Minnesota North College used a Workforce Training grant from Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation to upskill incumbent workers at Revolv Manufacturing in Hoyt Lakes, a custom plastics molding and assembly provider. Revolv employees were trained in the operation of a new Rotary Thermoforming machine.

The college’s Customized Training Solutions department supports industries across northeastern Minnesota including mining, construction, transportation and manufacturing.

“This type of machine was new to our facility. Our staff was not familiar with how it operated and how it could be used in our manufacturing processes,” said Sandy Bryant, Revolv plant manager. “The workforce training enabled us to upskill our existing employees at no cost to our company. It was a great training opportunity and increased the expertise and skills of our employees.”

Revolv recently received a new large order for consoles that are often seen on Lund brand boats. The staff used their newly acquired skills on the Rotary Thermoforming machine to fulfill the order. The boat console order is one example of how Revolv’s new machine and newly trained staff will expand its manufacturing operations and services to customers.

Revolv also used Minnesota North College’s Customized Training Solutions for:

• CNC Mastercam Training, which resulted in saving time from trimming by hand.
• Rotary Machine Training, which resulted in the ability to make additional parts.
• ISO (International Standardization Organization) Certification to ensure that Revolv’s manufacturing processes have all of the quality assurance, safety and efficiency requirements that are standard within an industry. ISO certification gives Revolv an added advantage in the manufacturing marketplace. When a company is ISO certified, their products are of the best possible quality.

Learn more about Revolv Manufacturing.

Regional businesses interested in training incumbent workers or seeking new workers can email Gail Anderson of Minnesota North College or call her at 218-293-6921. Depending on the training type, it may be conducted virtually or face-to-face in small groups onsite at businesses or in a classroom setting at one of the six area college campuses: Hibbing, Itasca (Grand Rapids), Mesabi Range (Virginia and Eveleth), Rainy River (International Falls) and Vermilion (Ely) Community Colleges. Learn more about Minnesota North College Customized Training Solutions. 

The workforce training for Revolv was part of a business assistance package provided by Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation. Email Scott Sundvall or call him at 218-735-3015 for business assistance information.

Owner Joseph Walls utilized a Business Energy Retrofit (BER) and Downtown Building Rehabilitation (DBR) grant to make energy efficiency and code compliance upgrades to the meat shop that he and his wife purchased in 2020. F&D Meats has been operating in Virginia for more than 40 years providing fresh cut meats and groceries. The Walls are carrying on the tradition and investing in the 50-year-old building to elevate the customer experience.

The interior walls of the retail areas were upgraded. Custom charred-wood shiplap was installed in the grocery and wellness sections, and a combination of brick, paint and corrugated metal was added to the main meat shop area.

The grants also assisted with new flooring, energy efficient lighting, doors and windows. Equipment upgrades included coolers, freezers and a new meat smoker to replace the existing smoker that gave out.

“Our goal from the very beginning has been to continue providing the same quality products that F&D has provided to its loyal customer base for the past four decades,” said Walls. “The grants helped us give the store a major facelift that not only improved the aesthetics of the building but also added operational and energy efficiencies to help us achieve our goal.”

F&D has long been popular for its in-house smoked bacon, beef jerky, beef sticks and porketta. F&D continues to offer those items, traditional recipes and a variety of fish, beef, pork, poultry, seasonings, fresh produce, dairy products, party platters and household supplies. The Walls have added new options such as fresh coffee, honey, maple syrup, organic produce, health and beauty products, handmade artisan gifts and specialty holiday items.

“My family and I have been overwhelmed by the way the community has welcomed us,” said Walls. “I’ve enjoyed meeting all of the customers, and our staff is dedicated to serving them.”

Walls is an International Falls native and has a background in retail, meat department, grocery store and warehouse management. He and his wife Tina moved to Virginia from the Twin Cities in 2019 with their four children ages 17 and under. The Walls family purchased F&D in 2020 and now reside in the city of Virginia.

F&D Meats is open Monday thru Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. It employs about 12 people. Learn more about F&D Meats.

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. BER and DBR are 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 and DBR.

The city of Virginia broke ground on a new historically-inspired entrance to Olcott Park. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported the project with a $20,000 Culture & Tourism grant. Total project investment is estimated at $109,000.

Construction began last week, and completion is anticipated in late August. In addition to creating a grand entrance to the park, the project will widen the northern entrance (9th Street) to allow for two-way traffic and increased accessibility.

The park is home to the Olcott Park Electric Fountain and Rock Garden which the city refurbished in 2018. The fountain is officially listed in the National Register of Historic Places, placing it in the company of sites across the nation that have been declared worthy of preservation in order to protect America’s historic and archaeological resources. The park is also the site of youth baseball, music in the park, picnic pavilions, playgrounds, a disc golf course, a paved walking trail, a community greenhouse and the local historical society. Three of the region’s major festivals take place each summer in the park: Land of the Loon, Sand Lake Shuffle and Brewfest.

Other project partners include US Steel, Olcott Park Brewfest, Virginia Community Foundation and the city of Virginia.

Learn more about Olcott Park.

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

The city of Coleraine repaired and upgraded the exterior and deck of the historic Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, often referred to as “The Log Church.” The scope of work included grading and staining the deck, chinking and caulking the logs to prevent water traps and adding vertical log stair spindles. The church is a highly visible landmark in Coleraine that was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. The facility is part of Coleraine’s historic walking tour and is used for community events, concerts and weddings. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported the project with a $16,000 Downtown Streetscapes grant. Total project investment was $32,000.

The Log Church was built in 1908 and was the first church to be completed in Coleraine. The last church service was held there in 1982. It was deeded to the city in 1987, which requires the city to maintain the building and uphold the basic architecture and appearance so that it remains on the Register of Historic Places.

Coleraine is nestled on the north shore of Trout Lake in north central Minnesota’s Itasca County. It was established as a Canisteo Company mining town in 1909 and named after Thomas F. Cole who was once the president of Oliver Mining Company. The church’s construction was supervised by John C. Greenway, a church parish member and Oliver Mining Company superintendent.

The logs used in the construction of the church were taken from one of the area’s few remaining patches of virgin timber. The church interior and cathedral ceiling are built entirely of wood. The altar rail and lectern are made of birch logs, and a large stained-glass window is a memorial to Greenway’s young nephew who drowned in a hunting accident.

The building maintenance and preservation is funded solely from proceeds of rental fees. Private donations, Blandin Foundation and Minnesota Historical Society have also helped fund past restoration projects.

Iron mining ceased decades ago in Coleraine. The rural community now offers abundant fishing, hunting, golf, outdoor recreation and winter skiing at Mt. Itasca to residents and tourists.

Beginning last year, the Downtown Streetscapes grant merged with the Culture & Tourism grant and has a fiscal year budget of $600,000. Email Danae Beaudette or call her at 218-735-3022 for Culture & Tourism grant information.

Congratulations to The Quarry at Giants Ridge. Golf Digest just ranked it 43rd in America’s Top 100 Greatest Public Golf Courses. Golf Digest compiles the list every other year to recognize exemplary golf design and provide golfers a list of top places to visit. The rankings are compiled based on thousands of evaluations from Golf Digest course panelists who play courses throughout the nation.

Appearing on the 2023-24 list, The Quarry in Biwabik once again finds itself in the company of renowned courses such as Pebble Beach in California, Pacific and Bandon Dunes in Oregon and Kiawah Island in South Carolina.

Read more about The Quarry & America’s 100 Greatest Public Golf Courses.

Book a tee time and plan your fall golf trip to Giants Ridge.

Giants Ridge is owned by Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation and managed by Guest Services, a hospitality management company in the United States since 1917. The agency invests in the Giants Ridge amenities and infrastructure to support the facility’s significant annual economic impact of roughly $55 million. Giants Ridge has welcomed about 135,000 visitors annually in recent years, and it spills out into the local economy as well as creates full-time and part-time jobs for local residents.