IRRR joined other northeastern Minnesota stakeholders in connecting with legislators to discuss regional priorities, including economic development, workforce needs, infrastructure and community investment. The event featured a strong Iron Range presence, with participation from Discover the Range, the Iron Mining Association of Minnesota, MiningMinnesota, Minnesota Discovery Center, the Range Association of Municipalities and Schools and other regional organizations.

“This event is an important opportunity to ensure northeastern Minnesota’s priorities are heard directly by state leaders,” said IRRR Commissioner Ida Rukavina. “By working together as a region, we can advocate more effectively for investments that support our communities, workforce and long-term economic growth.”

A grand reception held on March 18 at the InterContinental Saint Paul Riverfront hotel brought legislators and staff together with attendees in an informal setting, creating opportunities for continued discussion on regional issues. The event concluded on March 19 with a legislative breakfast featuring a keynote address by Gov. Tim Walz, along with updates from city, county and chamber leaders and members of the northeastern Minnesota legislative delegation.

Duluth & St. Louis County at the Capitol Days is designed to provide lawmakers with direct input from regional stakeholders on legislative initiatives, challenges and opportunities in northeastern Minnesota.

IRRR’s participation reflects its ongoing role in supporting economic development and advocating for the needs of the Iron Range and surrounding communities.

The city of Hoyt Lakes completed a large-scale improvement project for its Community Recreation and Wellness Center. Improvements included new entry doors, vertical wheelchair lifts, bleachers, a new arena rink floor, an ice plant (or specialized industrial refrigeration system), lighting, safer walkways and parking lot enhancements. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation (IRRR) supported the project with a $250,000 Public Works grant to the city. Total project investment is estimated at $4.86 million.

The facility primarily serves residents, businesses and organizations in Hoyt Lakes and nearby Aurora, Biwabik and White Township. It is open to the public and available to people and communities across the Taconite Assistance Area.

Local organizations, including the Mesabi East School District, youth athletic groups, health care clinics, police and fire departments and senior citizen groups, use the facility for events and activities. The arena offers venue space for weddings, graduations, school dances, pickleball, hockey, basketball, concerts, trainings and emergency evacuations. 

Built between 1969 and 1970, the arena seats more than 400 and features a single sheet of indoor National Hockey League-size ice, measuring 200 by 85 feet. A smaller outdoor rink is located behind the arena. The exterior of the building displays a large taconite rock from the Lower Cherty member of the Biwabik Iron Formation, a primary iron ore source in the Mesabi Range. The Taconite Recreation Club donated the rock to the city years ago.

According to city officials, the project also received $1.75 million from a Minnesota Legislature bonding bill and a Minnesota James Metzen Mighty Ducks Grant.

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

The new Eveleth Community Center opened March 14 in a building that was once part of the former Eveleth-Gilbert school campus. Constructed in 1992, the two-story, 30,000-square-foot facility features a full-size basketball gymnasium with retractable bleachers, a concession area, a senior center and indoor walking routes. Outdoor pickleball courts are also available.

The center will offer bouncy house rentals, and two private rooms are available for parties, events and meetings. The room names give a nod to the school and city’s history: Golden Bear Room (referring to the former Eveleth-Gilbert school mascot) and Hall of Fame Room (referring to Eveleth’s hockey legacy).

Eveleth city officials initially approached Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation (IRRR) for assistance in preserving the building, with a vision to repurpose the facility. The approach made it possible to retain and reinvest in a valued community space that will continue serving local residents for years to come. IRRR supported the project with a $500,000 Public Works grant to the city, helping fund upgrades to the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system. Total project investment is estimated at $1.1 million.

The school campus once housed Eveleth-Gilbert High School and Franklin Elementary. Both were over 100 years old and were demolished when the Eveleth-Gilbert and Virginia school districts merged into one new Rock Ridge district in 2019. The district constructed a new state-of-the art high school for grades 7 through 12 and two new elementary schools, which opened in 2023.

The city purchased the community center building from the district last year and began converting it into a recreational and gathering space. There are several small offices that could eventually serve as a hub for small businesses and entrepreneurs.

According to city officials, there is also planning underway for potential single- and multi-family housing, as well as trail expansion on the former school site.

Learn more about the Eveleth Community Center.

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

Note: IRRR awarded the city $163,545 in Community Development grants to support future upgrades to the elevator in the community center and the addition of ice hockey boards adjacent to the outdoor pickleball and tennis courts.

Photos courtesy of Aaron Kelson.

The city of Keewatin made enhancements to the O'Brien Reservoir Recreation Area, including a new shower house and restrooms, a new well and wastewater treatment system and parking lot improvements. An existing pavilion was reroofed, painted and equipped with additional electrical hookups. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation (IRRR) supported the project with a $150,000 Mineland Reclamation grant. Total project investment was $510,522.

The recreation area is located between Nashwauk and Keewatin and is accessible from Mesabi Trail and Highway 169. It is highly used due to a public boat landing at the reservoir. Residents from Keewatin, Nashwauk, Hibbing and Pengilly rent the pavilion for family reunions, receptions and other special events. There is a popular swimming area, sandy beach, fishing pier and children’s playground. The area draws users year-round, and Nashwauk-Keewatin school district utilizes the site for as an outdoor classroom.

The reservoir was established in the mid-1970s by National Steel Pellet Corporation as a freshwater reservoir. The recreational area land is owned by U.S. Steel, and the city of Keewatin develops and maintains the property as a community amenity. U.S. Steel’s Keetac taconite mine is located in Keewatin.

IRRR Commissioner Ida Rukavina said, “O’Brien Reservoir demonstrates how mining-impacted land can be used to improve our local communities and quality of life. The most recent project, spearheaded by the city of Keewatin, shows how communities, government and the mining industry can work together for the betterment of the people who live and work here.”

Other enhancement project partners included Blandin Foundation, Dem-Con, Mesabi Metallics Company and U.S. Steel.

Email Danae Beaudette or call her at 218-735-3022 for Mineland Reclamation grant information.

Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation (IRRR) will host a booth at the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration (SME) Minnesota Conference, April 14–16 at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC), bringing together industry professionals, innovators and stakeholders from across the region.

Agency staff will be available throughout the conference to connect with attendees and highlight IRRR’s funding programs, technical resources and partnership opportunities that support mining, manufacturing and economic development across northeastern Minnesota.

The conference is expected to draw hundreds of mining professionals, vendors and technical experts, with sessions focused on emerging technologies, industry trends and the future of mining in Minnesota’s Iron Range.

“Events like SME bring together the people and ideas that help shape the future of our industry,” said IRRR Commissioner Ida Rukavina. “We’re looking forward to engaging with attendees, sharing what’s happening on the Iron Range and building new connections.”

Attendees are encouraged to visit IRRR at Booth #170 in the Exhibit Hall to learn more and connect with staff.

Learn more about the SME Minnesota Conference.