REGIONAL— Christmas came early for nearly two dozen area communities last week, as the Department of Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation board gave its blessing to over $34 million in investments in economic and community development projects. That includes an $18 million allocation for a new K-12 school in Nashwauk.
The agency funding is helping to leverage a total of $157.7 million in project investment across the taconite tax region.
In northern St. Louis County, both Ely and the Tower-Breitung Wastewater Board will receive $250,000 for improvements in their wastewater treatment facilities. Ely will use the funds for phase I improvements in their wastewater treatment plant, while the Tower-Breitung funding will go toward replacement of 22 force main manholes as part of an effort to reduce inflow and infiltration of ground and surface water into the wastewater treatment system. The system has been running close to capacity in recent years, so reducing infiltration into the system is expected to provide some additional capacity to accommodate new development.
In addition, Breitung Township is slated to receive $40,000 to reconstruct street and storm sewer infrastructure in Soudan. The township is seeking other funding as well to finance those improvements.
Some of the other projects approved for funding include:
• $950,000 to Cook County and the Grand Marais EDA to fund infrastructure for a new mixed-use development in Tofte, including residential apartments and associated retail space.
• $250,000 to the city of Hibbing to construct infrastructure for the development of a new city-owned campground on Carey Lake with 29 RV and tenting sites with water and electrical service at each site.
• $18 million to pay down bonds for the construction of a new K-12 school in Nashwauk. The funding will come from the IRRR’s Iron Range School Collaboration Account, based on collaboration and cooperation between the Nashwauk-Keewatin School District and the Grand Rapids School District.
• $765,000 to the VisionNE College Merger to assist with the merger of five community colleges including Hibbing, Itasca, Mesabi Range, Rainy River and Vermilion.
• A total of $7.2 million to area taconite plants to assist with plant re-investment and improvements. Minntac was the largest recipient, with a total of $3.122 million approved for Lines 5 and 6 pre-classification, mine extension, new track scale, and an indurating Line 6 grate.
All combined, the projects approved by the agency are expected to increase the regional tax base, create permanent jobs and temporary construction jobs, provide essential services, improve education and expand outdoor recreation and mining. Loans provided to businesses are anticipated to impact 19.5 jobs and create 32 construction jobs. The infrastructure projects are projected to impact 54 jobs and create 306 construction jobs.
Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation is funded through taxes paid by Minnesota’s mining industry. The agency works to supports businesses, communities and workforce development projects.