Minnesota North College and its Empower Program will host two “Women in the Workforce” events next month. The first event is Thursday, Feb. 6 at the Hibbing Campus, and the second is Thursday, Feb. 27 at the Vermilion Campus.

The events are designed to help local high school and post-secondary female students learn about high-demand non-traditional careers such as engineering, manufacturing, construction, natural resources, law enforcement, mining, business and computer science. Women who enroll in these programs at Minnesota North College can potentially increase their earning capability and fill job openings in area industries including mining, construction, transportation and manufacturing.

"Northeastern Minnesota offers a wide variety of careers in the trades," said Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation (IRRR) Commissioner Ida Rukavina. "These programs offer young women the opportunity to learn about career paths that can increase their earning potential, secure excellent benefits and achieve greater financial stability. Additionally, women joining the trades bring valuable perspectives to some of the region's key industries."

A panel of local women in these careers will be at each event to share their professional stories and offer advice. Students may tour the non-traditional programs at the college campuses. There will be employer and resource booths for students to meet and talk with local women in these careers, as well as participate in hands-on activities related to the career skills. All attendees receive a free Rosie the Riveter t-shirt, and lunch is provided.

IRRR provided a $75,000 Workforce Development grant to Minnesota North College’s True North Stars Career Exploration, which supports the “Women in the Workforce” events and various other career exploration initiatives. The IRRR grant helps cover the student transportation costs to the events.

“As a Minnesota North College Electrical Program graduate who has worked in the electrical trade for 24 years, I saw firsthand the importance increasing women’s participation in the trade fields,” said Angela Heikkila, the Minnesota North College technical education career coordinator. “The Women in the Workforce events foster collaboration and networking between women already working in the trades and young women in high school who are deciding on career paths.”

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

Small business owners Sue and Jozef Palavics purchased a historic stone church in Coleraine and transformed it into Ravenstone Abbey, a community hub which houses The Stone Buttery Pub, The Axehole Dungeon and the Abbey Brew Coffee Shop. IRRR supported the project with a $100,000 Commercial Redevelopment grant to the city of Coleraine that helped pay for interior and exterior demolition. Total project investment was $1,591,000.

The medieval-themed Stone Buttery Pub offers appetizers, charcuterie boards, sandwiches, soups, imported wine, craft beer and elixirs. The Axehole Dungeon has axe throwing (with coaching), and leagues will start in January. Abbey Brew Coffee Shop serves breakfast sandwiches, lunch, pastries and specialty coffees roasted in Italy. Ravenstone Abbey is open Tuesday through Sunday and hosts special events such as wine tastings, classical music concerts, medieval events and more. Groups may rent the venue for birthdays, wedding parties and corporate team building events.

The Coleraine Methodist Episcopal Church was built in 1908 through 1909 and served as a combination church and YMCA. It ceased to operate as a church in the 1970s and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. According to the Minnesota State Historic Preservation Office, it is "easily the largest and most impressive religious edifice on the Western Mesabi Iron Range."

The building was in dilapidated condition when the Palavics purchased it in 2021. There were holes in the roof, boarded up windows and doors, broken stained glass windows, a collapsed entryway and extensive interior damage from water infiltration.

The Palavics also own Wilderness Wedding Barn, a 120-year-old barn in Bigfork they renovated into a wedding venue. It hosts approximately 30 weddings per year, drawing 4,500 - 6,000 new people into the Marcel/Little Falls area annually. Their goal is to eventually achieve similar results on the Iron Range with Ravenstone Abbey.

In addition to Wilderness Wedding Barn, Sue has renovated several old buildings in the Midwest and Josef is originally from Hungary. They transferred their skills and heritage into the renovation of the Coleraine church.

“Our venue seamlessly blends rich history from Old World Europe with modern entertainment, offering a unique experience for all visitors,” said Susan. “We have future plans to renovate the second story, possibly into an event center.”

According to Briana Anderson, Coleraine city clerk-treasurer, the IRRR grant supported the opening of another successful, new and unique business. Ravenstone is drawing people to Coleraine who are spending money throughout the community, and the project has created jobs to operate the coffee shop and axe throwing.

Coleraine is nestled on the north shore of Trout Lake in north central Minnesota’s Itasca County. It was established as a Canisteo Company mining town in 1909 and named after Thomas F. Cole who was once the president of Oliver Mining Company. With a population now of 2,007 Coleraine offers abundant fishing, hunting, outdoor recreation, winter skiing at Mt. Itasca and an 18-hole par 72 championship golf course, Eagle Ridge.

Learn more about Ravenstone Abbey.

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

Mike’s Pub owner Brianna Clemons utilized two grants designed for small businesses located in the Taconite Assistance Area. A Business Energy Retrofit (BER) grant helped her acquire a new and more efficient dishwasher and air condition system. A Downtown Building Rehabilitation (DBR) grant was used to pay for siding, insulating and framing the exposed, unfinished brick on the building.

IRRR funds the BER and DBR grant programs, which are administered through a partnership with Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency (AEOA). The grants to Mike’s Pub totaled $32,359. Clemons also utilized a deferred loan from the Hibbing Economic Development Authority partially funded by a Development Partnership grant from IRRR.

Mike’s Pub offers lunch, dinner, drinks and live music. There are weekly and daily menu specials including Monday Burger Night, Tuesday Tacos & Trivia, Wednesday Wings & Prime, Thursday Chef's Special, Friday Fish Fry and Saturday Steak & Shrimp. The pub has catering services, multiple banquet rooms and event space for up to 150 people. The pub is often the host site for birthday parties, weddings, banquets and baby showers.

There is an outdoor patio open June through September. It has putt-putt, children's toys, a basketball hoop and an outdoor stage with live performers.

Clemons grew up in the Hibbing area and has owned the pub for almost two years. It is her first small business venture. She explained that she received help from many local organizations and people, related to the legalities and policies of operating a small business.

“The cost to renovate this historic downtown building would be impossible without help,” said Clemons. “I am very thankful for the support from IRRR, AEOA, the city of Hibbing, Hibbing Chamber of Commerce and others. This past year was a tough year for me personally and professionally, but the support helped me tackle the problems that came our way.”

Learn more about Mike’s Pub.

IRRR has funded the BER grant program since 2013 and DBR since 2018. Over 690 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.

Email Erik Bennett at AEOA or call him at 218-322-6512 to learn more about BER and DBR and how they can help small business owners improve their operations and buildings.

IRRR's Culture & Tourism grants assist projects that support arts, culture, history, tourism and recreational activities, enhance the quality of life in the region and attract visitors. Applications will be open Jan. 15 through May 1 or until program funds are substantially committed for the fiscal year, whichever occurs sooner.

Eligible applicants include cities, townships, nonprofits, Tribal governments and governmental entities created pursuant to Minnesota Statutes within IRRR's service area. Applicants may receive one Culture & Tourism grant per fiscal year for a maximum of three consecutive fiscal years. At the time of application, applicants must not have any outstanding or open Culture & Tourism grants with the exception of a phased project.

View the Culture & Tourism grant guidelines.

For more information about Culture & Tourism grants, email Danae Beaudette or call her at 218-735-3022.

Applications must be submitted through the FLUXX grant portal. Access the FLUXX portal.

For questions about FLUXX, email Jeri Venne or call her at 218-735-3012.