Brody and Kim Koebensky utilized a bank participation loan from Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation to help finance the purchase of East Dhu River Sawmill in Iron. East Dhu is a custom sawmill that utilizes local logger-supplied raw lumber and saws it into a variety of wood products including wood timbers, pallet wood and custom blocking for industrial customers, custom builders, contractors and homeowners.

The Koebenskys finalized the sale in June 2023 and relocated with their family from Fayal Township to Iron. They reside in the existing home and property that is part of the sawmill site.

The Koebenskys are Iron Range natives who grew up in Virginia and have a background in industrial sales. East Dhu was originally founded by Conrad and Mary Jacobsen. The Koebenskys were long-time customers at East Dhu and seized the opportunity to purchase the successful, local small business when the Jacobsens were on the cusp of retirement.

Pictured are Brody and Kim Koebensky and Mary and Conrad Jacobsen.

“I had purchased products from Conrad over the years for various home projects,” said Brody. “I was always impressed by the high quality he produced through the process of kiln drying the hard and soft woods. Kim and I are committed to supplying the same high quality to our customers.”

The dehumidification kiln process involves the drying of wood in a chamber where air circulation, relative humidity and temperature are controlled. The result is reduced moisture content of the wood without any drying defects. East Dhu offers kiln-dried products made from aspen, basswood, birch, black ash, red and white oak, red and white pine, white cedar, tamarack and a variety of other species based on customer requests.

Pictured is the Dawghouse Bar & Grill in Canyon, Minn., featuring black ash walls by East Dhu Sawmill.

Once the woods are dried in the kiln, they are custom-sawed, planed, milled or sanded according to customer-specific requests. Some of the final products include trim cut pieces and blocks for cabinet and furniture makers, molding, custom mantels, bar and table tops, and a variety of tongue and groove paneling for walls, ceilings and floors.

East Dhu will remain focused on the local market by utilizing local loggers, local woods and serving local clients.

Learn more about East Dhu River Sawmill.

Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported this project with a bank participation loan to Activ8ed, LLC dba East Dhu River Sawmill.

Email Ryan Malich or call him at 218-735-3041 for business assistance information.

In 2023, United Way of Northeastern Minnesota raised more than $2.6 million that is being reinvested into local communities.

Pictured are Commissioner Ida Rukavina of Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation and Executive Director Erin Shay of the United Way of Northeastern Minnesota.

Small business owners Katie and Kyle Winchester purchased a vacant building on First Avenue in downtown Hibbing and transformed it into Mirror Mirror Salon on the main level and two long-term residential apartments on the upper level. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported the project with a $24,000 Commercial Redevelopment grant to the city of Hibbing that helped pay for the demolition of the interior, exterior, masonry and roof. Total project investment was $320,635.

Pictured are Katie and Kyle Winchester and their children.

The couple was awarded two Business Energy Retrofit (BER) grants and a Downtown Building Rehabilitation (DBR) grant to help make energy efficiency and code compliance upgrades to the building. The roof and masonry were replaced, plumbing was upgraded, and the bathrooms and other areas were made ADA complaint. Electrical systems were upgraded that included an appropriate-sized modern electrical panel to accommodate appliances needed to operate a hair salon.

Katie is a licensed cosmetologist. She is originally from Keewatin and has resided in Hibbing for 15 years where she previously leased another building on First Avenue. In her new building, there are two stylists who rent chair space, and there is room for one more. Katie and the two stylists offer hair products and services such as haircuts, color, highlights, treatments and styling. Other services are available including nails, waxing and soon eyelash extensions.

“I have always dreamed of owning a building to operate and grow my hair salon,” said Katie. “There were many challenges in renovating the new location. The grants made it financially feasible to take on this project and make my dream come true.”

The building housed several different businesses over the years including a towing service, a motorcycle shop, a candle store and an odd shop. In more recent years, the building was vacant.

“The project that Katie and her husband took on is helping Hibbing’s downtown area remain vibrant,” said Betsy Olivanti, Hibbing community development director. “The Hibbing Economic Development Authority was very pleased to support their efforts in revitalizing a building that was vacant and in disrepair. It takes a small business owner with vision to rescue a vacant building and bring it back to life, and we’re so happy to have folks like Katie and Kyle as part of our Hibbing community.”

Learn more about Mirror Mirror Salon.

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

Since BER’s inception in 2013 and DBR’s in 2018, over 630 grants combined have been awarded to help small businesses with energy efficiency and code compliancy upgrades that can result in reduced utility bills, improved building aesthetics and increased building life. BER grants are awarded in amounts up to $20,000 and DBR in amounts up to $50,000. Both programs 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 McKinley Park Trail extends from the Soudan Underground Mine to McKinley Park on Lake Vermilion. It was reconstructed, widened to 10 feet, lengthened to 1.5 miles and resurfaced to provide a new, improved connection route. A significant portion of the reconstruction included re-routing a steep incline up and down a hill. The project also resolved past erosion issues. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported the project with $202,500 in Regional Trails grants to Breitung Township. Total project investment was $520,000.

The trail runs parallel to St. Louis County Highway 697, providing a safe and convenient route alternate to pedestrians using the county road. Originally constructed in 1988, the multi-use trail is used for biking, hiking, walking and snowshoeing. The trail is utilized year-round by local residents and tourists visiting the region.

The McKinley Park Trail connects to the Mesabi Trail, a paved trail that extends west towards the city Tower and east towards the city of Ely.

“The McKinley Park Trail continues to have a major economic impact as part of our tourist-based economy,” said Tim Tomsich, Breitung Township chairman. “Due to the trail’s close proximity to the new state park, it has become increasingly popular.”

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

The Lyric Center for the Arts purchased new portable stage audio and lighting equipment, along with musical instruments that may be used for quality music, theatre, arts, civic, cultural and educational programs. The equipment will be used at The Lyric Center and available for rent to area performing artists and venues. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported the project with a $2,965 Culture & Tourism grant to Laurentian Arts & Cultural Alliance, the nonprofit that owns and operates The Lyric Center. Total project investment was $5,930.

The new equipment inventory includes drums, soundboards, lighting, amplifiers, microphones and stage speakers. It was purchased in December and has since been rented out to several local performing artists for their concerts. The equipment was used at the recent TedX Talk Silver Lake - Crossing the Divide, an event hosted by Revive Virginia at the Iron Trail Motors Event Center.

The Lyric Center foresees several local organizations having an interest in renting the equipment including The Mesabi Symphony Orchestra, Mesabi Musical Theatre, Virginia Public Library, Laurentian Chamber of Commerce, Iron Range Tourism Bureau, Mountain Iron-Buhl Public Schools, St. Louis County Public Schools and various area communities.

“Acquiring this new equipment will allow many people across the Iron Range to host public events at a reasonable cost because they will no longer have to outsource the rental at inflated costs,” said Paul Gregersen, Lyric Center executive director. “We hope the result will be an increase in opportunities, for the performers and artists themselves and for local residents and tourists who attend the events. Businesses and nonprofit organizations may also rent the equipment.”

The historic Lyric Center for the Arts is located on the main street in downtown Virginia. The building was constructed in 1912 as the Lyric Opera House. The Laurentian Arts and Cultural Alliance, dba, The Lyric Center for the Arts formed in 1998 to restore the building and create a space to support the region’s art industry. The revitalization of the Lyric Center demonstrates excellence in creative placemaking in Iron Range communities, which strives to spark downtown economic development.

The Laurentian Arts and Culture Alliance (Lyric Center for the Arts) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

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

Small business owners Jarod Green and Alex Haugen opened Five & Go in downtown Virginia today. Go Figur Food Experience and Fifth Degree Coffee Company are collaborating to serve fresh food and coffee at a new location on Chestnut Street. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported this project with two Business Energy Retrofit (BER) grants and a Downtown Building Rehabilitation (DBR) grant to assist with energy efficiency and code compliance upgrades to the building. Upgrades were made to the doors, electrical, lighting, roof, plumbing, fire suppression, flooring and kitchen and coffee equipment.

BER and DBR grants are funded by Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation and administered through a partnership with Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency.

Visit the Five & Go Facebook page.

The Northland Foundation announces the Promise Act Grant Program, making available $1.1 million for grants to eligible northeast Minnesota businesses and nonprofit
organizations. Funding and eligibility guidelines were established in law during the 2023 Minnesota legislative session. This is the first of two rounds of funding, with a second round anticipated for spring 2025. Applicants may only receive a total of one grant.

Competitive grants from $10,000 to $50,000 from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) will be awarded to applicants in communities adversely affected by lack of access to capital, loss of population or an aging population, structural racial discrimination, civil unrest and/or lack of regional economic diversification.

“We are pleased to be on-the-ground partners to DEED to help scores of small businesses in our region that have faced, and continue to face, major ecosystem challenges,” said Michelle Ufford, director of grantmaking at the Northland Foundation.

The Northland Foundation will accept applications through 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 21 from businesses whose primary location is in Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake or St. Louis counties or the Tribal Nations of Bois Forte, Fond du Lac, Grand Portage, Leech Lake (District I) and Mille Lacs (District II).

Businesses with primary locations outside this region may apply in the region in which they are headquartered. Find a list of the Minnesota Initiative Foundations administering this program in Greater Minnesota.

Learn more and apply.