June 18, 2025
Standing Together: A Message from Commissioner Ida Rukavina and Senator Robert Farnsworth
This edition of The Ranger comes during a time of deep sorrow for Minnesota. The tragic and senseless deaths of House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, and the serious injuries sustained by Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, have shaken communities across our state.
At Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation (IRRR), our mission is to strengthen northeastern Minnesota through investments in infrastructure, business and workforce development. But we know that strong, healthy communities are built on more than economic growth — they begin with people. They are sustained by care, connection and our shared commitment to one another’s well-being.
Speaker Emerita Hortman was a dedicated public servant whose decades of leadership will continue to shape Minnesota’s future for years to come. She was respected for her thoughtful approach, steady leadership and deep commitment to serving the people of Minnesota.
Speaker Emerita Hortman and Senator Hoffman have been long-standing advocates for Minnesota families — and true friends of the Iron Range. Their leadership and support have helped advance the work we do every day to strengthen our communities and economy.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to Sophie and Colin Hortman, their family and all who mourn. We hold them in our thoughts as they begin the difficult journey of healing. We also wish Senator Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, a full and swift recovery in the days ahead.
We offer our sincere gratitude to law enforcement, first responders and emergency personnel whose quick actions and service in the face of tragedy embody the very best of our communities.
There is no room for political violence in Minnesota or anywhere else in America. We must reject hate in all its forms and continue working toward a future rooted in respect, safety and shared humanity.
Circumstances such as this are a stark reminder of the importance of caring for ourselves and for one another. If you or someone you know is struggling, please know that help is available:
We remain committed to building a stronger, more resilient Minnesota — one that grows not only through economic investment, but also through compassion, resilience and our shared values as neighbors.
Officials gathered on June 16 to celebrate the groundbreaking of Northland Learning Center’s new single-story, 32,000-square-foot school building, The new $17.5 million facility, located east of Mountain Iron City Hall, will include seven elementary classrooms, five high school classrooms and four Alternative Learning Center classrooms. It will serve about 100 students in a setting IV environment — a separate site for students with disabilities such as emotional or behavioral disorders, autism spectrum disorders or developmental delays.
Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported the project with a total of $12.68 million, including $10.6 million in Educational Facilities Revenue Bonds and $2.08 million in legislatively approved revenue bond proceeds.* Commissioner Ida Rukavina spoke at the event, saying, “Our agency was proud to support this project. The innovative work behind it will make our students, families, region and economy stronger. It will help us all be better prepared for the future.”
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Northland Learning Center provides special education, autism and other services to more than 1,500 students and adults across eight northeastern Minnesota school districts. For years, its main school site has been located in the former James Madison Elementary School in Virginia, a 98-year-old building that has significantly deteriorated.
The new building, which is set for completion in August 2026, will provide a safe, modern and purpose-built space for students and staff. It will also house the Bridge to Independence program, which serves students ages 18 to 22, and offer transition programming to help young adults develop life and employment skills.
*In the 2024 Minnesota legislative session, the Minerals Article Legislation/2024 Tax Omnibus Bill was passed, requiring IRRR to issue revenue bonds to finance up to 82 identified projects across the Taconite Assistance Area.
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Tremendous progress has been made on the new East Range water system that eventually will have the capacity to serve the four communities of Aurora, Town of White, Biwabik and Hoyt Lakes. The project involves a new water treatment plant, a new surface water intake structure and 10,000 feet of water transmission line to extend water service to residential areas. The new system can increase the future service population from 1,700 to 5,000 people, potentially reducing overall costs to users.
The existing water treatment plant, intake facilities and water sources are outdated, unsuitable for continued use and economically unviable for renovation. Aurora currently draws its drinking water from the St. James Mine Pit. Intake will be switched to the Embarrass Mine Pit.
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The new system helps to future-proof the East Range, ensuring residents have access to clean, reliable drinking water for future generations. Supporting community development and preparing communities for the future are both key priorities for Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation (IRRR). The agency supported the project with Public Works grants totaling $2 million. The project received more than $21 million combined from the federal legislature, state legislature, IRRR, St. Louis County Community Development Block Grant and Minnesota Public Facilities Authority. Total project investment is estimated at $33 million.
Construction began last fall, and completion is expected in 2026. The expansion to include Hoyt Lakes was recently approved, and design is currently underway.
Email Chris Ismil or call him at 218-735-3010 for more information about Public Works grants.
Pictured: Progress at the water treatment facility site includes construction of all below grade concrete tanks along with foundations for the treatment building. Precast wall panels for the treatment building are scheduled to arrive in July allowing interior work on the facility to occur through next winter.
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Local and regional leaders gathered June 3 to break ground on The Heights, a 36-unit modular workforce housing development in Grand Marais. Located along Highway 61, the project aims to address the community’s critical shortage of affordable housing for workers and their families.
The project is led by the Cook County Housing and Redevelopment Authority with support from multiple partners. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation (IRRR) awarded a $630,000 Housing grant toward the effort. Additional funding is provided by Minnesota Housing, the Department of Employment and Economic Development, Duluth Local Initiatives Support Corporation and local philanthropic and private sector contributors.
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Whitney Ridlon, IRRR community development director, spoke at the groundbreaking, noting the importance of regional collaboration. Shawn Herhusky, community development representative, also attended on behalf of the agency.
The Heights will use modular construction to reduce costs and timelines while maintaining high-quality design and energy efficiency. Construction is officially underway, with completion expected in 2026.
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The third annual International Day of Women in Mining luncheon was held June 16 at the Minnesota Discovery Center in Chisholm. Hosted by the Iron Mining Association of Minnesota and MiningMinnesota, the event brought together more than 100 women from across the mining industry and related sectors.
Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation Commissioner Ida Rukavina provided opening remarks, emphasizing the value of supporting women in mining. “Events like this not only recognize the incredible talent and leadership of women in the industry, they also help inspire the next generation of innovators and changemakers,” Rukavina said.
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Julie Lucas of MiningMinnesota gave the welcome address, and Kristen Vake of the Iron Mining Association of Minnesota served as emcee. A panel discussion featured Brooke Donnelly of Ulland Brothers, Tatiana Koski of U.S. Steel and Julie Marinucci of St. Louis County. The panelists spoke about their career paths, challenges in the industry and the importance of mentorship and inclusion.
Char Conger of the Minnesota Discovery Center also gave remarks during the program. A historical display curated by Allyse Freeman, also of the Minnesota Discovery Center, highlighted the role of women in mining and construction on the Iron Range.
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Tim White is the owner and entrepreneur of DIY Trees, an innovative online nursery specializing in fast-growing hybrid Poplar trees like the patented University of Minnesota InnovaTree™ and the TurboTree™ which grow up to 10 feet per year and absorb carbon dioxide four times faster than most other species.
When launching his new business, White utilized services of Northland Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for support with website search engine optimization (SEO), Google Analytics and marketing strategy, helping him expand his digital reach and drive online sales. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation provided a Development Partnership grant to Northland Foundation to support SBDC representatives located in northeastern Minnesota.
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DIY Trees sold out of its first 1,000 trees in 2024 and is on track to sell up to 1,500 trees in 2025. The kits are affordable at $30 each and include everything the homeowner needs for the first year of growth, including a one-year guarantee.
“Tim has a unique ability to turn big ideas into successful businesses,” said Vicki Hagberg, Northland SBDC regional director. “It has been rewarding to support such an innovative small business with marketing strategies and website optimization as Tim continues to grow this venture.”
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White’s tree laboratory is located in Saginaw. He explained that the DIY Trees allow homeowners and businesses to quickly and affordably add trees to their property. His tree season ends July 31, and products are sold online.
Learn more about DIY Trees.
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The Minnesota Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Hub made a stop in Grand Rapids on June 4 as part of its SAF Innovation Tour, spotlighting the potential for northeastern Minnesota’s forest resources to support sustainable fuel development.
The day included visits to local mills and forest sites showcasing forest residue, black liquor and mill byproducts as promising feedstocks for wood-based SAF production.
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A dinner hosted by Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation (IRRR) capped the event, featuring presentations from key industry and agency leaders. Sen. Robert Farnsworth, IRRR Board chair, provided opening remarks to welcome attendees.
Julia Silvis, managing director of the Minnesota SAF Hub, and Jeff Davidman, vice president of government affairs at Delta Air Lines, jointly presented an overview of the Minnesota SAF Hub, highlighting its mission, initiatives and regional collaboration opportunities.
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Rick Horton, executive vice president of Minnesota Forest Industries, discussed the benefits of wood as a sustainable feedstock for SAF. Building on that, Kent Jacobson from the Minnesota Forest Resources Council shared findings from a woody biomass availability and cost analysis, emphasizing the region’s abundant resource potential. To conclude the presentations, Eric Singsaas, research group leader at the Natural Resources Research Institute, provided an overview of emerging wood-to-SAF technologies, highlighting innovative pathways to advance sustainable aviation fuels.
The SAF Innovation Tour reflects growing momentum behind sustainable energy investments in the region and underscores northeastern Minnesota’s critical role in building a cleaner, more resilient future.
View additional photos from the SAF Innovation Tour.
Photos courtesy of Venn Design & Media.
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Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation (IRRR), in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), continues its long-standing fish stocking program in legacy mine pits across the region. On June 4, rainbow trout were released at Kinney Pit in Kinney as part of the spring stocking effort. In total, approximately 5,600 rainbow trout — totaling 2,800 pounds — were stocked in 2024 at Kinney, Mott, St. James and Tioga pits.
These former iron mines, now filled with deep, clear and clean water, are part of a mineland reclamation effort that began in 1984. The DNR advises IRRR on fish species and quantities, while also conducting routine surveys and monitoring. These waters offer excellent trout habitat and provide a unique recreational opportunity near communities that may not have natural waterbodies nearby.
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Jason Janisch, IRRR’s climate and energy policy advisor, participated in this year’s stocking effort. “This program is an excellent example of how we can turn legacy mining lands into long-term community assets,” Janisch said. “It supports outdoor recreation, enhances quality of life and draws visitors to our region.”
The reclaimed pits are popular among anglers and outdoor enthusiasts. In addition to fishing, visitors enjoy hiking, mountain biking, water sports and scuba diving. Not all sites have public access, so visitors are encouraged to check the DNR’s LakeFinder tool before heading out. Minnesota laws to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species also apply.
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