The Minnesota Department of Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation (IRRRB) is an

economic development In economics, economic development (or economic and social development) is the process by which the economic well-being and quality of life of a nation, region, local community, or an individual are improved according to targeted goals and object ...

agency of the

State of Minnesota Minnesota ( ) is a state in the Upper Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Ontario to the north and east and by the U.S. states of Wisconsin to the east, Iowa to the south, and Nor ...

, designed to advance growth on Minnesota's

Iron Range The Iron Range is collectively or individually a number of elongated iron-ore mining districts around Lake Superior in the United States and Canada. Much of the ore-bearing region lies alongside the range of granite hills formed by the Giants ...

. Founded in 1941, the board is tasked with using proceeds from

taconite Taconite () is a variety of banded iron formation, an iron-bearing (over 15% iron) sedimentary rock, in which the iron minerals are interlayered with quartz, chert, or carbonate. The name ''taconyte'' was coined by Horace Vaughn Winchell (1865– ...

mining Mining is the Resource extraction, extraction of valuable geological materials and minerals from the surface of the Earth. Mining is required to obtain most materials that cannot be grown through agriculture, agricultural processes, or feasib ...

to spur broader development in the region. Mining companies pay taxes on production of taconite to local governments units including cities, school districts, and the IRRRB instead of paying property taxes. The board was created with the goal to help the Iron Range weather the boom and bust cycle of mining in the region. The mission of IRRRB is to "invest in resources to foster vibrant growth and economic prosperity in northeastern Minnesota by enhancing livable communities, maximizing collaborations and partnerships and strengthen businesses and worker education. The agency provides vital funding, including low or no interest loans and grants for businesses relocating or expanding in the region. Additionally, a variety of grants are available to local units of government, education institutions, and nonprofits that promote workforce development and sustainable communities." The budget for the organization was $67.8 million for 2024. The board's commissioner is appointed by the sitting governor and serves as a member of the governor's

cabinet Cabinet or The Cabinet may refer to: Furniture * Cabinetry, a box-shaped piece of furniture with doors and/or drawers * Display cabinet, a piece of furniture with one or more transparent glass sheets or transparent polycarbonate sheets * Filin ...

. The current commissioner is Ida Rukavina. Ida Rukavina is the daughter of former Minnesota legislator

Tom Rukavina Thomas Rukavina (August 23, 1950 – January 7, 2019) was an American politician and a Democratic–Farmer–Labor (DFL) member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1987 to 2013. In 2010 he was an unsuccessful candidate for Governor ...

. The IRRR Advisory Board consists of the state senators and representatives elected from districts in which one-third or more of the residents reside within the taconite assistance area. The board is headquartered in

Eveleth, Minnesota Eveleth is a city in St. Louis County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 3,493 at the 2020 census. Eveleth is part of the Quad Cities, with Virginia, Gilbert, and Mountain Iron. U.S. Highway 53 and State Highway 37 (MN 37) are ...

References

External links

What the heck is the IRRRB? by Aaron Brown
State agencies of Minnesota {{Minnesota-stub