Photo: Simon Berger 

From the Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation Board - March 29, 2023


The Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation Board met this week in St. Paul. It was the first meeting of the eight newly elected and appointed members. Rep. Spencer Igo was elected as the chair, and Sen. Justin Eichorn was elected as the vice chair.

Approximately $1.5 million in loans, $2.4 million in infrastructure grants, and $191,000 in trails grants was approved to advance projects in northeastern Minnesota. 

Agency total investment for all projects combined is approximately $4.1 million. Total project investment is approximately $39.2 million. 

The projects are expected to increase the regional tax base, impact new and existing jobs, create construction jobs, provide essential services, and expand outdoor recreation. The loans are anticipated to impact 49 jobs. The infrastructure projects are projected to create 11 permanent jobs and 209 construction jobs.

• Breitung Township: $40,000 for the engineering, construction and environmental expenses to reconstruct and improve the 1.4-mile paved McKinley Park Trail located between Soudan Underground State Park and McKinley Park Campground on Lake Vermilion.
• City of Crosby: $43,200 to construct a mountain bike trail and instruction area on the grounds of the Cuyuna Range Elementary School. The multi-purpose trail will be used to teach students mountain bike riding skills and safety through a physical education class. It will be open to the community for biking, hiking and snowshoeing.
• PathBlazers Snowmobile Club: $45,000 to purchase a groomer that will be used to maintain 68 miles of DNR grant-in-aid trails in the Chisholm, Hibbing and Side Lake areas.
• Northern Traxx ATV Club: $50,000 to purchase a new dozer that will be used to maintain numerous miles of off-highway trails in the Chisholm, Hibbing and Side Lake areas.
• North Superior Ski and Run Club: $12,500 to repair and rebuild several segments of the Pincushion trail system including the replacement of culverts. The project will purchase a new flail mower for summer trail maintenance.

Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation is funded through taxes paid by Minnesota’s mining industry. The projects approved at today’s board meeting support the agency’s FY23 spending plan which focuses on leveraging capital, improving the quality of life and retaining and creating well-paying jobs. The agency supports businesses, communities and workforce development projects that make northeastern Minnesota a desirable place to live, work and play.