The project was made possible through a multi-organizational partnership among IRRR, Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency (AEOA), the city of Virginia, St. Louis County and other entities. 

RTH is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that has been serving homeless individuals and families in Northern St. Louis County since 1993. The organization has 12 full-time equivalent staff that provide housing and housing services to over 1,000 homeless and at-risk individuals and families annually.

The need for emergency housing in St. Louis County has always far exceeded the current capacity to serve those in need. AEOA’s emergency shelters turn away nearly 1,000 homeless individuals every year, and every week there are approximately 100-120 homeless individuals on the waiting list for housing in Northern St. Louis County. RTH’s motivation behind the development of individual emergency housing units for families is providing a healthy and safe environment for families, especially children.

Venne continued, "I guarantee this project will have a positive impact on the families that stay here. We have an amazing staff at RTH that will help families transition from these units to permanent housing."

Email Chris Ismil or call him at 218-735-3010 for more information about Public Works (formerly Community Infrastructure) grants.

Email Shawn Herhusky or call him at 218-735-3067 for more information about Housing grants.

The Lake Vermilion Fire Brigade (LVFB) added a new helispot landing site for emergency flight evacuation and a direct access dock for boat deployment. IRRR supported the project with a $165,000 Community Infrastructure grant to LVFB. Total project investment including grants from St. Louis County and other private supporters is $274,593.

Prior to the improvements, the LVFB Fire Hall was surrounded by a gravel parking lot that was used as a pad during medical emergencies. During emergency transports, the gravel was windblown by the helicopter blades, creating a hazard to ambulatory, emergency response personnel and patients. The IRRR grant helped pay for resurfacing the gravel area with asphalt to remedy the safety issue. The newly paved area will also be used for logistical support with wild and residential fires and search and rescue operations.

The new dock was added to improve response time and access during emergencies that require transport of a patient from the fire boat to an ambulance. The existing public docks are frequently congested and not in close proximity to the LVFB facility and helispot.

LVFB is a nonprofit organization that offers emergency medical services, search, rescue and firefighting services year-round to Lake Vermilion and its surrounding area. The lake is over 61 square miles, and LVFB serves over 3,000 full- and part-time residents and thousands of tourists who visit each year. 

The organization is comprised entirely of volunteers and operated through private donations from area residents. LVFB owns and operates a fleet of emergency equipment including a fire boat, airboat and fire truck.

Learn more about Lake Vermilion Fire Brigade.

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

The Arrowhead Coalition of Trails (ACT) hosted a meeting on Oct. 16 in Virginia to celebrate trails, trail amenities and the people who make them happen. ACT is an initiative to unify the trail systems of the Arrowhead region, preparing clubs, communities and partners to capitalize on the major trail investments made in the area. 

IRRR Commissioner Ida Rukavina provided welcoming remarks. She shared that the agency has provided 131 grants for trail related projects, totaling $21.9 million since 2015. When considering all of the other funding sources such as LCCMR, private fundraising and philanthropic grants for those 131 projects, the total project investment is roughly $69.8 million.

"These dollar amounts underscore how much our agency, our region and the people who live here value community vitality and quality of life," she said. "Our agency’s investments into trails and outdoor recreation help us achieve our mission of diversifying the economy, fostering growth and economic prosperity." 

Brigid Tuck, senior economic impact analyst for University of Minnesota Extension, presented findings of a study on the economic contribution of ATV trails to Koochiching, Lake and St. Louis counties. The study found that the economic activity from ATV riders totaled $36.1 million with $12.4 million in labor income in 2023. A total of $16.8 million of this activity was attributed to trails development. Of the 219,000 trail riders in 2023, the primary purpose of 85% of them was to ride ATV trails. In addition, 91% rode on official trails as part of their visit, and 80% were visitors to the region. 

Additional takeaways included: 

• Designated trails are drawing visitors to the region.
• ATV use is increasing in the region.
• A positive reputation is driving visits and influencing lengths of stay.
• Riders spend money at local businesses.
• Trail development would bring more riders to the region.
• Trails create economic activity.

View the full study.

Parks and Trails Council of Minnesota Research and Policy Manager Andrew Oftedal reviewed visitor survey reports for Redhead Mountain Bike Park and Giants Ridge Mountain Bike Trail. The surveys found that 67% of visitors to Redhead were tourists, and 85% of visitors to Giants Ridge were tourists. For Redhead, 81% of visitors stayed on the Iron Range an average of 2.7 nights, while 87% of Giants Ridge visitors stayed an average of 3.0 nights.

View the reports.

Other speakers included Aaron Hautala, creative director for Strateligent, who presented on Mesabi Trail marketing, and Sarah Ciochetto, deputy director of St. Louis and Lake County Regional Railroad Authority, who presented on the ACT's vision.  

The event also included time for networking with trail builders, land managers and community leaders.

Approximately 1,500 fifth and sixth grade students from 22 area schools attended the Iron Range STEM Showcase in Hibbing earlier this month. Students had hands-on experiments led by Range Engineering Council volunteers, local businesses and 25 colleges showcasing STEM opportunities on the Iron Range. A Workforce Development grant from IRRR helped offset bus transportation costs.

Local businesses included Cirrus, Cleveland Cliffs, Jasper Engineering, L&M Radiator, Minnesota Power and NewRange Copper Nickel. Other organizations present included Hibbing Police Department, Minnesota Discovery Center, Minnesota Department of Transportation, The North St. Louis Soil & Water Conservation District, Range Astronomy Club/Paulucci Space, Science Museum of Minnesota, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, St. Louis County, STARBASE and Northern Minnesota Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration.

IRRR awarded a $75,000 grant to Minnesota North College (True North Stars Perkins Consortium). It is a program established to help area students in the middle grades and beyond make informed career and education choices. The consortium offers career exploration and development activities that encourage students to consider factors such as salary, job growth, work environment and flexibility when considering a career path.

The IRRR grant helps transport the students to the annual STEM Showcase and to other events including school field trips to tour local businesses, meetings with professionals to learn about careers and hands-on trade exploration events to better educate students and job seekers about the variety of career paths in the region.

Learn more about Range Engineering Council.

Email Danae Beaudette or call her at 218-735-3022 for Workforce Development grant information.