Twelve members of WellPoint’s Dental business management team in Gilbert, Minnesota recently graduated from a year-long “Mini-MBA” training program. The program was made possible through a partnership between Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board (IRRRB) and Advanced Minnesota. IRRRB supported the training with a $15,100 workforce development grant, and Advanced Minnesota staff developed the customized training for WellPoint’s Dental business.

“We have supported WellPoint’s Dental business over the years with traditional business and community development investments,” said IRRRB Commissioner Tony Sertich. “This Mini-MBA project illustrates the impactful role our workforce development program can play in continuing to support business growth and development.”

Pictured above are the graduates of WellPoint’s Mini-MBA program. BACK ROW: Dawn Hipple, Jodi Cooper, Christie Elliott, Renae Krmpotich, Jennifer Koepke, Robin Chisholm, Kimberly Neuttila, Terri Nystrom, Debra Krall. FRONT ROW: Shawn Roos, Dan Larsen, Dan Boyer

Read the full news release.

The final phase of funding for a new event center at the Giants Ridge Recreation Area located in Biwabik, Minnesota has been approved. In the recent Minnesota State Bonding Bill, IRRRB received $3.8 million for the new event center, and the IRRR Board approved $6.19 million at their June board meeting for a total project cost of $9.9 million.  

The new 34,500 square foot event center will provide skier services, a winter sports school, winter and summer equipment rentals, banquet and conference space, and food and beverage venues. Construction will begin the fall of 2014 with an estimated completion date of December 2015. After construction is completed, the event center is estimated to collect an average of just over $4.8 million in revenue, generating a total of $7.9 million in annual output spending in St. Louis County*. 

The Giants Ridge Recreation Area has grown from a local ski hill attracting day visitors within a 50-mile radius to a four-season recreation area attracting over 100,000 guests each year from Minnesota, the United States and Canada. Giants Ridge is a public-private partnership that has attracted private sector development in real estate and housing, increasing the state and local tax bases.

* Source: Economic Impact Study conducted by University of Minnesota Duluth Labovitz School of Business and Economics, Bureau of Business and Economic Research, 2012.

Hibbing Daily Tribune

HIBBING—Known for on-the-field heroics and generosity off of it, retired Minnesota Twins first baseman Kent Hrbek is making his way to the Iron Range to back a great cause.

The Miracle League of the Iron Range, which built a handicapped-accessible baseball field at Bennett Park, is holding its Grand Opening Ceremony at 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 9.

Alongside Hrbek, the Pohlad Family and other Twins representatives will be on-hand for the festivities. The pregame festivities include speeches, a formal first pitch and the American Legion Post 222 Color Guard. Following the pregame festivities, a Miracle League game and a Transition League game will be held.

IRRRB supported the Miracle League project with a $50,000 grant for field construction.

Read the full Hibbing Daily Tribune article for more information on the Grand Opening Ceremony.

A stunning new temporary exhibit, Aurora! A Journey Through The Midnight Sky, is on display through May 11, 2015, at the International Wolf Center in Ely, Minnesota.

This unique collection of art and science features the works of local photographer Heidi Pinkerton. The exhibit is an attempt to draw tourism to Ely and attention to the wonders around us that can only been seen in a wildlands setting. 

"Ely is an ideal place to see and photograph the aurora borealis due to its high latitude and distance from man-made sources of light pollution," said the center's Executive Director Rob Schultz. 

IRRRB supported the International Wolf Center's marketing efforts for this exhibit with a $5,780 Culture and Tourism grant.

Learn more about the exhibit.

Cliffs Natural Resources is partnering with Fairview Range Medical Center to offer a free women’s health event on Thursday, July 17 in Hibbing, Minnesota. The event is part of Cliffs’ THINK PINK campaign, which includes the unveiling of a new pink 240-ton production truck box at Hibbing Taconite. 

The purpose of the event and Hibbing Taconite’s campaign is to raise awareness of the importance of breast health and provide other important information about women’s health.

Get details on the free women's health event.

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