EVELETH – On Monday, Oct. 17, the Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation Board will consider support for development of a new aircraft parts manufacturing facility in Grand Rapids and infrastructure development grants that will generate $44.4 million in projects. The meeting is set for 11 a.m. at IRRRB headquarters in Eveleth.
“These projects address infrastructure needs, support community and business development, and assist in bringing new jobs to northeastern Minnesota,” said IRRRB Commissioner Mark Phillips.
IRRRB loans of $1.5 million to ACC Manufacturing, Inc. (ACC) and $293,000 to the Grand Rapids Economic Development Authority would assist ACC in establishing a composite parts manufacturing facility at the Grand Rapids Airport. ACC produces aircraft parts for its parent company, One Aviation Company.
Also on the agenda are:
An $82,250 loan to Zakobe, LCC in Bovey for an expansion of the metal stamping and machining business.
Taconite Economic Development Fund (TEDF) project allocations of $1,875,068 to Hibbing Taconite Company and $1,099,715 to United Taconite, LLC. Hibbing Taconite will utilize the funding toward the relocation of County Highway 5, which expands iron ore reserves and for scrubber house and furnace stack improvements. United Taconite will utilize the funds for engineering work on its Mustang custom flux pellet project. Each taconite producer must match its TEDF allocation.
A $350,000 recapitalization of the IRRRB Local Business Loan Guaranty Program, which provides loan guarantees to area businesses.
A $1,660,000 Iron Range Higher Education Account request to launch a new process operations program at Itasca Community College; to support Iron Range Engineering; to fund an Iron Range Engineering next innovation business model study; to expand and replace welding stations at Mesabi Range College in Eveleth and Hibbing Community College; and to implement a Northeast Higher Education District strategy to attract more students to the region.
An Iron Range School Collaboration Grant Program request of $2 million by Education Innovation Partners (EIP) to initiate and support regional multi-district high-quality education and training initiatives for students, teachers and communities and to assist EIP members with technology equipment infrastructure upgrades.
Development infrastructure projects totaling $2.498 million to:
- City of Chisholm - $350,000 for site and infrastructure work in support of a $2 million market rate duplex housing development project.
- Chisholm-Hibbing Airport Authority - $225,000 toward site work and aircraft apron development at $2.6 million a Midwest Aircraft Refinishing expansion.
- City of Coleraine - $150,000 toward a $348,000 emergency safety lift upgrades and groomer replacement project at Mount Itasca Winter Sports Center.
- Cook County-Grand Marais EDA - $200,000 toward an $891,403 project to renovate and construct an addition on the Cook County Airport arrival/departure building.
- Cook County-Grand Marais EDA - $100,000 for infrastructure and site work to support a $2.3 million seven single-family unit housing development in Grand Marais.
- Cook County-Grand Marais EDA - $300,000 toward an $844,585 project to renovate and reconstruct Canyon Golf Course at Superior National at Lutsen.
- City of Eveleth - $150,000 toward infrastructure and construction of an entrance road at a new $3.7 million Lundgren’s auto dealership.
- Eveleth-Virginia Airport Authority - $52,000 to support a $570,000 hangar site taxi lane rehabilitation/reconstruction project.
- City of Nashwauk - $170,000 toward redevelopment of the Latvala Lumber site for a $602,332 automobile recycling facility.
- Reif Arts Council - $250,000 to support the final phase of a $10.4 million expansion and upgrade of the Reif Center in Grand Rapids.
- City of Tower - $350,000 toward water, sewer, roads and site work for a $6.7 million Tower Harbor Development project.
- City of Two Harbors - $201,000 to support water main relocation for an $11.9 million project to allow construction of a proposed manufacturing business and expansion of an existing business.
