REGIONAL- Several North Country communities, including Ely, Tower, Cook, and Orr, will see major improvements thanks to funding awarded through the Department of Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation. At the state agency’s board meeting on Feb. 25, officials reviewed nearly $9 million in grants aimed at business growth, infrastructure modernization, and housing development across the region.
Tower secured $482,000 to construct water, sewer, and electrical utility infrastructure for six newly built sustainable single-family homes along the East Two River. That project, which is being financed by the owners of Your Boat Club, is expected to eventually entail dozens of homes.
Ely will receive $200,000 to upgrade utilities and reconstruct roadways as part of a joint urban renewal project with St. Louis County.
In Orr, $260,000 will go toward infrastructure improvements, including sewer line replacement at the wastewater treatment plant, waterline upgrades on Second Avenue East, and new airport lighting at the Orr Regional Airport. Orr will also receive an additional $130,000 to construct a four-unit T-hangar at the airport, replacing an outdated structure.
Meanwhile, Cook will use $180,000 to develop nine new single-family lots. The project is especially significant for Cook, which was hit hard by flooding in June 2024. The new lots are located above the floodplain, ensuring greater protection for future homeowners.
Beyond these local projects, North St. Louis County Habitat for Humanity received $750,000 to support infrastructure and construction for nine new home sites across the Iron Range. The grant will help build three new homes, rehabilitate two existing ones, complete two unfinished homes, and lay foundations for two more that are set for early 2026.