Tuesday’s Boundary Waters Connect presentation took place at the HUB, which is a community building located on Miners Drive that houses several non-profits and businesses.
The HUB is managed by the Ely Area Community Foundation which “strives to enhance the quality of life in Ely and the surrounding communities by establishing programs and facilities that improve the well-being of our citizens.”
Jeff Sundell, EACF Chair and Kurt Soderberg, EACF Treasurer, presented the history of the EACF and the process of acquiring a facility.
The idea for a community building like the HUB began in the early 2000s, and came to fruition in July of 2024.
“We worked with the Y of the Greater Twin Cities, we worked with Ely-Bloomensen Community Hospital…and then of course March 2020 happened,” said Soderberg.
After Covid, the foundation learned that a building on Miners Drive was coming up for sale. The building had been operated by the State of Minnesota as a call center for the Revenue Department.
“At the time, we were not capable of buying this building…so we worked with the city of Ely for them to purchase this building on our behalf, and for us to buy it back from them,” said Soderberg.
The vision for the HUB was to close the childcare gap in Ely, provide mental health resources, support connectedness for older adults, ensure wellness offerings for all ages and seasons, and create an accessible community event space.
The businesses and non-profits that reside in the building directly contribute to the realization of EACF’s vision, including Functional Fitness gym, Happy Days Learning Center and Daycare, Wellbeing Development, and Northwoods Partners.
Classes offered range from Ta Chi and chair yoga, to cooking classes and a coffee connection group.
A calendar of events can be found on the Northwoods Partners website at https:// www.northwoodspartners. org/events.
The community room is the center stage for many activities offered at the HUB, and is available to rent for free for non-profits and individual community members.
The room has capacity for about 140 people, and is equipped with screens for presentations and virtual participation.
There is also an industrial kitchen available for use with the room.
If interested in reserving the room, reach out to Melissa Hart, the HUB manager at 218-504-9505 or reserve online at https://www.elyacf. org/the-hub/community room.
The project has been highly successful and continues to refine existing programs, especially the daycare center.
“Putting together a high-quality childcare program is an extensive proposition,” said Soderberg. “We’re working with Happy Days Learning Center to come up with a better sort of a recruitment and retention program for the staff.”
The project is still ongoing, with plans to further soundproof the community room, make the entire building more energy efficient, and build an outdoor plaza for events.
“We’re also looking into what possibly could go into an aquatic center and determining what funds are needed to support that,” said Sundell. “My most optimistic goal? Two years.”
