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Cook County/Grand Marais EDA and the Cook County HRA to receive grants for multi-use commercial spaces and housing developments

Apr 01, 2024 09:39AM ● By Content Editor
From The Department of Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation - April 1, 2024


On March 26, 2024, the Minnesota Department of Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation (IRRR) approved over $9.5 million in economic development funding for NE Minnesota. The Cook County/Grand Marais EDA and the Cook County HRA will receive a little over $1.75 million combined for various housing and development infrastructure projects, including the following:

Development Infrastructure Grants

  • Cook County/Grand Marias Joint EDA: $400,000 to construct infrastructure and site work for the development of a 10,000-square-foot mixed-use commercial space in Grand Marais that will replace three businesses lost to a fire in 2020. The “Mayhew Commercial Project” will feature an event center, lodging units, a restaurant, retail spaces, a lounge, and rooftop open space.
  • Cook County/Grand Marias Joint EDA: $400,000 to construct infrastructure and site work for the development of a 9,300-square-foot mixed-use commercial space that will replace Papa Charlie’s restaurant and event venue at Lutsen Mountains which was lost to a fire last year. The new building will include a restaurant, event center, bar/lounge, and four lodging units for resort guests.
Housing Grants
  • Cook County Housing and Redevelopment Authority – Bjorkberg: $225,000 to construct infrastructure for a new housing development of 20 two-story workforce townhomes in Grand Marais.
  • Cook County Housing and Redevelopment Authority – Temperance Trails: $100,000 to construct infrastructure for a new housing development of up to 22 homes in Tofte. Ten are proposed to be single-family homes, and 12 will be side-by-side townhomes.
  • Cook County Housing and Redevelopment Authority – The Heights: $630,000 to construct a new three-story, 36-unit workforce apartment building.

Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation is funded through taxes paid by Minnesota’s mining industry. The projects reviewed at today’s board meeting support the agency’s fiscal year 2024 spending plan which helps to fund projects in business, community, and workforce development that retain and create jobs, address customer priorities, leverage investment, and improve the quality of life for all residents.