Hibbing Parents Nursery School and Daycare Inc. (HPNS) utilized technical services from Northland Small Business Development Center (SBDC) to help relocate from the former Jefferson School to a building owned by a local church. 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.

Jefferson School closed in 2003, and HPNS began leasing space there in 2009. The Hibbing Economic Development Authority (HEDA) recently bought the 10.3-acre site and plans to develop it into housing units in collaboration with a developer. The HEDA Board is currently open to conversations with interested developers. Northland SBDC helped HPNS identify potential new child care locations, navigate stakeholder discussions and understand funder requirements.

HPNS is a licensed, small nonprofit parent cooperative offering child care for children 16 months and older, part-time preschool and after-school care through age 12. It has served Hibbing families since 1966.

Pia Groszbach, director of HPNS, said Betsy Olivanti of the city of Hibbing connected her with Northland SBDC, which helped vet space within a building at Abundant Life Church. HPNS then leased the space and modified it to fit its needs, including installing a fire system, combining two classrooms into one and relocating the playground and landscaping. HPNS uses the space during the day Monday through Friday, and the church uses the space a few weekday evenings and on Sundays.

“The most helpful part was having so much knowledge come together in one place,” Groszbach shared. “We absolutely would not have pulled this off without this great resource.”

Northland SBDC helped HPNS apply for and secure a child care grant from Northland Foundation to offset renovation costs. The program supports providers and expands access to care in northeastern Minnesota.

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 Hibbing Parents Nursery School and Daycare.

The Range Association of Municipalities and Schools (RAMS) is hosting a series of public forums on how shifting iron mining trends could affect local government budgets and planning, with one session already completed. Titled “Budget Impacts of Iron Mining Trends: How Communities Can Plan Ahead,” the forums run through May 13 at locations across the Iron Range. The first forum was held April 22 in Chisholm and drew strong participation and discussion.

Remaining forums include:

• May 11, Virginia/Mountain Iron, 5 to 6:30 p.m., Mesabi Range College, Virginia campus theater
• May 13, Biwabik/Aurora, 5 to 6:30 p.m., Aurora Community Center

Presentations will cover current iron ore market conditions, production tax projections and potential impacts on local funding, followed by panel discussions and audience questions.

Speakers, panelists and presenters include Ida Rukavina, commissioner of Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation (IRRR); Mike Jugovich, St. Louis County commissioner; Pete Hyduke, mayor of Hibbing; Dr. Noel Schmidt, superintendent of Rock Ridge Public Schools; Jason Janisch, climate & energy policy advisor for IRRR; and Paul Peltier, executive director of RAMS.

Organizers say the forums are intended to provide local leaders with information on current iron ore market conditions, production trends and potential impacts to local government funding to help support long-term planning and discussion. School, township, city and county officials are encouraged to attend.

Each session will offer the same information, and attendees may choose the most convenient location.

Learn more and register.

Pike Township improved the playground area adjacent to their town hall. The tennis courts were resurfaced, and a gazebo was constructed. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation (IRRR) supported the project with a $15,849 Culture & Tourism grant. Total project investment was $41,700.

The renovated playground area better serves township residents and visitors. The tennis courts have basketball hoops and are well used, and the playground is popular with children. The gazebo provides a shaded area for grandparents and caregivers accompanying kids at the playground, and it has also been used for live music events.

Pike Township Clerk Cassandra Hainey said, “Our town hall is a popular rental venue for parties and gatherings. The improved courts and new gazebo adjacent to the building have enhanced the community and made the entire space more welcoming for all ages.”

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

Rapids Brewing Company (RBC) LLC renovated two vacant commercial buildings in downtown Grand Rapids, in an area called “Block 19.” Both buildings were former accounting offices. One was redeveloped into Ledger & Ladle restaurant and the other into The Tied bar with apartments on the upper floor.

Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation (IRRR) supported the revitalization projects with two Community Development grants to the city of Grand Rapids: a $40,000 Commercial Redevelopment grant for selective demolition and a $180,000 Pubic Works grant for infrastructure upgrades. Total project investment is estimated at $2.1 million.

RBC was awarded Business Energy Retrofit (BER) and Downtown Business Redevelopment (DBR) grants totaling $90,000. The grants, along with their own private investment, supported energy efficient and code compliancy improvements to the buildings, including new heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, windows, doors and extensive plumbing and electrical work. BER and DBR programs are funded by IRRR and administered through a partnership with Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency (AEOA). The grants are awarded directly to small business owners in the Taconite Assistance Area.

The Tied has a hometown bar feel, serving Midwest domestic classic beers, craft beers and other beverages. Ledger & Ladle is a rotating concept-type restaurant where the menu changes to a new cuisine every several months. The current rotation is “Exploring the British Isles,” and prior to that was “French Bistro.” Jessie Siiter and Eric Halverson work in partnership with RBC to operate the new venue. Eric has over 15 years’ experience as a chef, and Jessie has worked in nearly aspect of the food service industry, from service to administration.

The LLC is a group of local private investors that owns Rapids Brewing Co., a successful brewpub that opened in 2019 in a renovated historic building on Block 19. Ledger & Ladle and The Tied have been added to the group’s portfolio which serves the Grand Rapids area residents and an estimated 80,000 annual visitors from over 50 miles away.

Bill Martinetto is one of those investors. He is a Grand Rapids native and oversees the operations of both the brewpub and the bar. He is a former accounting manager at an area mining company and has invested in the downtown area to grow community gathering spaces and the economy in his hometown. Martinetto explained that the central value of their company is to serve the Grand Rapids community and make the downtown vibrant and bustling with both a hometown crowd and tourists.

Rob Mattei is the Grand Rapids director of community development. Mattei said, “The new restaurant, bar and original brewpub have helped redevelop a highly visible site in our downtown, which has been a long-standing goal. All three buildings were in decline and are now thriving spaces operated by a local group of very committed people. The original brewpub redevelopment was a catalyst for new investment interest in our downtown.”

Learn more about Ledger & Ladle.

Learn more about The Tied.

Learn more about Rapids Brewery Co.

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

Email Noah Ningen at AEOA or call him at 218-780-8061 to learn more about BER and DBR grants.

Looking to sharpen your grant writing skills? A free upcoming workshop offers practical guidance for crafting strong, competitive proposals.

Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation is hosting a Grant Writing Workshop led by Cameron Kruger, founder and lead consultant of That Nonprofit Guy. The session will cover best practices for developing clear, concise proposals that align with funders’ priorities. Participants will also learn how to structure a compelling application, use data and storytelling effectively and avoid common pitfalls in the grant process. The workshop will touch on how AI tools can support research, drafting and editing while maintaining an authentic voice.

Two opportunities are available to attend. An in-person session is scheduled for May 12 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Mineland Reclamation building in Chisholm. A virtual session is set for May 19 from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.

Registration is required, and space is limited for the in-person session.

Register for one of the workshop sessions.

Giants Ridge in Biwabik announced the 2026 season opening of its two top-rated golf courses. The Quarry opened for play on May 1, and The Legend will open on May 9. Tee times for both courses are available and can be reserved by calling 218-865-8030. Golf specials and packages are offered throughout the season.

The Quarry, named for its location on a former sand quarry and iron ore mine, is frequently regarded as the best public golf course in Minnesota. Dramatically elevated tees, hazards forged from reclaimed and repurposed minelands, and striking Iron Range views set The Quarry apart from other Midwest public courses. It is a prime example of an industrial site successfully transformed into a premier recreation destination.

First opened in 1997, The Legend is recognized for establishing the golf scene in Minnesota’s Iron Range and transforming the region into a nationally renowned golf destination. Set within the Superior National Forest, the player-friendly layout weaves through towering pines and alongside Sabin Lake.

The two courses are remarkably different in nearly every way, except for providing golfers of all skill levels an unforgettable experience amidst the natural serenity of northeastern Minnesota.

Thousands of golfers play the two championship courses each season, making the facility central to the region’s tourism sector and summer economy. Guests travel to Giants Ridge from across Minnesota, the Midwest, U.S. and Canada. Local junior golfers from area schools also enjoy the courses at the numerous high school and junior golf tournaments hosted at Giants Ridge.

Giants Ridge continues to set the standard as Minnesota’s leading golf destination. Golfweek’s “Ultimate Guide to Golf Course Living and Great Escapes 2026” placed The Quarry at No. 35 in its “Top 200 Resort Courses in the U.S.” rankings. The Legend was also listed in Golfweek’s annual rankings of the top resort courses in the U.S.

In addition to golf, Giants Ridge offers lift-served mountain bike trails, hiking, a climbing wall and lake access during the summer. During the winter months, guests enjoy alpine and cross-country skiing, snow tubing, snowshoeing and access to over 2,000 miles of snowmobile trails. The Giants Ridge Pool & Sauna Haus is open year-round.

Learn more about The Quarry and The Legend at Giants Ridge.

Giants Ridge is owned by Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation (IRRR) and managed by Guest Services, a hospitality management company in the U.S. since 1917. Investments by IRRR into the Giants Ridge amenities and infrastructure support the facility’s significant annual economic impact of roughly $55 million.

The city of Ely will host an Iron Range Brownfields Lunch & Learn on May 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Ely City Hall. 

Part of an ongoing series, the event focuses on redevelopment opportunities across the Taconite Assistance Area. Sessions connect community members, property owners and local leaders with professionals working on site cleanup and reuse projects.

City officials say the effort comes as Ely looks to expand economic opportunities by redeveloping underused or vacant properties. Highlighted projects will include redevelopment of the historic train depot and railroad yard, as well as plans to convert a former county public works site into a multiuse trailhead and visitor center.

Sponsors include the city of Ely, the Range Association of Municipalities and Schools, Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation, and Iron Range Brownfields.

Lunch will be provided. Registration is required.

Learn more and register.