At its board meeting on March 26, 2024, the Minnesota Department of Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation (IRRR) granted $1,755,000 to assist private developers of five major projects slated to begin construction in Cook County this year.
According to the IRRR press release announcing the grants, they are funded by taxes collected from Minnesota’s mining industry.
Explaining the purpose of the grants, the IRRR wrote, “The projects reviewed at today’s board meeting support the agency’s fiscal year 2024 spending plan, which helps to fund projects in business, community, and workforce development that retain and create jobs, address customer priorities, leverage investment and improve the quality of life for all residents.”
DEVELOPMENT INFRASTRUCTURE GRANTS
The Cook County/Grand Marais Economic Development Authority (EDA) will receive more than half of the approved $1,450,000 in Development Infrastructure Grants.
It received $400,000 for infrastructure and site work for the 10,000-square-foot Mayhew Commercial Project in Grand Marais, a mixed-use commercial space that will feature an event center, lodging units, a restaurant, retail spaces, a lounge, and rooftop open space. It will be built on four adjacent city lots on Wisconsin Street, where three businesses were lost to fire in 2020. Joel Saint John, owner of the Mayhew Inn on Wisconsin Street, is developing it.
The EDA received an additional $400,000 to construct infrastructure and do site work for a 9,300-square-foot mixed-use commercial space that will replace Papa Charlie’s restaurant and event venue at Lutsen Mountains. Papa Charlie’s was destroyed by fire last summer. The new building will include a restaurant, event center, a bar/lounge, and four lodging units for resort guests.
HOUSING GRANTS
The Cook County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) received three grants totaling $955,000 for three housing projects.
The HRA was awarded $225,000 to construct infrastructure for a new housing development called Bjorkberg, which will be built in the northwest corner of Grand Marais. It consists of 20 two-story townhomes intended for workforce housing.
It was awarded $100,000 to construct infrastructure to serve Temperance Trails, a new housing development in Tofte that will consist of up to 22 homes: 10 single-family homes and 12 side-by-side townhomes.
Finally, the HRA was awarded $630,000 for a privately developed, three-story apartment building on Highway 61 on the west side of Grand Marais. Known as The Heights, the building will include 36 apartments and underground parking.
