Small business owner Jessie Kaufman installed a new energy efficient entry door to Rudy’s Bar & Grill, located in downtown Aurora. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation (IRRR) supported the project with a $2,573 Business Energy Retrofit (BER) grant. Total project investment was $8,409.

Kaufman is an Iron Range native and has owned and operated Rudy’s for 22 years, providing meals and beverages to the people and tourists of the East Iron Range. The menu includes appetizers, wraps, salad, burgers, sandwiches and broasted chicken.

“The door was damaged beyond repair, and because of the BER grant, we were able to replace it with one that is far more energy efficient,” said Kaufman. “We’re incredibly grateful for the assistance that made this possible.”

The BER grant program is funded by IRRR and administered through a partnership with Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency (AEOA). The grants are awarded in amounts up to $20,000 directly to small business owners with 100 employees or less. Projects may be related to energy efficiency including lighting and fixtures, building envelope air sealing, appliances, motors and equipment, insulation and ventilation, heating and cooling, window and door replacements and renewable energy.

Since BER’s inception in 2013, more than 690 grants have been awarded to help small businesses with energy efficiency upgrades that can result in reduced utility bills, improved building aesthetics and increased building life.

Learn more about Rudy’s Bar & Grill.

Email Erik Bennett at AEOA or call him at 218-322-6512 to learn more about BER.

K-12 teachers within the Taconite Assistance Area may attend the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (SME) Conference free of charge April 7-9 at the Iron Trail Motors Event Center in Virginia. A Workforce Development grant from Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation (IRRR) will pay for the teachers’ transportation costs and substitute pay.

Hundreds of Midwest and American mining professionals and display vendors connected to the mining industry are expected to attend. The event focuses on the developments, technology, trends and innovations directly affecting northeastern Minnesota’s iron ore region. A wide variety of technical sessions and speakers will be featured, some of them tailored specifically for teachers. The goal is to help them return to the classroom and inform students through science lessons and educational resources.

“Our local mining industry offers a wide variety of career opportunities for young people entering the workforce and can provide them rewarding and well-paying jobs,” said IRRR Commissioner Ida Rukavina. “The Iron Range is extremely significant to the national and global economy, not only for iron ore but also for future possibilities with copper, nickel and other natural resources. Teachers that attend the SME conference can return to their classroom and educate students about the history, future and importance of mining in Minnesota.”

There are currently six active mines on the Iron Range. Together they provide jobs for more than 3,900 people and support approximately 4,800 indirect jobs. U.S. Steel is the event’s primary sponsor. The company owns and operates two of the six active mines on the Mesabi Iron Range: Keetac in Keewatin and Minntac in Mountain Iron.

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 offset career exploration costs to schools, students and teachers. The grant covers transportation and other costs for STEM showcases, school trips to visit local businesses, meetings with professionals to explore careers and hands-on trade events. These activities help students and job seekers learn about different career options in the region.

Learn more about the SME Conference.

Learn more about the Minerals Education Coalition.

Email Shannon Malovrh if you are a teacher interested in attending the SME Conference.

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

A six-foot wide paved biking and walking trail was added to the city of Biwabik’s community park, along with two 10 by 15-foot paved surfaces to accommodate ADA compliant picnic tables. The new trail connects the Biwabik Park Pavilion to a nearby gazebo. The trail may be used by those visiting the park and attending private celebrations in the pavilion such as weddings, family reunions and graduation parties. The park and pavilion are also utilized for annual community festivals, including Weinachtsfest, Honktoberfest and Calithumpian Fourth of July Parade. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported the project with a $28,500 Regional Trails grant to the city. Total project investment was $58,780.

The park is located in the center of downtown and is a connecting point along the region’s 162-mile paved Mesabi Bike Trail that winds through 28 communities. The new park trail allows bikers to more conveniently access the businesses on Biwabik’s main street, including retail and eating establishments. Recently, the city added bike repair stations within the park for bikers to maintain their bikes while using the Mesabi Trail.

Biwabik is the gateway to Giants Ridge Recreation Area and the East Range. The city’s main street is traveled throughout the year by Iron Range residents and the tens of thousands of visitors to Giants Ridge.

Email Danae Beaudette or call her at 218-735-3022 for Regional Trails grant information.

The number of users during January, February and March have been tracked at approximately 8,000 per month. During the spring, summer and fall months, the trail system is used for hiking, walking, biking and horseback riding. 

“The Lutsen Access Trail and new bridge are essential to downtown Lutsen and other businesses,” said Sharon Hexum-Platzer, president of Lutsen Trailbreakers. “The snowmobilers who use the trail have a significant economic impact to our community.”

Email Danae Beaudette or call her at 218-735-3022 for Regional Trails grant information.

L&M Fleet Supply constructed a 200,000-square-foot greenfield, state-of-the-art distribution center located within Grand Rapids’ Industrial Park East. The new center replaced one that was operating in nearby LaPrairie but was not large enough to accommodate the company’s current operations and anticipated future growth. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation (IRRR) supported the project with $3.5 million in business loans. Total project investment is estimated at over $55 million. 

“L&M Supply stores have been a retail tradition in northeastern Minnesota dating back to the 1960s. Our agency was pleased they made such a substantial economic investment in the region,” said Commissioner Ida Rukavina. “The project created jobs for the skilled trades during the construction phase and jobs for local residents who are operating the new facility.”

The new center features advanced computer-aided forklifts, a streamlined and efficiency-focused operational layout and a new warehouse management system to increase the accuracy, visibility and systematic knowledge of inventory at all stages of processing.

Shawn Matteson is L&M Fleet Supply’s co-owner. He explained that the Grand Rapids area has been home base for L&M the past 64 years, and the company is proud to continue its growth in its hometown. L&M’s mission has always been to serve customers’ needs, and the new distribution center ensures fulfilling that mission for years to come.

L&M stores offer outdoor power equipment sales and service, and products related to fishing, marine, hunting, firearms, workwear, fashion clothing, footwear, automotive, farm, pet and home improvement. The first store opened in Grand Rapids in 1959. It was a 30-by-60-foot wooden building. Today, L&M has one corporate office/distribution center and 13 retail store locations in northern Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan. It is led by the third generation of family owners who reside in the Grand Rapids area.

“The Grand Rapids Economic Development Authority and the city of Grand Rapids appreciate IRRR’s support of this hugely significant project for our area,” said Rob Mattei, the city’s director of community development. “We are proud of the hometown success story that L&M Supply is, and we are honored they chose to invest and expand in our community.”

Learn more about L&M Fleet Supply.

Email Ryan Malich or call him at 218-735-3041 for business loan information.