Message From Director

A NEW PERSPECTIVE FOR THE RANGE…

“You are thinking about the Range wrong if you’re looking at just one particular small town and what that town has. You really need to think of the Range… kind of like light as both a particle and a wave – the Range is both rural and not. Each little town is actually more like a neighborhood in this big city. Each is actually part of an economy and a political system that is bigger.” (Aaron Brown, Minnesota Brown)

Aaron Brown is an author, teacher and maintains a blog where he comments and offers his perspective on happenings on the Iron Range.  As a lifelong Ranger, he is qualified in his heritage and family roots to do so.  The quote above  was in response to an interview conducted by three students from Macalester College who were doing a study and analysis of how the Iron Range mining based economy compared to other mineral based economic regions found in the United States.   (see the study here: https://resilientrange.wordpress.com/)

While the study does not provide a single magic solution to the Range and the possible change to our economic base, it does provide some interesting perspective on how other mineral based regions rebuilt their economies after the mining diminished or stopped completely.  In my analysis, the study concludes that it is the people of the Range who will step up and produce change in our communities, lifestyles and economy.  We just have to step up and support that change and accept that it will come as a trickle, not a tidewater with one or two major new projects locating on the Range.  Five jobs, here, ten there, then 25 to 50 jobs, all add up to more and more families that are able to stay on the Range, and provide for their families and continue to enjoy our access to great wilderness, lakes, streams and forests.

Having worked with the IRRRB and Allete on numerous "Recharge the Range" events, I truly believe that if the Range is to shift its' economic base from mining to other more stable sources, it will start with the recognition by our residents and our local elected officials that we are better served as a region if we accept that our communities are not an island to itself, but as Mr. Brown describes it, "like a neighborhood in a big city".  Not every community needs to try and provide every amenity people may want as those amenities can be found in a nearby community within a very reasonable time frame. Other than the inconvenience experienced daily by commuters between Eveleth and Virginia due to the new highway 53 bridge construction, commutes from town to town are predictable in time unlike the commutes of metro communities who sit in traffic jams each and every day.

RAMS (Range Association of Municipalities and Schools) founded in 1939 by some very progressive and forward thinking local elected officials has as its primary purpose a platform that includes the following:
(1) Promote the economic development and general welfare of the municipalities and school districts within the Iron Range area of Northeastern Minnesota
(2) Provide collaborative problem solving efforts between and among cities and school districts, the State, the Legislature, and private interest which demand area-wide coordination and cooperation.
(3) Enhance the quality of life in northeastern Minnesota by promoting efficient and progressive service delivery for our residents.

RAMS has begun hosting meetings with Iron Range mayors as a result of a conversation that took place at one of the "Recharge the Range" events for local officials.  These meetings provide a forum where the top elected official of our communities have an opportunity to discuss issues of local and regional importance and to share experiences with one another.  I believe that these meetings will lead to more formal discussions on collaboration, cooperation, sharing of services and providing more economical and efficient services to Range residents, home owners and businesses.

RAMS  and the board of directors are proponents for a more diversified economy, but we also support mining and exploration of minerals as there is a wealth of minerals found in the area we live in.  To me, the Range is a "mining center of excellence", and we need to promote the future of mining and tap into minerals heretofore that were not found to be profitable to mine.  (the recent surge in gold exploration as an example) We need to be vigilant in watching over those from outside our region who would prefer the Range to remain a weekend playground and a nice place to visit.  We are the stewards of our own backyards.  We will make certain that any new developments follow and meet all environmental standards or exceed those standards before they can start up.

Communities need to foster and develop space where entrepreneurs can gather and share ideas and learn from experienced engineers, scientists and business people on how to succeed with their ideas.  Focusing energy on recruiting our younger generations to be "at the table" when discussing issues of importance is something else we must do a better job at.  We need fresh eyes, fresh perspectives and fresh thinking to make change happen in our region and sometimes that requires those currently in leadership positions to actually seek out those millennials and get them engaged in decision making.  We can do a better job of collaboration within our communities by having regular conversations with between our city councils, school boards, county officials and other social agencies.  Pooling our resources and creating a common synergy can only result in a better place to live for everyone on the Range.  RAMS will do all that it can to facilitate conversations, promote positive change for future generations of proud and strong Iron Rangers.  "ONE RANGE - ONE VOICE"   is the RAMS motto, and it has proven to work time and time again.