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Dec. 4, 2024
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on Nov. 20 for the Silver Lake walking trail and floating pier in Virginia. The stunning 1,800-foot-long pier connects with the bituminous walking trail around Silver Lake, enhancing accessibility and outdoor enjoyment for all. The city of Virginia plans to add lights and other amenities to the pier as final touches to the project.
SEH served as the project engineer, and MN Boardwalks was the contractor for the pier. Mesabi Bituminous was the contractor for the paved trail segment of this project. Funding for the Silver Lake Trail project was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR). Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation (IRRR) supported all three phases of the project with over $442,000 in Regional Trails grants.
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Silver Lake is one of two lakes located in the center of Virginia and from 1893 to 1929 was home to numerous sawmills. The sawmill operations experienced a fire in 1900 that destroyed almost all wood-structured downtown buildings. The city required that all main street buildings be rebuilt from brick, stone or concrete which created a unique architectural appearance to Chestnut Street.
Email Danae Beaudette or call her at 218-735-3022 for Regional Trails grant information.
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Minnesota ForestryWorks® (MFW) launched a workforce development initiative to connect the state’s forestry employers with skilled workers. The initiative aims to heighten awareness about the job and career opportunities within the forestry sector, especially in rural communities. Careers in the industry include loggers, log truck drivers, foresters, heavy equipment operators, service technicians, engineers and mill workers. IRRR supported the project with a $74,626 Workforce Development grant. Total project investment was $239,250.
"The IRRR grant has been instrumental in raising awareness and creating opportunities within the forestry sector,” said Michael Sullivan, ForestryWorks program manager. “This support enables us to deliver impactful training and outreach programs, ensuring a thriving workforce ready to steward our forests and drive economic growth in Minnesota.”
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The initiative includes a website with job board, informative videos and targeted social media to expand job placement efforts and connect skilled workers with employers across Minnesota. MFW representatives attended career fairs at area high schools to introduce forestry career options to local students. Watch the three short videos that were produced for the campaign:
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According to MFW, Minnesota’s forest products industry is the fifth largest in the state and employs nearly 69,000 workers. It generates $16.7 billion in gross sales and $7.3 billion in economic activity. Centered primarily in northern Minnesota, the industry creates wealth in rural communities. However, like many other business sectors in America the forest products industry is suffering from workforce shortages.
Rick Horton is MFW’s executive director and explained that the IRRR grant was pivotal in furthering their mission by supplying crucial funding to enhance educational outreach and bolster job placement efforts for Minnesotans pursuing fulfilling careers in the forestry industry. Horton believes these efforts can help sustain a strong talent pipeline and ensure long-term economic stability in rural communities reliant upon forestry.
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Wabana Township is restoring an existing community park and outdoor recreational space. Improvements were completed this past summer for the hockey rink, playground area, lighting and landscaping. A kiddie ice rink and fencing were also added. A pickleball court, basketball court, tennis court and ADA compliant pathways will round out and complete the project next summer. IRRR supported the project with a $30,000 Culture & Tourism grant. Total project investment was $450,000.
The Wabana Recreation Complex provides outdoor opportunities to residents and visitors in the Itasca area. It is situated adjacent to the Wabana Town Hall and in close proximity to a larger Wabana Trail System, the 4,500-acre Joyce Estate, the Chippewa National Forest and the George Washington State Forest. Located in the heart of the community, the recreation complex is a popular social gathering and recreation space.
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A community group began fundraising in 2021, working to restore the recreation area which needed repairs and rejuvenation.
“This project is very important to our community. My late husband, Gary, and the Wabana Recreation Committee have worked for nearly four years towards this common goal,” said Kim Oja, committee member and Wabana resident. “It is so exciting to see it come to fruition now. Gary would have been so thrilled to see our community achieve this great progress.”
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Wabana Township is about 15 miles north of Grand Rapids, approximately 36 square miles and surrounded by 26 lakes. There are approximately 500 residents and multiple family-owned resorts that welcome people to the area for fishing, boating and outdoor recreating.
Learn more about Wabana Township.
Email Danae Beaudette or call her at 218-735-3022 for Culture & Tourism grant information.
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A new shelter was added to complete the commercial fishing exhibit at the Knife River Heritage & Cultural Center (KRHCC). The exhibit consists of the restored fish tug Crusader II, an ADA-compliant viewing deck into the boat and five interpretive displays. The shelter joins the fishing exhibit components together and provides protection from inclement weather. IRRR supported the project with a $30,000 Culture & Tourism grant. Total shelter investment was $69,149.
Crusader II is a 35-foot gas-powered fish tug that fished out of Knife River for many years. It was built in 1939 and christened by Crown Prince Olav of Norway during his visit to the North Shore that same year. The five interpretive displays trace the history of Knife River from Indigenous times, through copper mining, rail roading, logging, commercial fishing and boat building. In addition to Crusader II, KRHCC is home to the historic Knife River train depot and the Viking ship Leif Erikson.
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The Knife River community is in Lake County along the North Shore Scenic Drive of Lake Superior between Duluth and Two Harbors. The township is at the mouth of the 23.9-mile-long Knife River which drains into Lake Superior. The community’s name is speculated to have been given by the Ojibwe Native Americans due to the long, sharp stones in the river. Knife River is home to Russ Kendall’s Smokehouse, Great Lakes Candy Kitchen, B E Nelson Silversmith specialty and gift shop, a hiking trail that leads to a panoramic overlook of Lake Superior, a large agate beach and the Julebyen, a Scandinavian themed celebration of Christmas each December.
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The Ranger is a publication of Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation. Our mission is to invest resources to foster vibrant growth and economic prosperity in northeastern Minnesota. The agency's grants and loans are funded through taxes paid by Minnesota’s mining industry.
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