Feb. 20, 2025

NEWS RELEASE

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Jordan Metsa, Communications Director

218-735-3061, Jordan.Metsa@state.mn.us

Over $504,000 in Culture & Tourism grants awarded

Twenty-five projects were recently awarded a total of $504,000 in Culture & Tourism grants by Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation (IRRR). The agency invests approximately $600,000 annually into the grant program. The grants assist projects that support arts, culture, history, tourism and recreational activities, enhance the quality of life in the region and attract visitors. “These projects represent continuous improvements being made to the communities and amenities throughout the Taconite Assistance Area,” said IRRR Commissioner Ida Rukavina. “Culture & Tourism grants, like all of our agency’s grants, are funded from Taconite Production Tax generated by the local mining industry. The investments made from that tax enrich the economy and quality of life for all of us who live and work here.”

Recent grants include:

• Aitkin County Friends of the Arts, Aitkin: $30,000 to add amenities to The Terrace, an outdoor downtown performance venue, including shade sails, benches, a performer’s green room, an ADA-compliant restroom, table umbrellas and AV equipment.
• American Bear Association, Orr: $30,000 to improve the infrastructure related to the parking lot, water softening system, ADA-compliant passenger bus and buildings.
• City of Babbitt: $30,000 to update city parks with ADA-compliant features, add trash receptacles and rebuild the skatepark.
• Bigfork Valley Community Foundation, Bigfork: $25,000 to launch Thousand Grand Lakes marketing campaign, a collaboration between Itasca County, Deer River, Edge of the Wilderness and Grand Rapids.
• Cast Outdoor Adventures Inc., Ely: $6,000 to purchase adaptive winter dog sledding equipment and expand program offerings.
• Cook County Community YMCA, Grand Marais: $30,000 to purchase equipment for an inclusive playground at Cook County Community YMCA.
• Crow Wing County Land Services, Crosby: $30,000 to add amenities to Milford Mine Memorial Park, including pavilions, benches, tables, signage, interpretive displays and brochures.
  
• Ely Area Community Foundation, Ely: $25,000 to convert an existing space at The Ely Hub into a community center style room.
• Ely’s Historic State Theater, Ely: $30,000 to add amenities including a new point-of-sale system, mobile concessions, a new website and ADA-compliant restrooms.
• Eveleth Heritage Society, Eveleth: $4,500 to preserve and relocate (in Eveleth) a historic mural that was in the now demolished Franklin Elementary School.
• Flintrock Range Association, Grand Marais: $14,100 to add new and ADA-compliant shooting benches, skeet shooting machines, covered shooting structures, picnic tables, trash receptacles and signage at the Flintlock Sports Park, a shooting and archery range facility.
• Grand Marais Art Colony, Grand Marais: $10,000 to add an outdoor classroom and community gathering space.
• Grand Portage Reservation Tribal Council Business Committee, Grand Portage: $30,000 to preserve the logs on two historical buildings, The Log School and The Log Community Building.
• Greenwood Community Recreation Board, Tower: $10,000 to resurface tennis courts and adapt them for pickleball and improve the grounds at the Greenwood Township Recreation Area.
• Hibbing Area Chamber of Commerce, Hibbing: $13,950 to purchase a mobile mural system and three mural wraps with solar lighting that may be displayed throughout the city.
• Iron Range Tourism Bureau, Virginia: $20,000 to launch a billboard marketing campaign in the St. Cloud area to promote tourism on the Iron Range.
• Itasca County Land Department, Grand Rapids: $30,000 to construct a pavilion and add an ADA-compliant vault toilet system at Bass Lake Park and Campground.
• Itasca Ski & Outing, Inc., Coleraine : $30,000 to make electrical upgrades and improve the efficiency of snowmaking operations at Mt. Itasca.
• John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon, North Shore: $9,500 to launch a marketing campaign to promote attendance at the event and throughout the North Shore.
• Judy Garland Museum, Grand Rapids: $14,000 to rebrand an existing children’s exhibit with a “Wizard of Oz” movie theme, including the addition of a yellow brick road and an interactive scarecrow think tank wall.
• Noatun Community Wooden Boat Works, Knife River: $12,000 to develop a workspace and purchase wood materials for a community boatbuilding project.
• Pelican Lake Resort Association, Orr: $25,000 to launch a digital and visual marketing campaign to promote the Pelican Lake area as a premier destination for outdoor recreation, tourism and family-friendly activities.
• Silica Volunteer Fire Department, Silica Township: $24,500 to create a pickleball court on an existing parking lot at Silica Community Center.
• Stages of the Range Players, Virginia: $9,500 to support the performance of four radio plays at nursing homes and three full plays on the Iron Range.
• Truman Blakesley American Legion Post 432, Warba: $11,500 to complete phase II renovation of the public park and campground in Feeley Township, including the addition of outdoor benches, indoor dining tables, signage and electrical upgrades to campsites.

The next Culture & Tourism grant cycle will open in July 2025. Cities, townships, nonprofits, Tribal governments and governmental entities located within the Taconite Assistance Area are eligible to apply.

Learn more about the Culture & Tourism grant program.

Email Danae Beaudette or call her at 218-735-3022 for Culture & Tourism grant information.