IRRRB’s Grants Office announces the agency’s current and upcoming grant opportunities. IRRRB offers a number of programs to prepare the communities of northeastern Minnesota for change and growth. Below is a listing of the grant programs and application deadlines. 

IRRRB Grant Programs and Application Deadlines

Aug. 8-31, 2016

• Commercial Redevelopment: The Commercial Redevelopment Grant Program assists cities, townships and counties in demolishing dilapidated commercial or industrial buildings and cleaning up brownfields located within the IRRRB service area.  
• Residential Redevelopment: The Residential Redevelopment Grant Program assists cities, townships and counties in demolishing dilapidated residential structures including single-unit residential homes, residential duplex homes of no more than two units, garages and accessory structures located within the IRRRB service area.

• Comprehensive Plan: The Comprehensive Plan Grant Program prepares communities for change and growth within the IRRRB service area.  A comprehensive plan or community vision plan provides a guide detailing the community’s future growth and development.
• Development Partnership: The Development Partnerships Program provides funds for research, education and development based initiatives which support the long-term economic growth of northeastern Minnesota.
• Drilling Incentive: The Drilling Incentive Grant (DIG) Program is designed to stimulate exploration for new metallic minerals and/or new deposits of minerals within the IRRRB service area.
• Laurentian Vision Partnership: The Laurentian Vision Partnership (LVP) Innovation Grant Program assists cities, townships, non-profits or joint powers boards with projects to promote the LVP vision and mission including preserving lands that sustain current and future mining, promoting landscape options for post mining uses, and identifying and discussing new development opportunities.
• Mining Impact: The Mining Impact Grant Program proactively identifies existing or potential mining influences on the region's communities. Once identified, the goals are to develop a plan to address the influences in a timely manner and provide time to implement solutions.

• Culture and Tourism: Strong arts, culture, heritage and recreational activities are essential to the quality of life and economy of the IRRRB service area. The Culture and Tourism Grant Program assists non-profits by supporting those projects.
• Workforce: The Workforce Development Grant Program supports education and training initiatives that emerge from industry, industry clusters, schools, or collaborations that build capacity, increase responsiveness, or demonstrate innovation to address workforce needs within the IRRRB service area.

Oct. 1-31, 2016

• Application Fund: The Application Fund reimburses the costs of preparing and applying for a grant that will advance innovative economic growth within the IRRRB service area. 

Nov. 1-30, 2016

• Downtown and Business Corridor (NEW PROGRAM): The Downtown & Business Corridor Grant Program is a competitive grant program designed to incentivize further investment in downtown areas and business corridors by promoting safe and attractive environments for residents, shoppers, workers, and visitors. This program will provide funding for highly visible and creative projects to create excitement, encourage citizen engagement, and generate visible improvements.

March 2- March 31, 2017 

• Application Fund: The Application Fund reimburses the costs of grant writing for nonprofit organizations, educational institutions and emergency service projects located within the IRRRB service area.
• Culture and Tourism: Strong arts, culture, heritage and recreational activities are essential to the quality of life and economy of the IRRRB service area. The Culture and Tourism Grant Program assists non-profits by supporting those projects.

Training Opportunity

IRRRB's Grants Office has implemented a new grants management software, called FLUXX.

Beginning this month, all IRRRB grant applications, reimbursement requests, correspondence and reports will be required to be filed electronically through this system. Applicants will find many benefits, including the ability to apply for grants, track grant progress, and request grant reimbursements in a quick, efficient manner.  

In addition, the system will allow IRRRB to electronically streamline grants management, provide timely communication to applicants about grant processes, and provide improved customer service. 

A training session on the FLUXX grants management software will be held for non-profit organizations and other eligible applicants on Thursday, Aug. 25 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the IRRRB administrative building. To RSVP, contact Kimmie Hall at 218-735-3008 or kimmie.hall@state.mn.us