Sean Pelkey is a long-time experienced welder and fabricator in local industries. He transferred his expertise, ambition and entrepreneurialism into starting Dark Lake Metal Works (DLMW), a small growing manufacturing, welding and fabrication shop located in Virginia. His company’s name pays homage to his grandfather and the time he spent with him growing up on Dark Lake located north of Buhl. His company’s jobs range from one-off custom fabrication of railings, furniture, signage and fire rings to repair and production parts.

When working to grow DLMW, Pelkey utilized technical services provided through Northland Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for support with business planning, expansion and acquisition of new technologies and state-of-the-art equipment. The Northland SBDC serves the northeastern Minnesota counties of Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake and St. Louis. Their consultants work throughout the region to help anyone seeking assistance to start, manage or grow a business. Their services are offered at no-cost to clients. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation (IRRR) provided a Development Partnership grant to Northland Foundation to support SBDC representatives located on the Iron Range and designated to assist small businesses in the Taconite Assistance Area.

Katherine Lahti is the SBDC business consultant who worked closely with Pelkey, offering him and his business no-cost technical services. She explained that when they first met, Sean clearly stated his mission: to deliver exceptional craftsmanship and uphold the highest standards of quality.

“It was a privilege to support his project and connect him with resources that helped make his shop relocation possible, in turn creating a more accessible and efficient workspace that will support the continued growth of his business on the Iron Range,” said Lahti.

Pelkey secured an industrial shop space in the city of Virginia’s industrial area near the Trunk Highway 53. There his company offers mobile and onsite welding. He provides a wide array of services by working closely with a network of other local small businesses, including Adamski Metal Works for CNC plasma work and Powder All Corp. in Babbitt for powder coating.

His shop features cutting edge equipment that he was able to purchase with help from the Accelerate Entrepreneurs Grant Program. The automated machinery increased efficiencies and reduced production time, enabling DLMW to deliver exceptionally crafted products to clients.

Vicki Hagberg is the Northland SBDC regional director and an advocate for the Accelerate program, which has helped Pelkey and other local entrepreneurs.

“The Accelerate program helps growth-oriented manufacturers expand their capacity and take the big leap to grow their business. I'm excited for what Sean and his business will accomplish in the coming years with the help of this targeted assistance.”

Northland SBDC regional consultants provide no-cost technical support to local businesses (existing and startups) such as business plan development, feasibility and financial analysis, market research, advertising and sales, navigating business financing, strategic planning, accounting systems and e-commerce. To get started, businesses may request services on the Northland SBDC website.

Learn more about Dark Lake Metal Works.

Learn more about the Accelerate Entrepreneurs Grant Program.

“This project underscores the significance of our local cities and people who work to help create communities that are desirable to growing businesses, people and families,” said Whitney Ridlon, IRRR community development director. “On behalf of IRRR, I am eager to see the completion of this new facility.”

Ridlon joined Sen. Rob Farnsworth, IRRR Board chair; Rep. Spencer Igo, IRRR Board member; and local leaders at the Oct. 29 groundbreaking to celebrate the start of construction.

Mayor Pete Hyduke praised the project as a symbol of community pride and partnership. “For more than a century, Hibbing has been a city that builds — from our mining roots to our civic institutions,” he said. “Every generation takes its turn to lay a foundation for the next. Today, we’re doing that again.”

Designed by Brunton Architects & Engineers and managed by Adolfson & Peterson Construction, the new center will enhance emergency response, communication and training capabilities. Completion is expected in fall 2026.

Email Chris Ismil or call him at 218-735-3010 for Community Development grant information.

At a time when many rural communities are having a difficult time attracting young dental professionals to their towns, the Iron Range has been successful in getting graduate dentists to set up their practices in small communities within the Taconite Assistance Area (TAA).

Established in 2009, the Martha Mordini Rukavina Loan Forgiveness Program is funded by Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation (IRRR) and has enabled 10 new dental graduates to establish practices on the Iron Range. Former St. Louis County Commissioner and Minnesota State Rep. Tom Rukavina was instrumental in bringing the program forward. It is named in honor of his late mother and IRRR Commissioner Ida Rukavina’s grandmother, Martha Mordini Rukavina.

The loan forgiveness program is administered by the Minnesota Dental Foundation and offers financial assistance to dentists who commit to practicing full-time for at least five years in the TAA, a federally designated dental shortage region in northeastern Minnesota. Participating dentists may receive up to $120,000 over four years to help repay qualified education loans.

With the average dental school graduate carrying approximately $335,000 in student loan debt, the program provides an important incentive for young dentists to consider practicing in rural Iron Range communities. By helping reduce financial barriers, the program strengthens access to dental care for residents throughout the region. In addition, a dental office can generate approximately $2.4 million per dentist in economic activity in a community.

Local dental practitioners Dr. Hannah Hudelson and Dr. Colton Hudelson of Hibbing recently received their final installment payments. Both are graduates of the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry and practicing dentists in Hibbing. Dr. Spencer Wihlm, a 2023 graduate of the University of Iowa College of Dentistry and currently practicing in Ely, received the third installment of his loan repayment award.

Pictured above right: Dr. Michael Zakula, vice president, Minnesota Dental Foundation, Dr. Hannah Hudelson, Dr. Colton Hudelson and Commissioner Ida Rukavina, IRRR. 

Pictured above left: Dr. Spencer Wihlm and Dr. Michael Zakula, vice president, Minnesota Dental Foundation.

The city of LaPrairie upgraded amenities at Ryan Park. Spectator netting was added to the hockey rink, the backboards were painted, the warming house was re-roofed and re-sided, and the rink surface was leveled to achieve consistent ice depth. The infield dirt was leveled at the baseball field, and a little league temporary fence was purchased. Fencing was added to the perimeter of the park to create a safety barrier for the park. The tennis and basketball courts were resurfaced, and new basketball backboards were installed.

Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation (IRRR) supported the project with a $26,500 Culture & Tourism grant. Total project investment was $56,344.

“The grant from Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation helped us make great improvements for our community,” said Lisa Mrnak, LaPrairie city clerk-treasurer. “Blandin Foundation and Greenway Area Community Foundation also provided financial support for the project, and both expressed excitement to add to the benefits of the IRRR grant. We’ve received very positive feedback from residents and tourists.”

LaPrairie has over 650 residents, a commercial district with several businesses and a privately owned 50-acre campground. A State Highway Rest Area is situated along the west side of the Prairie River. Located on the edge of Grand Rapids, LaPrairie was incorporated as a village in 1890 and developed as a logging community located where the Mississippi and Prairie Rivers converge.

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

A custom-built scale model U.S. Forest Service (USFS) floatplane and a mural were added to the Puddle Jumper Park in Ely. The plane is a replica of the iconic De Havilland Beaver floatplane, and the mural depicts the wilderness and the planes in action. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation (IRRR) supported the project with a $17,000 Culture & Tourism grant to the city of Ely. Total project investment was $191,000.

Brad Pearse from OzFab Welding and Fabrication near Ely built the floatplane, and Minnesota artist Dan Espeseth created the 15-foot by 80-foot mural on the side of the building.

“The pocket park is a key piece to the redevelopment in our downtown corridor and provides a connection from Sheridan Street to Chapman Street,” said Harold Langowski, Ely’s clerk-treasurer. “The floatplane and mural provide a unique attraction for kids to play on and for tourists and families to have a photo opportunity. Kids can actually get into the plane and imagine being a pilot and flying.”

Floatplanes have long played an important role in Ely and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and Wilderness (BWCAW). The USFS opened the Ely Seaplane Base on Shagawa Lake in 1929, and it was the busiest seaplane base in the continental U.S. after World War II. It is the only USFS Seaplane Base in the nation. The operations focus on wildfire reconnaissance, firefighting, water drops, crew transport, wildlife surveys and rescuing stranded adventurers in the BWCAW. The base also supports fish stocking and other services for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

The Puddle Jumper Park was originally developed several years ago on a vacant lot situated between two buildings and previously occupied by Pamida. IRRR provided a $50,000 Downtown Streetscapes grant to support Phase 1 which entailed adding lighting, seating, landscaping, ADA sidewalks, a small stage for music events, a playground climbing feature and public Wi-Fi. The lot is owned by the Ott Family, who partnered with the city to develop the public community space. In recent years, the Otts have redeveloped several historic downtown properties including the Ely State Theater, the James Drug Building, the American Fraternal Union (AFU) building, and most recently the Ely Depot, currently in progress.

Tanner Ott said, “Thanks to the city and IRRR, the park is an added element to Ely’s downtown that families and kids can enjoy. It was a community effort with the Rotary Club of Ely donating tables during Phase 1, so families can take a break from shopping or have a to-go lunch from a local restaurant. Brad from OzFab and the artist, Dan, were great to work with and did a wonderful job.”

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

Local leaders and stakeholders gathered Oct. 29 at Minnesota North College in Hibbing for a Brownfields Lunch & Learn focused on community redevelopment. The event featured a presentation from the city of Hibbing, the Hibbing Housing and Redevelopment Authority and Braun Intertec where they highlighted local brownfield redevelopment projects that are helping transform the community.

Crystal Mogensen of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) shared insights from the recent National Brownfields Conference and discussed funding opportunities available through the agency.

The Range Association of Municipalities and Schools and Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation co-hosted the event, which drew regional partners interested in land reuse and revitalization.

Community members can sign up here to receive updates on future brownfield and land redevelopment learnings, opportunities and events across the Iron Range.