnesota’s mining industry.

Mineland Vision Partnership (MVP) celebrated its 25th anniversary today, marking a quarter century of local stakeholders working together to shape future land use in northeastern Minnesota.

MVP is a regional collaboration of mining, business, government and community interests who represent Minnesota’s Iron Range. The group works to help identify lands for economic, recreation and resource-based uses that meet mining and community goals. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation is a member of MVP. The agency convenes the partners and hosts quarterly meetings where topics are explored such as cutting-edge reclamation practices and land use planning.

“Mining has shaped our region into what is it is today, and the industry has and will be for many years the economic driver for our communities,” said Stephanie Skraba, Chisholm’s city administrator. “The unique landscape created by mining has provided the opportunity to capitalize on creating dynamic reclamation projects. The Redhead Mountain Bike Park and Bruce Mine Headframe Park, which is scheduled to open in 2023, are both located in Chisholm and show residents and visitors the breathtaking landscape that the region offers because of mining. The projects allow us to share this landscape and create an outdoor adventure for all.”

Since the late 1800s, Minnesota’s Iron Ranges have supplied most of America’s iron ore that is used for building materials, automobiles, home appliances, and national defense machinery and equipment. More than a century of iron ore and taconite mining has resulted in a changed landscape. MVP works to ensure that the land is restored and shaped for the betterment of the region as mining progresses.

The MVP website showcases some of the region’s mineland reclamation projects, including Eagle Ridge Golf Course (Coleraine), Hull Rust Mine Mahoning Mineview (Hibbing), Judson Mine Recreation Area & Disc Golf Course (Buhl) and Redhead Mountain Bike Trail (Chisholm).

View the interactive map with 16 reclamation projects located throughout the region.

Congratulations MVP – on 25 years of making the region a better place for us all to live, work and play.