“Aurora is excited about the prospect of finally having an industrial site to attract and accommodate much needed potential new employment and associated economic activity,” said Aurora Mayor Doug Gregor. “Since LTV’s closure years ago, there has been a reduction in the commercial sector of the community. As an older city, Aurora also suffers from having one of the lowest per capita income levels in the region. This new project brings the opportunity to expand the tax base and increase the population in Aurora and the surrounding communities.”

Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation (IRRR) supported the project with a $20,000 Development Partnership grant to begin the park development process, followed by a $9 million Site Ready grant to help pay for the infrastructure and utilities to serve approximately 80 acres of park land. The agency will also provide the Aurora Economic Development Authority (AEDA) with a $6 million business loan to construct a 30,000-square-foot spec building to be leased to future manufacturing tenant(s). The city will retain ownership of the industrial property, other than the spec building which will be owned by AEDA.

“One of our primary goals is to help diversify the economy and assist communities and businesses across the Taconite Assistance Area,” said IRRR Commissioner Ida Rukavina. “The new site in Aurora creates much needed additional industrial space in the region and brings great potential and possibilities to the East Iron Range for attracting manufacturing businesses seeking to relocate or expand their operations. Our goal is to create well-paying jobs and economic growth in the region. This new industrial site moves us further in that direction.”

IRRR has invested in other industrial sites and spec buildings such as the Detroit Diesel Remanufacturing facility owned by Chisholm-Hibbing Airport Authority.