This Independence Day carries special significance as the United States marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Across the Iron Range, communities will celebrate this historic milestone with hometown traditions that have brought families, friends and visitors together for generations.

For more than a century, the Iron Range has played an important role in America's story. The region's forests supplied timber that helped build a growing nation, while its iron ore has provided the steel used to construct railroads, bridges, skyscrapers, automobiles, ships and the infrastructure that has powered American industry. From times of war to periods of economic growth, the Iron Range has helped supply the materials that have shaped the United States.

That history lives on in the communities that continue to call the Iron Range home. Independence Day celebrations remain one of the region's most cherished traditions, with parades, fireworks, clown bands, live music, community festivals and family activities taking place throughout the holiday weekend.

The Iron Range is especially known for its Fourth of July parades. From Ely to Keewatin and communities across northeastern Minnesota, residents line main streets to celebrate alongside neighbors, friends and visitors. If you've never experienced an Iron Range parade, this is the perfect year to do so. 

Whether you're spending the holiday in your hometown or exploring a neighboring community, there's no shortage of opportunities to celebrate America's 250th anniversary while experiencing the history, hospitality and traditions that make the Iron Range unique.

Planning your Fourth of July weekend?

• Browse Discover the Range's events calendar.
• Explore KAXE's roundup of Independence Day celebrations.

Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation (IRRR) supported the project with a $4.58 million Housing grant to the city of Ely. Other funding partners included Minnesota Housing through their Workforce Housing Program, and State of Minnesota Housing Revenue Bonds financed through Frandsen Bank & Trust. Total project investment is estimated at $9.68 million.

Wilderness Escape was designed to be compatible with the character and community of Ely, while following the recommendations of the city council and HRA. The development will help address the community’s critical housing needs.

IRRR Commissioner Ida Rukavina spoke at the ceremony, which also featured remarks from Rep. Roger Skraba, Sen. Grant Hauschild, and other elected officials, project leaders and funders.

Commissioner Rukavina said, “The investment that our agency made into this facility is preparing Ely for the future and helping to solve the housing shortage. All of IRRR’s investments are funded through taxes paid by Minnesota’s mining industry, the proceeds from the Taconite Production Tax, and the hard work of the steelworkers at area mines. I look forward to seeing the continued growth in Ely, and the positive impact this housing development will have for the people and businesses here.”

The project will create construction jobs, and Rukavina thanked the skilled and professional trades women and men who will build the housing complex. Completion is expected in 2027.

Email Kevin Steele or call him at 218-735-3067 for more information about Housing grants.

The tour began at Eagle Mine near Michigamme, where participants received an overview of the mine's operations, safety practices and mining methods. The group then traveled to the Humboldt Mill in Champion, where they observed how ore is processed into separate nickel and copper concentrates before shipment.

The Eagle Mine began production in 2014 and is the only operating nickel mine in the United States, producing nickel as well as copper and cobalt. The nearby Humboldt Mill has a long history in Michigan's mining industry, originally constructed by Cleveland-Cliffs in the 1950s to process iron ore before later processing gold ore. Following refurbishment and reclamation, the facility resumed operations in 2014 to support production from Eagle Mine.

Earlier this year, Talon Metals acquired Eagle Mine and Humboldt Mill. The company also has a proposed mining project near Tamarack, Minnesota, adding a local connection to the educational tour.

In addition to touring Eagle Mine and Humboldt Mill, participants visited two of Marquette's notable ore docks. The group stopped at the historic Lower Harbor Ore Dock, an iconic waterfront landmark that once played a vital role in shipping iron ore from the region's mines to steel mills throughout the Great Lakes region. Today, the preserved structure is a popular destination for residents and visitors while serving as a reminder of the region's rich mining and maritime history.

The group also visited the active Presque Isle Ore Dock, where iron ore pellets from Cleveland-Cliffs' Tilden Mine are loaded onto Great Lakes freighters for shipment. Cleveland-Cliffs operates several iron ore mines on Minnesota's Iron Range, highlighting the longstanding connections between Michigan's and Minnesota's historic mining regions. Both regions share a rich mining heritage, with communities and economies that have been shaped by iron mining for generations.

Educational opportunities like this help IRRR Board members and staff broaden their understanding of industries, technologies and operational practices relevant to northeastern Minnesota while providing additional context on the mining industry and the region's longstanding mining heritage.

Interested in learning more? Eagle Mine offers free public tours that provide visitors with an opportunity to explore the operation and learn about the region's mining history. Additional information and tour reservations are available at www.eaglemine.com/tours.

Business Energy Retrofit (BER) and Downtown Building Rehabilitation (DBR) are accepting applications through July 23, 2026. Both grant programs provide funding to area businesses. They are funded by Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation (IRRR) and administered through Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency (AEOA).

BER grants assist with energy efficiency improvements to buildings that can result in reduced utility bills, improved building aesthetics and increased building life. Learn more about BER.

• Eligible applicants: Small business owners with 100 employees or less, Tribal governments and nonprofits located within the Taconite Assistance Area (TAA).
• Eligible projects: Projects related to energy efficiency including lighting and fixtures, building envelope air sealing, appliances, motors and equipment, insulation and ventilation, heating and cooling, window and door replacements, large generators, new construction for remodeling in event of fire or natural disaster and renewable energy.
• Required match per project: A business may be provided up to $25,000 in eligible energy retrofit expenses or 1/3 of the total project cost up to $75,000. A $500 application fee is required to participate in the program.
• FY27 funding: $1,500,000. Grants range from $2,500 to $25,000.
• Evaluation criteria: Location within a downtown corridor, main street or business corridor; business has not previously received funding; leveraging of other local, state or federal funding sources; urgent health and safety; city steam conversion; and, project readiness.

DBR grants assist downtown businesses with the costs of code compliance construction and remodeling projects. Code compliance upgrades can help improve land values, enhance public image in downtowns that spur economic development, improve safety and reduce health threats. Learn more about DBR.

• Eligible applicants: Business owners, Tribal governments and nonprofits who own a downtown building located within the (TAA).
• Eligible projects: Projects related to code compliance with general construction, electrical, plumbing, elevators, ADA, mechanical, sprinklers, housing rehabilitation, lead and asbestos removal, storefront, new construction or remodeling in event of fire or natural disaster and professional assistance.
• Required match per project: A business may be provided up to 1/3 of the total project cost up to $50,000. A $500 application fee is required to participate in the program.
• FY27 funding: $500,000. Grant amounts vary.
• Evaluation criteria: Building is prominent or historically significant; building is highly visible on the main street in a downtown area; code compliance issues are clearly identified; project will support business expansion or retention; project will bring a building back into use, expand the use of a building or retain a business that is in jeopardy of vacating a building; business has not previously received grant funding; urgent health and safety; city steam conversion; and, project readiness.

Since BER’s inception in 2013, more than 950 grants have been awarded to help small businesses, which are an imperative part of the region’s economy, communities and workforce.

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

Pictured are past BER and DBR projects.

Nearly completed, the transfer station is a 22,000-square-foot facility on 11 acres adjacent to North Shore Waste’s current operations. Moving operations inside allows all waste to be transferred to semitrucks resulting in significant operational efficiencies, improved environmental impact and mitigate rising transportation costs associated with transferring waste to landfills outside of the county.

Sen. Grant Hauschild and Rep. Roger Skraba, IRRR Board members, attended the ceremony along with IRRR Community Development Representative Chris Ismil.

Learn more about The North Shore Waste Transfer Station.

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

*In the 2024 Minnesota legislative session, the Mineral Article Legislation/2024 Tax Omnibus Bill was enacted, requiring IRRR to issue revenue bonds to finance up to 81 identified projects across the Taconite Assistance Area.

For the 12th consecutive year, The Quarry golf course at Giants Ridge was named the number one public course in Minnesota by Golfweek magazine. The Legend was named number six, making Giants Ridge the only golf destination in the state to have two courses appear in the top 10 for 2026.

Golfweek’s annual Best State-by-State rankings are determined by a nationwide network of course raters who grade courses across America using 10 criteria:

• Routing.
• Integrity of design (classic courses) and quality of shaping (modern courses).
• Overall land plan.
• Greens and surrounds.
• Variety and memorability of par 3s.
• Variety and memorability of par 4s.
• Variety and memorability of par 5s.
• Tree and landscape management.
• Conditioning and ecology.
• “Walk in the park” test (worthiness of spending hours on the course).

In addition to its top rating in the state, The Quarry also landed the No. 46 spot in the nation.

“Every year we are thankful that Golfweek and its esteemed roster of raters think so highly of our golf courses,” says Giants Ridge Director of Golf John Kendall. “Ranking both The Quarry and The Legend in the top 10 acknowledges the hard work our team does to provide guests a truly memorable golf experience during the season.”

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

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.

Giants Ridge is owned by Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation 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.