A new regional recreation and wellness center located in the former YMCA building in Mountain Iron opened to the public last month. Mesabi Fit offers a swimming pool, sauna, hot tub, fitness center with weights and cardio equipment, and a gymnasium for basketball, volleyball and pickleball. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported the project with $1.025 million in Development Infrastructure and Community Development grants to help pay for the acquisition, facility upgrades and operational startup. Total project investment was approximately $2.1 million.

There are wellness and recreation programming and classes for adults and children, and a space for local artists to showcase their work. Mesabi Fit also houses the Hygge Play Studio, which is an area designated for children and their parents or caretakers to enjoy free play together. Child watch services are available for parents when using the facility.

“Mesabi Fit is an excellent example of how Iron Rangers work together to help one another, take on challenges, persevere and overcome obstacles,” said Commissioner Ida Rukavina, Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation. “I commend the volunteers and other community members who worked so hard to create this fantastic new facility that will benefit the people and families of the Iron Range. This wonderful facility makes our region stronger and better, both on a community and wellness level and on an economic level to attract new residents.”

The facility is owned and operated by the nonprofit Mesabi Fit Coalition. The group formed with the mission of transforming the vacant unused building that originally opened as the Mesabi YMCA in 1991. It served the Iron Range community for 30 years before closing in 2022.

Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported the construction of the original YMCA building in 1991. Through community development grants nearly 30 years ago, the agency provided about half of the seed money needed to bring a YMCA to the Iron Range. The agency’s former and late Commissioner Mark Phillips was supportive of the new Mesabi Fit project, and it was one of the last endeavors he worked on before he retired in 2022.

Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation also provided $6,000 in Grant Writing Assistance to Mesabi Fit to hire a professional grant writer to prepare and apply for various state, federal and philanthropic grants to further help fund and sustain the new facility.

Other Mesabi Fit major donor partners include Blandin Foundation, Essentia Health, Minnesota Power Foundation, Northland Foundation, St. Louis County, St. Louis County Family Services Collaborative, state of Minnesota, and private donations of time and money from community members and organizations.

“The renovation of this once vacant property was a monumental undertaking, but one that our coalition was extremely committed to,” said Sharon Chadwick, Mesabi Fit board president. “We now have an inviting modern structure that is a proud component of the region’s infrastructure. We are thrilled to officially open the only full spectrum fitness facility in the region, and we are committed to serving all ages, to providing fun and healthy recreation opportunities for families and to being accessible 24/7.”

Learn more about Mesabi Fit.

Email Chris Ismil or call him at 218-735-3010 for more information about Development Infrastructure grants.

Email Shawn Herhusky or call him at 218-735-3067 for Grant Writing Assistance information.

Pool photo by Cheryl Carlson.

A new housing and resort development located in the North Shore community of Silver Bay broke ground last week. Boathouse Bay will be built out over the next five years, with construction scheduled to begin this summer. It will have up to 53 units of residential housing, including single-family lots, townhomes and vacation rentals along Lake Superior. There will be approximately 110 units of commercial storage and a 2,200-square-foot event center.

The city of Silver Bay entered into a Development Agreement with Sawtooth 16, LLC to develop the property. In addition, the city has future development visions that include a Fishing Village with restaurants and retail offerings to serve local residents and tourists.

According to Nelson French, chair of the city’s economic development authority, Boathouse Bay is the second largest private investment into a project in the history of Silver Bay, after the Northshore taconite mine.

Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported the Boathouse Bay project with over $1.4 million in Development and Community Infrastructure grants to the city of Silver Bay. The grant will help pay for the water, sewer, roads, sitework and engineering related to the infrastructure needed to support the development. Total project investment is estimated at approximately $20-$25 million.

“One of the areas that our agency is committed to is housing, which is a large factor when measuring a region’s economy and quality of life,” said Commissioner Ida Rukavina, Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation. “The supply and choice of housing inventory in northeastern Minnesota is low, and the demand is high. The need for additional and more choices of housing impacts employers, employees, communities and new and existing residents. Boathouse Bay will help increase the housing capacity in our region, and we support Silver Bay in their plans to grow their community.”

Learn more about Boathouse Bay.

Email Chris Ismil or call him at 218-735-3010 for more information about Development Infrastructure grants.

A half-mile community pedestrian and bike trail that surrounds Fayal Pond in Eveleth is being reconstructed and widened from six to eight feet. The trail is in a highly visible location at one of the city’s main entry points along the major thoroughfare of Highway 53.

The trail improvements will span three phases. Phase I has been completed and included the renovation of the east portion which is 500 feet. The east path was relocated to higher ground due to its location near the water’s edge which over time resulted in flooding from water run-off after periods of rainfall. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported Phase I with a $21,378 Regional Trails grant. Total project investment was $58,076.

Fayal Pond Trail is connected to hundreds of miles of the region’s trails, including the paved Mesabi Trail. It is widely used by both residents and tourists. The park surrounding Fayal Pond includes benches and flower beds, and the pond itself has a fountain and floating pedestrian bridge.

“The improvements will provide users with a smooth solid surface for walking or biking,” said Jerry Rosati, Eveleth Public Works manager. “The Fayal Pond area is used year-round and is a natural stopping point along the highway for cars and travelers. It is an important amenity to our city that impacts quality of life and the economy.”

Phases II and III will begin this summer and include improvements to the west, north and south portions which are deteriorating. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation is supporting Phase II with a $43,775 Regional Trails grant. Phase II total project investment is estimated at $87,550.

Email Jim Plummer or call him at 218-274-7006 for Regional Trails grant information.