On Dec. 21, Gov. Tim Walz announced the appointment of Ida Rukavina as Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation's new commissioner. She officially began her new role on Jan. 2.

Rukavina was born and raised on the Iron Range and says that is is an honor to now lead an agency that has such a strong impact on the people and the region that she loves.

Most recently, she served as the executive director of the Range Association of Municipalities and Schools (RAMS). In this role, she managed and directed a 24-member elected board of directors and more than 60 public sector members, as well as private sector corporate members. She also worked closely with legislators, Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation staff and area economic development entities to further community development and quality of life for all member units.

Throughout her career, she worked in the labor movement and government, representing public and private employees in northern Minnesota and working with government at the state, local and federal levels. 

Her educational experience includes a Bachelor’s Degree in Government and American Politics with a concentration in Race and Ethnic Relations from Clark University and a Master’s Degree in Advocacy and Political Leadership from the University of Minnesota – Duluth.

In order to hit the ground running, Rukavina will hold several community engagement meetings in the immediate weeks and months. She plans to personally connect with business leaders, mayors, city administrators, tribal governments, nonprofits and educators across the agency's 13,000-square-mile service area. She wants to hear firsthand from stakeholders regarding what their needs and priorities are.

"My vision for the agency is to work toward a future that includes jobs that support families, a strong educational system and thriving cities and towns," said Rukavina. "Through our grant and loan programs, I am committed to ensuring that our local businesses, communities and schools have the resources they need to grow and prosper."

Rukavina is married to Jesse Dahl. The couple lives north of Virginia with their two daughters. In addition to spending family time camping, skiing, snowboarding, hiking and fishing in the great northwoods, she enjoys traveling, reading, baking and gardening.

Pictured above left: Commissioner Ida Rukavina participates in a swearing in ceremony with Secretary of State Steve Simon and Gov. Tim Walz.

Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa updated the interior infrastructure of its community center. The project included the replacement of an outdated and inefficient heating system, replacement of the indoor swimming pool liner and decking, and electrical wiring to accommodate new commercial freezers. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported the project with a $146,925 Community Infrastructure grant. Total project investment was $293,851.

The community center houses the Oshki Ogimaag (Young Leaders) Charter School which provides local, quality education with an emphasis on the Anishinaabe culture to grades K-6. It is also home to a tutoring program, after school programming, youth summer camps, fitness center, gymnasium and the Elderly Nutrition Program which serves and delivers over 185 meals per day to elderly tribe members. The facility is used for numerous events, meetings, cooking and other enrichment classes.

The old heating system was 28 years old, rated 70% efficient and experienced numerous issues that resulted in high repair costs and a disruption to the center’s daily activities. The new heating system is rated 98% efficient and is expected to create savings of approximately $4,000 per month.

The center’s pool liner was cracked, and the decking was beginning to chip. The cracking occurred when the center was closed during the pandemic in an effort to mitigate public health and safety concerns. The pool was closed and drained for both safety and cost saving measures, eliminating expenses for chemicals and heating the water. The liner cracked beyond repair during the closure, and the decking had already created safety concerns with loose surface rocks surrounding the pool and hot tub.

The kitchen located within the center had recently acquired new commercial freezers and a stove, which the existing electrical system could not accommodate. The Community Infrastructure grant enabled the hiring of an electrician to install new electricity to the building and a new meter head.

“The center is the hub of our small, rural community and provides essential and quality of life services to our residents,” said Jared Swader, Tribal Programs Administrator. “The pool is used for our elders to exercise as well as by our families and children for play and physical fitness. The electrical and kitchen improvements enhanced our ability to buy frozen foods in bulk which saves money over time. The upgraded kitchen enables us to continue providing healthy meals to our elders and school children.”

Swader explained that the center has historically been funded by revenues from the Grand Portage Lodge & Casino which is one the tribe’s enterprises. The pandemic resulted in a significant decrease in revenues over the past couple of years, and the timing of the repairs coincided with that downturn. The grant funding allowed the tribe to make the infrastructure investments in short timing and remedy issues related to safety and operational efficiencies.

Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa is a sovereign, federally recognized Native American Tribal Nation whose people have lived in northeastern Minnesota for centuries. Their reservation land is located within the Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation service area and has a population of approximately 640 and over 420 households comprised of band members, descendants and employees.

Other project funding sources included the State of Minnesota’s Tribal Statewide Health Improvement Partnership and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

For more information about Community Infrastructure grants email Chris Ismil or call him at 218-735-3010. For information about Tribal Relations email Billie Isham or call her at 218-735-3017.

Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan will host the 37th Annual State of Minnesota Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day event to commemorate the works of the revered activist, celebrate justice and uplift the Black community. The event will be held on Monday, Jan. 16 at the Ordway Center for Performing Arts in St. Paul. This year's theme is Building Black Wealth.

Attendees will enjoy a morning of music, history and fun, with live performances from the Shiloh Temple Choir, Joe Davis, Vie Boheme, Javonta Patton and more. The event will also feature informational and inspirational remarks that celebrate and honor Dr. King’s legacy. Award-winning Ghanaian-American researcher, entrepreneur and writer Anna Gifty Opuku-Agyeman will be the keynote speaker. 

The celebration is free and open to the public. It is recommended to arrive early due to limited seating. Doors open at 9:15 a.m., and the event begins at 10 a.m.

Tech Boost was launched in late 2021 to help small businesses in northeastern Minnesota adopt new technologies that benefit their operations. The business owners received a free expert consultation from Northland SBDC on potential technology-related investments to assist their business. The business was then given the option to purchase technology equipment or services of which two-thirds of the costs were eligible for reimbursement through grant funding.

Tech Boost was part of Arrowhead Intelligent Region Initiative (AIR), a broadband partnership between Blandin Foundation, Northland Foundation and Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation. The trio made available a pool of grant funds for local organizations working to support a broadband-fueled economy in northeastern Minnesota.

Throughout 2022, Northland SBDC consultants Vicki Hagberg and Curt Walczak met one-on-one with 76 small businesses to provide technical assistance and technology recommendations to bolster their operations. Sixty-one of the 76 businesses chose to utilize the Tech Boost grant. A total of $55,764 in grant funds were distributed, and over $120,000 was invested in technology improvements for regional businesses.

The grant funding was used for a variety of technologies including: new laptops, tablets and printers; point-of-sale system to help manage sales and inventory; systems to support online retail sales; lodging reservation systems; website development; networking systems; automated/smart medical equipment; and, equipment to develop real estate virtual tours.

Four of the 61 businesses that utilized the grant funding were:

• Bear Island Realty (Ely): Tech Boost Grant purchased equipment to develop virtual real estate tours to post on Realty.com. SBDC Technical Assistance was provided in the areas of business acquisition, human resources, QuickBooks and marketing. Bear Island Realty provides professional real estate services in the Ely and surrounding area.
• Joy & Company (Grand Marais): Tech Boost Grant purchased a new photo printer. SBDC Technical Assistance was provided in the areas of COVID-relief, general operations and marketing. Joy & Company is a retail shop with locally-made art, gifts, art supplies, antiques, vintage clothing and jewelry.

• Rose Cottage Baking Co. (Cook): Tech Boost Grant purchased a point-of-sale system and networking equipment to provide internet access at the bakery. SBDC Technical Assistance was provided in the areas of business plan development and financial projections to support a business expansion. Rose Cottage Baking Co. is a family-based eatery that serves homemade breakfast, lunch, coffee, espresso, handcrafted lattes and baked goods with no preservatives, no fillers and only freshly ground grains.
• Golden Paws Dog Training (Aurora): Tech Boost Grant purchased a new computer and monitor for business management and online dog training curriculum with national reach. SBDC Technical Assistance was provided in the areas of business plan development and financial projections for construction of a new dog training facility. Golden Paws provides in-person and online dog training for basic obedience, behavior problem solving and dog sport competition.  

“Northland SBDC provided me with expert advice that was tailored to my bakery’s needs,” said Rebekah Olson, Rose Cottage Baking Co. owner. “I received help to confidently navigate the technology purchases and implementation at my bakery’s new brick and mortar location.”

Vicki Hagberg is the Regional Director of Northland SBDC. Watch this quick one-minute video by Vicki about Rose Cottage and the Tech Boost Grant Program.

Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation provided Development Partnership grants to support AIR/Tech Boost ($150,000) and Northland SBDC ($100,000).

For more information about Development Partnership grants email Whitney Ridlon at Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation or call her at 218-735-3004. To learn about SBDC business consulting services email Vicki Hagberg or visit www.northlandsbdc.org to sign up for services.

Itasca County Family YMCA constructed four new pickleball courts, bringing their total court count to 10 and making it the largest outdoor dedicated pickleball venue in the state of Minnesota. The project was a collaboration among the YMCA, Itasca County Pickleball Association (ICPA) and the city of Grand Rapids. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported the project with a $27,960 Culture & Tourism grant. Total project investment was $218,846.

The four new courts were Phase II of a project which began in 2018. Phase I entailed construction of the original six pickleball courts, a basketball court and a four-square court. The 10-court pickleball venue is located at the YMCA and open to both members and the general public. It draws players from the Grand Rapids and surrounding 25-mile radial area.

Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in America with 4.2 million players as of 2020.* A lightweight solid paddle about twice the size of a ping pong paddle is used to hit a whiffle ball over the net on a court smaller than that in traditional tennis. Pickleball combines features of tennis, ping pong and badminton. Pickleball first became popular with seniors, and has since expanded to adults and youth. Pickleball is taught in school as part of the physical education curriculum in most parts of the nation, including here in northeastern Minnesota.

“The expansion to 10 courts moves Grand Rapids to the enviable status of having the largest outdoor dedicated pickleball venue in Minnesota. We are now able to host recreational and competitive tournaments that appeal to local residents and players from across the state,” said Kate Steffens, ICPA volunteer. “The new courts are beautiful, and we are very appreciative of the support from Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation to complete this great community project that can generate economic impacts in the Grand Rapids area.”

ICPA has grown to 133 members, up from 86 members in 2016 representing a 55% increase. The association works to increase the number of participants of all ages including youth and older adults. ICPA partners with YMCA to offer pickleball lessons and clinics and to host the annual Lakes & Loons Pickleball Classic Tournament. The Classic held in September 2022 attracted participants from 55 Minnesota cities and 10 states. There were 203 participants which was a 35% increase in participation over 2021. The two-day event drew 145 teams competing in 250 matches including women’s doubles, men’s doubles and mixed doubles.

“The community support for this project was tremendous,” said Steffens. “ICPA launched The Quiet Leadership Campaign which was a fundraising effort among our core supporters. We were absolutely thrilled to raise $141,350 in private donations from that campaign. The people in the Itasca County area are very enthusiastic not only about pickleball but also about enhancing our community and creating amenities for people of all ages.”

For Culture & Tourism grant information email Danae Beaudette or call her at 218-735-3022.

*June 2021 Sport & Fitness Industry Association Report. Sports & Fitness Industry Association’s 2020 Pickleball Participant Report.

The Culture & Tourism grant cycle opens Feb. 1. The grants assist projects that support arts, culture, history, tourism and recreational activities, enhance the quality of life in the region and attract visitors.

Project examples include:

• Upgraded digital projection and lighting systems: Paulucci Space Theatre, Hibbing.
• Ride the Range website for area mountain bike trails: Giants Ridge (Biwabik), Cuyuna (Crosby), Redhead (Chisholm) and Tioga (Cohasset).
• Inflatable outdoor theater and audio system for drive-in movies in the park: Silver Bay.
• Trail map for all ATV and snowmobile trails within Cook, Lake and St. Louis counties.

Culture & Tourism and Downtown Streetscapes grant programs are now combined into one program. Projects that promote safe and attractive downtowns for residents, shoppers, workers and visitors are encouraged to now apply under the Culture & Tourism grant.

Cities, townships, nonprofits, tribal governments and governmental entities created pursuant to Minnesota Statutes located within the agency’s service area are eligible to apply. Key application dates:

• Feb. 22: Pre-applications must be submitted by 4:30 p.m.
• Feb. 28: Full grant applications and required documentation must be submitted by 4:30 p.m.

Applications must be submitted through the FLUXX grant portal. Access the FLUXX portal.

Learn more about the Culture & Tourism grant guidelines. For information email Danae Beaudette or call her at 218-735-3022.

Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation funds its grants programs through taxes paid by Minnesota’s mining industry.