.jpg)
The grand opening was a grand celebration.
Several hundred people came to the former state-owned Revenue Building on Miners Drive, as organizers marked the conversion of that facility into “The Hub.”
Owned and operated by the Ely Area Community Foundation, the building has been renovated and repurposed and now serves several tenants - including Happy Days Learning Center.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony and program Wednesday night marked the next phase in the initiative.
The EACF’s Jeff Sundell emceed the program and hailed the efforts as “a long-awaited project has become a reality.”
Sundell has been involved with the initiative for more than a decade and has seen it evolve as plans for a massive community recreational complex have transformed somewhat, with the current project now serving an assortment of community needs - with perhaps further work to come in the future.
Foundation members envision a place “for the community” and several tenants are making the building their home.
Primary tenants at the moment include not only Happy Days, which will offer child care services for up to 45 children - but Functional Fitness, Northwoods Partners and the Ely Behavioral Health Network.
A $1.2 million federal grant helped spur the renovations at the facility, which was purchased earlier by the EACF.
Funds came from the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development, and northern Minnesota USDA Director Angela Bokovoy said she was happy to be part of the ceremony and for the “grand opening of a life-changing project for Ely.”
Rachel Loeffler-Kemp, regional outreach director for U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D), read a congratulatory note from the lawmaker and the ceremony also included a video recorded message from U.S. Sen. Tina Smith (D), who noted regional obstacles related to child care.
“In Ely, you saw the challenge and decided to do something about it,” said Smith.
The child care component of the project was a common theme during Wednesday’s remarks.
The United Way of Northeastern Minnesota was another partner in the effort to obtain grant funding, and director Erin Shea said “we’ve never secured this much funding for one project.”
“Today is an exciting day for Ely but I know it took years of work by a dedicated steering committee,” said Shea. “We want to congratulate those who have worked together to house so many needed services in one space. We know what a high demand there is for childcare programs and for programs for seniors, and mental and physical wellness programs. This kind of collaboration to alleviate barriers is what helps communities thrive.”
Once home to dozens of office cubicles for the Minnesota Department of Revenue’s tax collecting operations, the building has taken on a new look to accommodate a child care center and a gymnasium.
Ryan Callen, who represented the Ely City Council, added that “this project happened because of a joint vision and cooperation between many entities.”
Wednesday’s open house included not only the ceremony but live music, tours and free food.
Sundell recognized his fellow colleagues among the EACF’s executive board - Dave Marshall, Kurt Soderberg and Todd Heiman.
“These gentlemen have been instrumental in this project,” said Sundell. “Dave with his building skills and experience working with contractors has been remarkable. Kurt, our secretary has communication and organizational skills beyond compare, and Todd has problem-solving skills as well as financial knowledge that have been important to this project.”
Plans for The Hub have evolved from an earlier effort to develop the Ely Regional Community Complex.
Despite $6 million in private pledges, efforts to establish a facility first at the school campus and later at Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital fell by the wayside.
The group turned next to the business park and the Revenue Building, which went on the market when the state of Minnesota opted to shift its local Department of Revenue employees to remote work.
While The Hub has a different look than a community recreation center, elements of that project still remain.
The EACF is still contemplating and exploring a possible swimming pool/ aquatic center.
In earlier presentations, EACF leaders have indicated the Revenue Building could be expanded to accommodate a pool/aquatic center.
Other ideas that have been floated include an outdoor plaza area and the development of a walking path that would lead from the building to Eighth Avenue East and Whiteside Park.
The development of The Hub has been met both with support of local officials and grant funding.
A demand for more childcare options in Ely meshed with the EACF’s efforts and Happy Days reached an agreement to be a tenant in the refurbished building. As part of the remodeling is the development of a secure entrance to the child care area as well as construction of an outdoor play lot.
The east side will function as the primary entrance and offers access to Functional Fitness and other areas.
A kitchen area was expanded to allow for commercial kitchen space to allow Happy Days to feed children and to make it available for cooking classes.
The building, which is about 25 years old, was also equipped with a sprinkler system for fire suppression.
New life for the initiative came in 2022 when the state announced plans to sell a building that, for more than two decades, housed collection agents employed by the Minnesota Department of Revenue. The Revenue Building encompasses about 16,000 square feet.
