Consolidated Telephone Company (CTC) expanded its broadband fiber optic network to approximately 400 unserved or underserved locations in Clinton Township and adjacent areas, including homes, businesses and farms. All locations have a minimum service offering available of 250mbps download and upload, with services of 10Gbps download and upload available. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported the project with a $1,150,000 Broadband Infrastructure grant to CTC. Total project investment was $5,400,000.

Joe Buttweiler is CTC’s chief strategy officer. He explained that access to broadband is as imperative today as electricity was 75 years ago. A reliable fiber optic network is the backbone necessary to provide rural residents, small businesses, teleworkers and farmers with access to the benefits of unlimited bandwidth, cost efficiency and reliability. Prior to this project, many residents in the Clinton Township area did not have access to quality or affordable internet service for everyday needs.

The project also received a $2,624,187 Border-to-Border Broadband Development Grant from the Minnesota Department of Employment & Economic Development and a $400,000 grant from St. Louis County.

“In today’s world, reliable internet connectivity has become almost as important as other forms of infrastructure,” said St. Louis County Commissioner Keith Nelson. “It represents access for businesses, students and everyone else seeking information or services online. So I’m pleased St. Louis County could dedicate ARPA funds in support of this project serving our residents in Clinton Township.”

Email Whitney Ridlon or call her at 218-735-3004 for Broadband Infrastructure grant information.

Note: CTC is a member-owned cooperative established in 1952 and based in Brainerd, with additional offices in Baxter and Crosby. It has 16,000 residential and business members and 75 employees that serve as local support teams across northern Minnesota. It originated as a telephone service provider and has since added television and internet services for homes, businesses, cabins and apartment buildings throughout Minnesota. Learn more about CTC.

The city of Calumet renovated its city hall building which also houses the community’s public library. A new roof was constructed and an ADA accessible elevator was installed. Repairs and replacements were made to the electrical wiring, lighting, ventilation and duct work and insulation. The upgrades will help reduce the city’s overall operational costs through energy efficiencies, while providing a safe, secure and accessible community facility. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported the project with a $467,000 Public Works grant to the city of Calumet. Total project investment is estimated at $1,017,896.

Built in 1937, the building is a cornerstone of Calumet and provides essential community services, including library access, to residents of all ages

The Calumet City Council and the Calumet Library Board will host an open house event on Wednesday, Feb. 11 from 3 to 6 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

Email Chris Ismil or call him at 218-735-3010 for Public Works grant information.

Voyageur Country ATV Club repaired several trail segments in the Cook area near Buyck that were damaged from the flood that occurred in June 2024. The disaster, St. Louis County’s second-largest in 30 years, brought seven inches of rain in 24 hours and caused significant damage to homes, businesses and infrastructure. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation (IRRR) supported the trail project with $25,000 in legislatively approved revenue bond proceeds.*

“The heavy rains caused washouts and extensive damage to many ATV trails in the northern part of Cook. The trails here are very popular with riders and boost the area’s tourism and outdoor recreation spending,” Voyageur Country ATV Club Board Member Bruce Beste said. “The IRRR grant helped us remove fallen trees, replace gravel and restore the trails back to safe riding condition. We are so grateful to the IRRR for helping to fund these important projects.”

Voyageur Country ATV Club is based in Crane Lake and oversees trail maintenance from International Falls and Orr to Ely and Cook. Learn more about Voyageur Country ATV Club.

*In the 2024 Minnesota legislative session, the Minerals Article Legislation/2024 Tax Omnibus Bill was enacted, requiring IRRR to issue revenue bonds to finance up to 82 identified projects across the Taconite Assistance Area.

Pincushion Mountain’s bike trail system spans nine miles and is located in Grand Marais along the North Shore. A 1.25-mile segment, known as “The Back 80,” was rehabilitated with a sustainable and enhanced riding surface. Better drainage was added, new four-foot wide decking was installed on boardwalks to accommodate adaptive and beginner riders, and alternative riding lines and features were built for more advanced riders. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported the project with a $27,000 Regional Trails grant to Superior Cycling Association (SCA). Total project investment was $54,000.

The Pincushion bike trail system was first built in 2004 using a now-outdated rake-and-ride construction method. The original trails served the riding community well for many years. However, over time soils eroded, rocks and roots became exposed, and maintenance became unsustainable.

SCA began rehabilitating the entire nine miles in 2024 using modern professional trail building standards. The work on The Back 80 segment completed the larger renovation effort. According to SCA, there was an uptick in trail use almost immediately following the rehab project.

In addition to mountain bike trails, Pincushion Mountain offers year-round, multi-purpose trails for Nordic skiing, hiking, snowshoeing, fat tire biking and running. The top of Pincushion Mountain provides a stunning view of Lake Superior overlooking the Grand Marias Harbor.

Learn more about the Superior Cycling Association.

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

Note: IRRR provided previous grants to support trail development at Pincushion Mountain.

Shown, from top: the trail before improvements, followed by two photos taken after the rehabilitation project was completed.

Iron Range Brownfields continues to advance redevelopment opportunities across the Taconite Assistance Area through its Lunch & Learn series. The sessions give community members, property owners and local leaders a chance to hear directly from professionals working on site cleanup and reuse projects and to learn about efforts underway across the region.

The next session will be held Monday, Feb. 23, in Grand Rapids. The in-person event will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Rapids Brewing Company, 214 N. Pokegama Ave. Lunch will be provided, and space is limited. Registration is required.

Learn more and register.  

The session is sponsored by the Grand Rapids Economic Development Authority, Range Association of Municipalities and Schools, Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation and Iron Range Brownfields.