Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation (IRRR) and Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency (AEOA) celebrated a small business grant milestone during an Oct. 7 event at the Maco Theater in downtown Virginia.
Since their inception, the Business Energy Retrofit (BER) and Downtown Building Rehabilitation (DBR) programs have awarded more than 1,000 grants across the Taconite Assistance Area, representing approximately $18.75 million in IRRR program funding. The totals include the latest round of awards in August 2026.
IRRR created and funds both programs with revenue from taxes paid by Minnesota’s mining industry, and AEOA administers the grants. BER grants help businesses make energy-efficient improvements, while DBR grants help business owners finance code-compliant construction and remodeling projects.
“Small businesses are the backbone of our region. Their owners represent the very best of northeastern Minnesota through their hard work, ingenuity and commitment to their communities,” said IRRR Commissioner Ida Rukavina. “Our partnership with AEOA turns mining tax revenue into practical support that helps these businesses improve their buildings and invest in their future. This milestone shows what we can accomplish together. When our small businesses thrive, our entire region moves forward.”
“Reaching more than 1,000 grants reflects the strength of this partnership and the commitment of business owners throughout the region,” said AEOA Executive Director Mark Page. “AEOA has the opportunity to work directly with businesses as they identify improvements, navigate the grant process and move projects forward. With funding from IRRR, these programs give business owners practical tools to reinvest in their properties, reduce costs and strengthen their communities.”
The event highlighted the Maco Theater, W.A. Fisher and Virginia Plastics as examples of how that support helps local business owners improve their properties and invest in their operations.
During the celebration, IRRR and AEOA representatives presented a framed certificate to Hannah Gowan and Allison Martinson, the mother-daughter team that owns the Maco Theater. Their BER project was selected to commemorate the combined program milestone.
Built in the 1920s, the historic Art Deco theater in downtown Virginia was recently renovated into a community gathering and event space. A BER grant is supporting the theater’s conversion from the city’s steam heating system, including the installation of two new natural gas furnaces and thermostats and the addition of cooling to the theater’s main assembly area and entrance. “When you take on a building like the Maco Theater, there are always improvements you want to make and projects you need to tackle,” said Martinson. “This grant is helping make our steam conversion possible. Having this kind of support makes a real difference for local owners who are investing in older buildings and in downtown Virginia.”
W.A. Fisher received a BER grant to support a steam conversion to natural gas, interior lighting upgrades, new air conditioning and heating elements and the purchase of a commercial paper cutter. Jeff Leese, president and owner of W.A. Fisher, said the grant helped reduce business overhead, allowing him to direct more resources toward his workforce and business growth.
Virginia Plastics, owned by Jim Zerban, is a polyethylene film manufacturer that has operated in the region for more than 40 years. The company operates around the clock and supplies plastic film products to the mining, steel, chemical, automotive, industrial, medical and consumer industries. Two BER grants supported the purchase of new plastic extrusion equipment, doubling production rates, cutting electricity consumption in half and eliminating the use of cooling water. A BER grant also supported the purchase of a new gas-powered forklift, providing reliable, modern equipment to receive raw materials and ship finished products. These investments have helped restore profitability, while revenue growth has contributed to a 100% increase in jobs over the past seven years.
Speakers included IRRR Commissioner Ida Rukavina; AEOA Executive Director Mark Page; Sen. Rob Farnsworth; Sen. Grant Hauschild; Rep. Cal Warwas; Virginia Mayor Larry Cuffe Jr.; Maco Theater owners Allison Martinson and Hannah Gowan; Jeff Leese, president and owner of W.A. Fisher; and Jim Zerban, president and owner of Virginia Plastics.
