EVELETH, Minnesota – The Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board (IRRRB) will review $8,462,564 in Public Works grants for approval at its Wednesday, December 14, 2011 meeting. IRRRB Public Works grants provide funds for cities and townships that can be used for infrastructure, site work, or healthcare capital projects that support community and economic development.
IRRRB Commissioner Tony Sertich said, “These grants are of significant importance to our local communities, leveraging tens of millions in infrastructure improvements and creating construction and permanent jobs at new economic development projects. Every one dollar of agency investment is one less dollar that is needed to be raised with local property taxes on small business and homeowners.”
The $8,462,564 in grants leverages $85.3 million in project costs, which is a 9-to-1 leverage ratio. A total of 515 construction and 171 new permanent jobs are projected to be created as a result of Public Works grants to 38 communities and three health care facilities. Additional jobs will be announced as development deals are finalized.
According to Sertich, agency members have worked with communities to make sure that all projects are intended to be “shovel-ready” for the next construction season.
|
Organization |
Grant Award |
|
City of Aitkin – Water, sewer, road and site work for expansion of refinishing line at Lake States Lumber. Six FTE jobs to be created. |
$125,000 |
|
City of Aurora – Reconditioning of city water storage tank, renovation of water plant for a joint water system with Aurora, Biwabik, White Township and Hoyt Lakes. |
200,000 |
|
City of Babbitt – Water, sewer, road and site for construction of a 28-bed assisted living facility. Twenty-six FTE jobs created. |
350,000 |
|
City of Biwabik –Infrastructure installation and upgrades between 2nd and 3rd Avenues leading to a single-family home development project. |
200,000 |
|
Breitung Township – Replacement of 62-year-old water and sewer lines along Superior and Gordon streets and a main street overlay project. |
200,000 |
|
City of Buhl – Water, sewer and road infrastructure for the north and south business park along Highway 169. |
150,000 |
|
City of Calumet – Water, sewer and utility line replacement and reconstruction of C.S.A.H. #12 between Highway 169 and 9th Avenue. |
100,000 |
|
City of Chisholm – Repairs, new pumps and controls at lift station near Longyear Lake. Extra capacity is needed for a $20 million joint waste treatment project. |
200,000 |
|
Central Iron Range Sanitary Sewer District – Construction of new joint waste treatment plant in Chisholm for joint system serving Chisholm, Buhl, Kinney and Great Scott Township, and a sewer line from Buhl to Chisholm. |
500,000 |
|
Clinton Township – Well, septic and site work for Badger Transport expansion. Fifteen FTE jobs created. |
160,000 |
|
City of Coleraine –Water, sewer and road improvements along Powell Avenue. |
126,815 |
|
City of Cook – Water, sewer, road and drainage improvements along First Avenue Southwest and Fourth Street Southeast. IRRRB funds to be used on Fourth Street project to correct water drainage problems affecting a 34-bed assisting living facility |
65,000 |
|
Cook Hospital – Infrastructure and site work for the addition of space for a new emergency room and remodeling of the existing emergency room for endoscopy procedures. Six FTE jobs created. |
300,000 |
|
City of Effie – Site work, storm drainage and other costs associated with reconstruction of Highway 1 from Highway 38 into the City of Effie. |
20,000 |
|
City of Ely – Water and sewer improvements along Patterson Street from Second Avenue East to Fourth Avenue East. |
150,000 |
|
City of Eveleth – Water, sewer and road improvements along Hat Trick Avenue from Five Seasons Sports Center to the United States Hockey Hall of Fame. The project will also serve a hotel under renovation. |
250,000 |
|
City of Eveleth – Street reconstruction and storm sewer replacement along Station 44 Road off of Highway 37 to serve the Mesabi Trailhead building and other businesses. |
74,059 |
|
City of Gilbert – Water, sewer and road improvements along Alaska Avenue. |
308,750 |
|
City of Grand Rapids - Replacement of lift station #1 near the Mississippi River. |
200,000 |
|
City of Hibbing – Water, sewer, road and site work for a development project. 26 FTE jobs created. |
350,000 |
|
City of Hibbing – Replacement of 60-inch sanitary sewer line in Brooklyn area from 13th Street to 16th Street. The sanitary sewer line serves large residential area and Highway 160 businesses. |
300,000 |
|
City of Hoyt Lakes -Water, sewer and site work for Phase 1 construction of two six-plex market rate apartment complexes. |
350,000 |
|
Kabetogama Township - Construction of a shared waste treatment system that will serve eight residences and nine businesses. One FTE job created. |
250,000 |
|
City of Keewatin – Installation of an MPCA-approved liner and collection and drainage system for General Waste Disposal and Recovery Service landfill expansion, to accept waste from mining companies. Eight FTE jobs created. |
300,000 |
|
Lake County – Extension and upgrade to a rail spur and external electrical service upgrade for potential expansion at Louisiana Pacific siding plant. Forty-one new jobs created. |
350,000 |
|
City of LaPrairie - Phase I lift station repairs to eventually replace wells and septic systems for 50 residents and 23 businesses close to Highway 169. |
180,000 |
|
City of Meadowlands – Water, sewer, road and site work for construction of a 10-unit assisted living facility adjacent to current assisting living complex. Fifteen FTE jobs created. |
72,940 |
|
City of Mountain Iron – Connection of a water line to a Virginia water line near County Road 7. Connecting the water line will add capacity and fire protection for both cities. |
250,000 |
|
City of Mountain Iron - Water and sewer line installation along proposed new County Road 102 at northern edge of Rock Ridge business park. Relocation of County 102 is scheduled for 2013 to accommodate expansion of United States Steel’s Minntac Mine. |
250,000 |
|
City of Nashwauk – Water, sewer, road and site work for an expansion of Motter Equipment Incorporated in the city’s business park. Ten FTE jobs created. |
200,000 |
|
City of Palisade – Water, sewer and road extension to Palisade Manufacturing Company and the Palisade Business Park. The project will lead to future employment growth. |
280,000 |
|
Range Mental Health – Site work and construction costs for a Range Mental Health Center expansion of Hope House near Bailey (Virginia) Lake. One FTE job created. |
150,000 |
|
City of Taconite – Replacement of a sanitary sewer line and man holes in a number of areas of the city. |
100,000 |
|
City of Tower – Dredging of three areas along the East Two River and marina area for 14 docks for boats a larger dock and a boardwalk area as part of Phase 1 of marina project. Projected $40 million in development within marina. |
250,000 |
|
City of Two Harbors – Water, sewer and site work for 34 new campground sites at Burlington Bay campground along with construction of a shower and commons area building. |
150,000 |
|
City of Virginia – Soil correction and electrical substation work for P&H MinePro site. |
250,000 |
|
City of Virginia – Water, sewer and site work for an expansion of Sundell Eye Associates near Bailey (Virginia) Lake. Twelve FTE jobs created. |
150,000 |
|
Virginia Regional Medical Center – Upgrades of two public elevators as required by Minnesota elevator standards and laws. |
250,000 |
|
City of Warba – Replacement of approximately 1,900 feet of sanitary sewer. |
150,000 |
|
White Township – Relocation of a water main, a new lift station and replacing septic systems with sanitary sewer lines. Phase 1 of 4 phases. |
200,000 |
|
TOTAL |
8,462,564 |
Grant guidelines and additional information can be found at www.irrrb.org.
IRRRB is a state economic development agency headquartered in northeastern Minnesota whose mission is to invest in business, community and workforce development for the betterment of northeastern Minnesota.