Ely set to get IRRRB funds

The Minnesota Department of Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation, commonly known as the IRRRB, was set to approve a public works grant for the city of Ely after the Echo went to press.

A $150,000 grant to the city of Ely will be part of $1 million in infrastructure and road reconstruction of four blocks Pattison Street between Fourth and Sixth avenues along with Third Avenue East from James to Wilson streets.

The project will be funded by the $150,000 from IRRRB, $200,000 from the Community Block Development Grant program and $659,607 in city funds.

Ely Operations Director Harold Langowski said the two projects are expected to be completed in 2026.

At Thursday's Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation (IRRR) Board meeting, approximately $18.8 million in projects were reviewed that expand an existing business, advance mining operations, support higher education offerings, extend broadband service, increase the housing inventory and modernize infrastructure and public facilities.

Business Development Loan: $1,298,100

• Furin & Shea Welding & Fabricating Inc.: $1,298,100 to purchase the existing business that has been in operation and based in Hibbing since 1979. The new owners intend to diversify services and expand the customer base.

Taconite Economic Development Fund Rebates: $6,786,987

• Cleveland-Cliffs - Hibbing Taconite Mining Company: $1,480,318 for tailings storage facility buttressing and a filtercake stockpile discharge conveyor.
• Cleveland-Cliffs - Northshore Mining Company: $786,741 for stream restoration.
• U.S. Steel - Keetac: $1,282,372 for tailings basin phase 1 perimeter rise and concentrator dust collectors.
• U.S. Steel - Minntac: $3,237,556 - cutoff wall design and development work.

Iron Range Higher Education Account: $770,000

• Greenhouse Research Lab, Minnesota North College Vermilion Campus: $200,000 to serve as a hub for applied research, education and community engagement across the Iron Range. It will support regional environmental priorities, enhance academic programming and foster partnerships with local industry and schools.
• High Demand Programs - Enrollment Growth Initiative Year 1, Minnesota North College: $120,000 to support outreach to regional high schools and achieve enrollment growth in college programs including Natural Resources, Water Operations, Nursing, Veterinary Technology and Peace Officer.
• Industry Partnership - Program Redesigns Short Term Funding Gap, Minnesota North College: $450,000 to redesign career and technical education programs to align curriculum with the latest artificial intelligence (AI) technology and futureproof curricula in three current programs including IT Networking and Security, Graphic Design and Visual Communications, and Class Act Pre-education. 

Broadband Infrastructure Grants: $913,000

• Paul Bunyan Rural Telephone Cooperative: $600,000 to construct fiber optics to serve 128 unserved and 18 underserved households in Field, Alango and Sturgeon Townships in rural Saint Louis County. This is Phase 2 of a larger fiber optic expansion initiative.
• Paul Bunyan Rural Telephone Cooperative: $313,000 to construct fiber optics to serve 146 unserved and underserved households in the communities of Cook, Marble, Keewatin and northeast Hibbing in Saint Louis County and rural Itasca County.

Housing Grants: $2,122,000

• City of Buhl: $650,000 to demolish a severely blighted laundromat structure followed by site preparation and construction of an eight-unit apartment building adjacent to the existing 24-unit State Street Apartment building.
• Center City Housing Corp.: $1,472,000 to support Phase 2 of an ongoing effort to replace the blighted housing units located at Haven Court Apartments (commonly known as Greenhaven Apartments) in Hibbing. The new site, Missabe Manor, involves the construction of 48 workforce housing rental units.

Housing Grants Increases: $2,250,000

IRRR previously provided grant funding for the two projects below. The grant increases are due to higher than estimated bid amounts, rise in construction costs and other funding sources in original project plan being unavailable.

• City of Babbitt Increase: $450,000 to construct utility infrastructure, roads and sitework to create 18 single-family lots and one site for up to 12 twin/townhomes and one multi-family apartment building.
• City of Chisholm Increase: $1,800,000 to construct infrastructure for up to 25 lots for new single-family market rate housing. The development is part of Phase 1 Wenton Addition. 

Public Works Grants: $4,667,045

• City of Aitkin: $500,000 to upgrade an aging wastewater treatment facility including construction of preliminary treatment, aeration management, secondary clarification, biosolids management facilities and electrical improvements.
• City of Biwabik: $383,500 to improve the city hall and a public pavilion. City hall upgrades include replacing the boiler system and HVAC controls. Pavilion improvements include replacing the gas fire air handling unit, furnace, condensing units and HVAC controls.
• City of Chisholm: $400,000 to construct infrastructure and reconstruct roadways along Sixth Street Northeast. Improvements include new sewer line, water main, storm sewer, road reconstruction, curb and gutter systems and sidewalks. The project serves Heritage Manor Health Center and residential properties.
• Cook Hospital: $500,000 to replace the original 1959 steam boilers and feed systems with two new LP gas hot water boiler systems. The Cook-Orr Healthcare District is a governmental entity that was established in 1990 through special legislation. The hospital provides critical care and is a designated stroke and trauma facility.
• City of Ely: $150,000 to reconstruct four blocks of streets with new storm sewer, gutters and sidewalks. The subgrade will be corrected, and the road surface will be repaved.
• City of Eveleth: $100,000 to replace infrastructure in West Eveleth, including more than 2,300 linear feet of sanitary sewer force main.
• City of Eveleth: $133,545 to repair the roof and upgrade the elevator in the community center which will serve as a central amenity for a new residential housing development and open space/recreation.
• Hibbing Public Utilities Commission: $1,000,000 to replace, install, add or relocate 3.5 miles of water main, 74 valves and 39 fire hydrants to improve public safety.
• City of Virginia: $1,500,000 to make critical energy efficiency upgrades to municipal buildings and water line and culvert infrastructure improvements. 

The projects reviewed at today’s board meeting support IRRR’s Fiscal Year 2026 spending plan which helps to fund projects in business, community and workforce development in the Taconite Assistance Area.