In January, Gov. Tim Walz appointed Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation (IRRR) Commissioner Ida Rukavina to the Duluth Seaway Port Authority Board of Commissioners. She succeeds Tony Sertich, who served a pair of six-year terms on the board. Rukavina’s six-year term is set to expire in January 2031.

"I am honored to serve on the Port Authority board," said Rukavina. "Duluth and the Iron Range are closely interconnected, dating back to 1892 when the first trainload of Mesabi Range iron ore reached the port. I look forward to exploring ways to strengthen this relationship for the betterment of our entire region."

The Duluth Seaway Port Authority is an independent public agency created by the Minnesota Legislature in 1955 to foster regional maritime and economic development and advocate for port interests. A seven-member board of commissioners governs the Port Authority – two appointed by the governor of Minnesota, two by the St. Louis County board and three by the Duluth City Council.

More than 700 vessels and 30 million short tons of cargo move through the port of Duluth-Superior each year, making it the Great Lakes’ largest tonnage port and one of the nation’s top 20. The port supports more than 7,000 jobs and contributes $1.3 billion in business revenue to the regional economy.

Learn more about the Duluth Seaway Port Authority.

Construction is progressing on a new 32,500-square-foot spec building in the city of Aurora’s West Industrial Park. The construction of the walls was completed last month, and the installation of the roof and heating system took place in the last few days. The city is developing the park northeast of the intersection of Minnesota State Highway 135 and County Road 100. IRRR supported the project with a $9 million Site Ready grant to the city for infrastructure and utilities to serve approximately 80 acres of land, and a $6 million loan to the Aurora Economic Development Authority to construct the spec building to be leased to future manufacturing tenant(s).

The construction of the industrial park and spec building requires the expertise, services and workforce from area contractors within the Taconite Assistance Area, Duluth and Minnesota. When completed, the East Range will have crucial infrastructure and modern manufacturing space, which is expected to stimulate local business development and generate employment opportunities on the East Range.

“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 Aurora facility underscores the future opportunities in the region related to well-paying jobs and economic growth in the manufacturing or other sectors.”

IRRR has previously invested in industrial sites and spec buildings such as the Detroit Diesel Remanufacturing facility owned by Chisholm-Hibbing Airport Authority. More recently, a site is being developed in Hibbing for the expanding manufacturing company, Advanced Machine Guarding Solutions. The city of Eveleth is moving forward with plans for an industrial park, with IRRR’s support in the initial planning phases.

Pro Blast Technology owner Joseph Godwin utilized a bank participation loan from IRRR to improve his production facility and acquire new equipment. He repaired the roof above the facility’s entrance and office area and purchased a forklift to move products. A Commercial Redevelopment grant to the city of Keewatin and a Business Energy Retrofit (BER) grant to Pro Blast helped with the costs of reconstructing the roof, making the facility more energy efficient.

Godwin shared, "When I was looking to invest in my facility to extend its lifespan, interest rates were quite high. The 1.5% loan participation rate from IRRR to Grand Rapids State Bank made all the difference in my decision to move forward with the upgrades. The BER grant added additional savings to the overall project and can potentially reduce energy consumption on future utility bills.”

Godwin started Pro Blast as a one-man shop in 1996 from his home in Marble, Minnesota to meet the abrasive blasting and painting needs of mining companies, home and business owners, loggers, industrial plants and contractors. His operation outgrew its home base, and in 2013 he constructed a new facility in Keewatin Industrial Park. In 2015, he expanded the facility to its current size of about 40,000 square feet which allows him and his team to service up to 50,000 pounds of steel per day. (IRRR provided the city of Keewatin with infrastructure grants needed at the Industrial Park to accommodate the Pro Blast facility and its expansion.)

“Joe Godwin and Pro Blast embody entrepreneurism and innovation on the Iron Range,” said IRRR Commissioner Ida Rukavina. “The company’s growth from a home-based start-up, to now shipping its products worldwide is inspirational and a testament to the talent and ingenuity that lies within the people of northeastern Minnesota. Our agency stands ready to support small and large businesses as they grow and adapt to new markets and new opportunities.”

Godwin is an Iron Range native. He grew up in Embarrass and attended the former Aurora-Hoyt Lakes High School. He has grown Pro Blast into the largest abrasive blasting and painting service provider in northern Minnesota.

Their jobs are small and large in scale and include restoration of used items and preparation and painting of new items that are shipped throughout Minnesota, the United States and world. Projects can involve dealing with structural steel and pipe and prepping and painting 240-ton haul trucks. The company also provides spray foam services and mobile sandblasting and painting services.

In addition to its commitment to high quality work and safety, Godwin explained that Pro Blast is also committed to sound environmental practices and using quality, environmentally safe products. Pro Blast was one of the first businesses of its kind to meet or exceed the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s (MPCA) regulations with the 2012/2013 new facility. Godwin is a AMPP Level 2 coatings inspector through the Association for Materials Protection and Performance.

Learn more about Pro Blast Technology.

Email Scott Sundvall or call him at 218-735-3015 for business loan information.

The BER grant program is funded by IRRR 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.

IRRR supported Pro Blast with a $175,000 bank participation loan and a $20,000 BER grant (fiscal year 2024). IRRR supported the city of Keewatin with $544,680 in Community Development grants (fiscal years 2013, 2016 and 2024.)

The Eveleth Trail Hawks Snowmobile Club purchased a new Polaris side-by-side from Five Seasons Sports in Eveleth. IRRR provided $25,000 in Legislative Bond Revenues* to support the purchase.

The club is 100% volunteer-driven and maintains and grooms 40 miles of snowmobile trails in central St. Louis County. The side-by-side will be used to groom trails early in the season before there is enough ice to support larger maintenance equipment.

The region’s recreational trails require frequent and ongoing maintenance to maintain rider quality and safety. The volunteers help improve the quality of life for local residents and contribute to the tourism segment of the region’s economy.

IRRR Commissioner Ida Rukavina explained, “The dedication and willingness of these volunteers to give their time and expertise creates top quality trails that so many people enjoy, from year-round residents to tourists. Without these volunteers and the Eveleth Trail Hawks Snowmobile Club, the cost for our local communities to maintain trails would be extremely high.”

*In the 2024 Minnesota legislative session, the Mineral Article Legislation/2024 Tax Omnibus Bill was enacted, requiring IRRR to issue revenue bonds to finance up to 81 identified projects across the Taconite Assistance Area.