EVELETH – IRRRB today announced recipients of its fiscal year 2017 Downtown and Business Corridor grants.

Grants totaling $200,000 are awarded to six projects in northeastern Minnesota.

Downtown and Business Corridor grants are awarded on a competitive basis to non-profits, cities and informal grassroots groups within the IRRRB service area that partner with a non-profit or city that is also within the service area.

Projects are designed to incentivize investment in downtown areas and business corridors by promoting safe and attractive environments for residents, shoppers, workers and visitors and provide funding for highly visible and create projects to create excitement, encourage citizen engagement, and generate visible improvement. Applicants provide a 1:1 match per project.

IRRRB Downtown and Business Corridor FY17 grants are:

Chisholm KIDS PLUS (Chisholm Downtown Revitalization Team) - $50,000

To support a collection of projects focused on downtown including the creation of a community pocket park, a more bike-friendly environment, improvements to Kiwanis Park and Mesabi Trail access, development of a historic walking tour, and storefront enhancements through partnerships.

City of Ely - $34,000

To enhance efforts by Incredible Ely, Ely Chamber of Commerce, and local merchants to beautify historic downtown Ely by adding information kiosks, bicycle racks, benches, bike tour signage, lighting improvements and flower planters.

City of Eveleth - $21,500

To support a “Salute to Hockey” project, enhancing the “Big Stick” mural, erecting metal sculptures to celebrate two Eveleth hockey icons, and enhance the Eveleth Area Community Foundation Plaza.

City of Tower - $40,000

To support improved entrance and welcoming signage, bike trail and speed calming signage, improvements to the Civic Center, main street tree replacement, solar lighting and a landscape plan for Welcome Park.

Hibbing Area Chamber of Commerce - $4,500

To support downtown enhancements including a streetscape within a demonstration block and improved bicycle way signage from the Mesabi Trail access point to downtown.

Virginia Community Foundation (Revive Virginia) - $50,000

To support the rehabilitation of a building and improvements to a vacant lot in downtown to spur private investment in downtown.