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Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board provided a $25,000 grant in legislative revenue bond proceeds to the Ely Igloo Club to support equipment acquisition and the club’s volunteer efforts that keep area trails in good riding condition.
The club purchased a 2019 Tucker tractor, giving the organization the ability to groom miles of trails from Ely to the North Shore. The trails are utilized by hundreds of snowmobilers each week.
The club was able to get a $75,000 grant through the Federal Recreation Trail Program which is administered by the Minnesota DNR. The club also put in $75,000 of the $175,000 total cost.
“The monies from the IRRRB and the RTP program enabled the club to make this purchase,” said Igloo Club President Rico Mondati. “Along with monies from our charitable gambling operation, the club was able to buy this Tucker without incurring any debt.”
The new Trucker tractor is equipped with an ultraclean burning, efficient diesel engine and will replace two of the 20 year-old tractors currently being used.
In the 2024 Minnesota legislative session, the Mineral Article Legislation/2024 Tax Omnibus Bill was enacted, requiring IRRRB to issue revenue bonds to finance up to 81 identified projects across the Taconite Assistance Area.
