The 2025 State of the Range, hosted by Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation (IRRR), brought together community members, industry leaders and local officials Sept. 17 at the Iron Trail Motors Event Center in Virginia.

IRRR Commissioner Ida Rukavina opened the program with a welcome and later delivered remarks covering the state of the region. She emphasized the Iron Range’s resilience in the face of economic shifts, the importance of workforce development and the need to strengthen partnerships to ensure long-term growth. Sen. Rob Farnsworth, who chairs the IRRR Board, also addressed attendees, noting both challenges and opportunities facing northeastern Minnesota.

Industry updates came from John Arbogast of United Steelworkers District 11, Kristen Vake of the Iron Mining Association, Julie Lucas of MiningMinnesota and Beth Pierce of Discover the Range. Speakers discussed workforce stability, mining competitiveness, resource development and the growing role of tourism in the regional economy.

IRRR community and business development priorities were shared by Director of Community Development Whitney Ridlon and Executive Director of Development Ryan Malich. They highlighted projects aimed at supporting local businesses, infrastructure and housing.

The event closed with a social hour where attendees exchanged ideas about the future of the Iron Range.

AMGS designs and manufactures steel perimeter guarding systems for machines and robotics — products that protect industrial equipment and operators while being engineered for easy design, assembly and customization.

Hibbing Mayor Peter Hyduke said the project represented vision, determination and collaboration. “This 35,000-square-foot facility is more than just a building. It represents the power of collaboration and the strength of public–private partnerships,” he said. Hyduke also praised Jason Wobbema, AMGS owner, for relying on local workers, resources and steel while building a company that serves customers worldwide.

The facility, owned by HEDA and leased to AMGS, was designed by Widseth Architects and constructed by Kraus-Anderson’s Duluth office. It expands the company’s production capacity and automation, enabling AMGS to better serve its U.S. customer base while creating new jobs and retaining current employees.

IRRR Commissioner Ida Rukavina emphasized the regional significance of the investment. “This new Hibbing facility we are celebrating today underscores the future opportunities in the region, and why businesses are choosing to invest and expand here,” she said.

Community leaders, business partners and elected officials joined in the celebration. 

Recently, the "Mining Minds" podcast visited Minnesota’s Iron Range and interviewed Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation (IRRR) Commissioner Ida Rukavina and Iron Mining Association (IMA) Executive Director Kristen Vake.

"Mining Minds" spotlights the lives of individuals working as miners and the companies and communities that shape the mining industry. Candid conversations center on today’s mining environment, what responsible mining looks like and the critical role mining plays in global society. The podcast originated in 2019 in Spring Creek, Nevada amidst one of the world’s largest gold producing districts.

Rukavina shared her experience of growing up on the Iron Range and her family’s history in mining, the labor movement and public service. She spoke about being born in Ely, growing up in rural Virginia, ski racing in high school and her journey to becoming IRRR commissioner. She and Vake discussed the region’s history and impact to the nation and the uniqueness of IRRR as an economic development agency.

Listen to the "Mining Minds" podcast episode.

The city of Biwabik upgraded the electrical service at the Vermilion Trail Campground. The original electrical system was installed in the 1980s and was not sufficient to provide the power that modern campers require. For the past few years, there have been ongoing issues with excessive electrical load on the campground’s undersized system. The upgraded pole-mounted breakers, ground-level transformers, poles and lines will help evenly distribute electrical usage throughout the campground.

Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation (IRRR) supported the project with a $30,000 Culture & Tourism grant. Total project investment was $72,430.

The city-owned campground is located on the shore of Embarrass Lake with a sandy beach, boat launch and fishing pier. It is popular with local residents and tourists. There are 26 campsites that offer daily, monthly or seasonal rates. Biwabik has a population near 1,000 and over 700 households. It is the gateway to Giants Ridge Recreation Area and the east Iron Range. The campground and Giants Ridge are connected by the paved Mesabi Trail.

“The project represents an ongoing effort to modernize the campground's infrastructure in order to retain existing visitors and draw new ones,” said Jim Weikum, Biwabik’s interim city administrator.

Recently, the city of Biwabik was awarded $1.3 million from the state of Minnesota’s Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund for renovations to the campground and beach area on Embarrass Lake. The improvements include resurfacing the roadway through the campground, demolition of the long-closed bathroom-changing facility at the beach, construction of a new bathroom-changing facility with outdoor showers and relocating the volleyball court.

Learn more about Vermilion Trail Campground.

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

Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa restored the exterior of two historic log buildings: The Grand Portage Old Log School and the Gymnasium. Both were originally built in the 1930s and used by school children until the mid-1990s. They remain places of great historical meaning to the Tribe, band members and elders.

The Grand Portage Old Log School was the only school on the reservation for decades and currently serves as a local historical museum with artifacts and pictures. Originally a gymnasium, the Log Community Building is now a gathering space. The logs were sanded, prepped and stained to protect the buildings. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation (IRRR) supported the project with a $30,000 Culture & Tourism grant. Total project investment was $61,305.

Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa is a sovereign Native American Tribal Nation whose people have lived in northeastern Minnesota for centuries. The reservation land is located in Cook County in the far northeast corner of Minnesota and within IRRR’s service area. Grand Portage has a population of approximately 640 and over 420 households comprised of band members, descendants and employees.

Learn more about Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.

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

Note: IRRR previously awarded a $31,050 Community Development grant to repair the roofs of both buildings.

The city of Bovey added artistic benches and bike racks throughout its downtown area to improve the aesthetics and create a more welcoming environment for local residents and tourists. The bike racks allow people to safely store their items while shopping or recreating in the nearby community park area. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation (IRRR) supported the project with a $11,500 Downtown Streetscapes grant. Total project investment was $23,195.

Twisted Metals of Grand Rapids designed and produced the bike racks and benches, and city workers completed the installation. A grassroots volunteer organization, Beautiful Bovey, did the majority of the fundraising for the project. The group’s mission is to enhance the green spaces and overall appeal of the city. Beautiful Bovey decorates the downtown street corridors with banners, flower planters and Christmas lights, and also coordinates city-wide events such as community Clean Up Days and Metal Pickup Days.

Email Danae Beaudette or call her at 218-735-3022 for Culture & Tourism grant information. (The Downtown Streetscapes grant program merged with the Culture & Tourism grant program.)

The session gave community members, property owners and local leaders the opportunity to hear directly from those working on brownfield projects and to learn more about redevelopment efforts currently underway.

The next Brownfields Lunch & Learn will be held Oct. 29 at Minnesota North College in Hibbing. The session is scheduled from noon to 1 p.m. Lunch will be provided, and space is limited. Registration is required. 

Learn more and register for the Hibbing session.

The 21st Annual Greater Minnesota Government Procurement Fair will take place Tuesday, Oct. 21, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Black Bear Casino Resort in Carlton. The free event is open to all businesses, but registration is required.

The fair features eight workshops, a trade show with more than 20 exhibitors and extended networking opportunities with representatives from state and federal agencies, large businesses and resource providers. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation will be among the exhibitors.

The event, hosted by the Minnesota APEX Accelerator program, is designed to help small businesses navigate government contracting, access certifications and connect with procurement specialists.

Register for the procurement fair.